In Ephesians 4:15-16 the apostle Paul describes truth’s power to edify—it will promote spiritual growth in Christ (v. 15) and will increase unity within the body (v. 16).
In Ephesians 4:25-32, the apostle traces the power of truth to transform. When spoken in love (Ephesians 4:15) and received with meekness so that it renews the spirit of your mind (Ephesians 4:23), truth will:
- Transform lying lips into truth-speaking lips. “Therefore, putting away lying. Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another” (Ephesians 4:25).
- Transform a heart with selfish, sinful anger into a heart with righteous indignation which is expressed without sinning. “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath nor give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26-27).
- Transform stealing hands into industrious, hard-working, and generous hands. “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need” (Ephesians 4:28).
- Transform a corrupt mouth into a gracious and edifying mouth. “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29).
- Transform a spirt unresponsive to holiness into a heart sensitive to the Holy Spirit of God. “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30).
- Transform an evil heart into a godly heart. “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:31-32).
What immense, rich, and transformational blessings are inherent in truth!
