你穿着旧衣还是新衣？
以弗所书四章21至32节
21如果你们听过他的道，领了他的教，学了他的真理，
22就要脱去你们从前行为上的旧人，这旧人是因私欲的迷惑渐渐变坏的；
23又要将你们的心志改换一新，
24并且穿上新人；这新人是照着神的形像造的，有真理的仁义和圣洁。
25所以你们要弃绝谎言，各人与邻舍说实话，因为我们是互相为肢体。
26生气却不要犯罪；不可含怒到日落，
27也不可给魔鬼留地步。
28从前偷窃的，不要再偷；总要劳力，亲手做正经事，就可有余分给那缺少的人。
29污秽的言语一句不可出口，只要随事说造就人的好话，叫听见的人得益处。
30不要叫神的圣灵担忧；你们原是受了他的印记，等候得赎的日子来到。
31一切苦毒、恼恨、忿怒、嚷闹、毁谤，并一切的恶毒（或作：阴毒），都当从你们中间除掉；
32并要以恩慈相待，存怜悯的心，彼此饶恕，正如神在基督里饶恕了你们一样。
信息分享
第一，在言语方面：(第25及29节)
我们的说话谈吐，可见证基督活在我们的生命之中。说话的内容和说话的方式都同样重要。这绝不是一件容易的事；但信徒必须努力学习在适当的时间，以适当的态度去做适当的事。信徒固然要常讲诚实话，但同时要留意的是，每说一句话都是出于爱心(29节)。
第二，在脾气方面：(第26节)
「生气却不要犯罪」。你可能会说：「我虽然很容易生气，但也很容易消气。」你可能是这样，但被你生气的对象呢？他是否像你一样？抑或他会一直耿耿于怀？一个容易发脾气的基督徒，又怎能为基督作见证呢？当然，在某些情况，你需要用强硬的语气、以强硬的措辞来表达你的想法，可是，当你这样做的时候，你就更必须慎言。
第三，在心灵方面：(第32节)
都市生活的压力可使人变得麻木，但基督却希望信徒保持一颗敏锐的心。第30节告诉我们，基督希望我们敏感于神的提醒；第32节则教导我们要以恩慈相待和彼此饶恕。这当然不是易事，但请谨记以弗所书三章20至21节的应许；只要我们愿意，神必有能力在我们的生命中成就祂的工作。
你身上还是穿着旧人，抑或已换上新人呢？
牢记：
如果连身为弟兄姊妹的信徒我们都不能饶恕，我们还能够饶恕谁呢？
WHAT CLOTHES ARE YOU WEARING?
Ephesians 4: 21 – 32
21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Do Not Grieve the Spirit
25 Therefore, putting away lying, “ Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.
26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,
27 nor give place to the devil.
28 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.
29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Message
1. In our tongues, verses 25 & 29.
If Christ is in our lives, it will show in the way we speak. It will be seen not only in the words we speak but in the way we say them. It is not always easy, but a Christian should aim to say the right thing, at the right time, in the right way. A Christian must tell the truth always, but do it in love (v.29).
2. In our temper, verse 26.
‘Be angry but do not sin while you are angry.’ You may say, ‘I’ve got a quick temper, but it’s all over in a minute’. For you it may be so, but what about the other person? Will they forget it just as quickly? And what about your Christian testimony? Speak strongly, act strongly if you have to, but be very careful how you do it!
3. In our tenderness, verse 32.
Life in this world can make us tough. But Christ wants us to be tender-hearted. Verse 30 tells us that Christ wants us to be tender (sensitive) toward God. Verse 32 tells us to be tender and forgiving toward each other. But again that is not always easy is it? Remember the promise of Ephesians 3: 20-21. God is able to bring this about in our lives if we will allow him.
What kind of spiritual clothes are you wearing – the old or the new?
A THOUGHT TO REMEMBER:
If we can’t forgive our fellow Christians, who in the world can we forgive?