March 1, 2024

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.” (Ephesians 4.22-25)

REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

A final word on verses 22-25 (at this time) before proceeding to verses 4.25-5.1 (with verse 4.25 as the chiastic center point). I am glad to have these words from Paul to be reminded of the expectation Jesus had for all of us as He shared His “new command.” Remember, the “new command” does not replace the old but enhances it and brings it truly home to the heart, soul and mind of the believer. The new command which Jesus gave (recorded as John 13.34) says “Beloved, love one another as I Myself have loved you. By this they will know that you are My disciples.” In 1 John 2.7, we hear John the Elder [the Presbyter or church leader] declare, “I am not giving you a new command but reminding you of the old one which Jesus gave when He said ‘Love one another as I have loved you.” Already, in the span of approximately sixty years from the time Jesus spoke this word and John recorded it as gospel and then as an “epistilic” truth, the call to love had become engrained as truly authoritative as from “of old.” It reflects as well the commissioning by which Jesus affirmed Peter’s reconciliation and authoritative instruction to lead the flock of disciples in their earthly ministry. The threefold Q&A between Jesus and Peter was full well intended to become the measure of relationship to be manifested within the body of believers that would be known as “The Church,” the body of Christ. In that, Peter is not made to be the “head of the Church.” Jesus Christ alone is the head of the Church and nothing can or will ever change that reality and designation. But, Peter was to become the example of leadership within the body so as to lead, guide and direct those who would be Jesus’ disciples within the body. Paul gives us a clear picture of how this “authoritative relationship” works in Ephesians 6 with the description of “husbands and wives” relating to one another as each person is called to relate to Jesus Christ who is “the head of the Body.”

So, let me take this moment to draw our attention back to this call to right relationship. It is a call to righteousness. True righteousness maintains the balance between humans and themselves, humans to others and most importantly humans to God. What righteousness looks like is best exampled in the gospel of Jesus Christ who fulfilled the Shema (the two great commandments), the Decalogue (the ten commandments given to Moses for the instruction of newborn Israel) and the new commandment established in His “blood relationship” as Savior of God’s people. We cannot have true righteousness if we do not have the rebirth of “spirit and truth” in us. It is also impossible to have true righteousness if we do not love self, others, neighbor, enemy and most importantly God. As in 1 John 4.20, we understand the tenacity of this challenge “To say I love God but hate my brother makes me a liar for how can one who hates his brother whom he can see love God whom he cannot see.” So, we must consider then the new commandment call of Jesus which was set with a level of accountability that stated “…so THEY will know you are My disciples.” Who are “they”? They would have to be three-fold: God, those within the body of faith and those not yet in the body of faith.” Now we can grasp more intimately, I believe, verse 25 and see how our witness must be genuine and consistent in word and deed having integrity in the world, in the kingdom, of the kingdom and not of the world. Consider that as we move forward with the rest of these reflections on Ephesians 4.25-5.1. Until then, shalom.

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, before we were conceived in the womb, You had already formed us in Your love and by Your Spirit spoke us into being. Each one of us is blessed with the opportunity of doing right, being good and producing the fruit of the Spirit so that others may be fed the truth of that same love so that the two will become one. It is our soul’s sincere desire to embrace the oneness You have in mind that we would know that we are Your people and that You are our God. Lead us in that discovery of the truth and the manifestation of that love for us all. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.