A Christ-Like Life
Are you aware of the power of your words? Words have the power to build up and destroy. And in today’s passage, Paul addresses the way Christians are supposed to use their words to build one another up. While corrupt speech seems so distant from us, we are all engaged in it at some point, often unwittingly, and when we do it can lead to bitterness, wrath, and malice. Paul gives us practical advice on how to use our speech to build up the body of Christ with Holy means through kindness, tenderheartedness and forgiveness.
Scripture Reading
Ephesians 4:29-32 ESV Eph 4:29-32 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. (30) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (31) Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. (32) Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Bible Study Questions
Not like the Gentiles
For context for today’s scripture, we need to go back a bit. Earlier in Ephesians, Paul warns them not to be like the Gentiles. Who is Paul referring to, and what were they doing?
Ephesians 4:17-19 ESV Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. (18) They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. (19) They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.
Two kinds of speech
In his letter, Paul is speaking about two kinds of speech. What are they and what do they mean?
Ephesians 4:29 ESV Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Matthew 12:34 ESV You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Colossians 4:6 ESV Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
Grief of the Holy Spirit
In verse 40, Paul says something that has dire consequences. That our speech has the ability to cause the Holy Spirit grief. What kind of speech do you think has the power to do this? If the Holy Spirit can grieve as a result, what can we do to other people?
Ephesians 4:30 ESV And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Philippians 4:8 ESV Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Proverbs 18:21 ESV Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
He who can grieve
The fact that the Holy Spirit grieves is concerning. But it also tells us something about the Holy Spirit, God and our salvation. What can you tell about the Holy Spirit from this verse?
Ephesians 4:30 ESV And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
The results of careless speech
The passage indicates that corrupt speech leads to bad behavior. It’s because it is corrupt and when we speak it to other people, it can hurt them and cause bitterness, wrath, and malice. While receiving corrupt speech can lead us to do the same. Have you used corrupt speech, and has it led to any of these behaviors?
Ephesians 4:31 ESV Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
Edifying speech
While the behaviors of the previous verses are natural to us because of our fallen condition, the remedy of edifying speech is supernatural. How do we go about doing the supernatural to build the church up?
Ephesians 4:32 ESV Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Romans 5:12 ESV Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
Philippians 2:13 ESV for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
The key to it all
There is one key to overcoming corrupt speech, its ensuing behavior, and having the ability to supernaturally build one another up. What is the key?
Ephesians 4:32 ESV Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Romans 5:8 ESV but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 10:9 ESV because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.