Eph 4:17-32 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Eph 4:17-5:20: 4:17–5:20 Paul gives believers specific guidelines for living a new life in Christ. 4:17 God’s people are called to a way of life that is different from that of the Gentiles (pagans, unbelievers) of the world.

Summary for Eph 4:17-5:20: 4:17–5:20 ^a Paul gives believers specific guidelines for living a new life in Christ. 4:17 ^b God’s people are called to a way of life that is different from that of the Gentiles (pagans, unbelievers) of the world.
4:18 ^c Their minds are full of darkness because their minds are closed and hearts are hard (see 2 Cor 4:4 ^d).
4:19 ^e no sense of shame: The hardness of unbelievers’ hearts is reflected in their moral insensitivity and sexual immorality (see Rom 1:21-31 ^f).
Summary for Eph 4:20-24: 4:20-24 ^g What you learned about Christ is the truth that comes from him. He gives true understanding (cp. John 14:6 ^h) and calls his people to an entirely new way of life (cp. Rom 6:3-14 ⁱ; 13:12-14 ^j; Col 3:8-10 ^k).
4:24 ^l A believer has a new nature: God’s Spirit expresses his life within the believer (see Col 3:10 ^m; cp. Gen 1:26 ⁿ; Rom 12:1-2 ^o; Gal 5:22-23 ^p). The transforming work of God’s Spirit is part of the gift of salvation (Eph 2:8-10 ^q).
4:25 ^r Let us tell our neighbors the truth: Cp. Zech 8:16 ^s.

• for we are all parts of the same body: See Rom 12:5 ^t; 1 Cor 12:12-13 ^u, 27 ^v.
Summary for Eph 4:26-27: 4:26-27 ^w “don’t sin by letting anger control you” (literally “be angry and do not sin”): This verse quotes Ps 4:4 ^x. The literal form of the quotation cannot be used to justify anger, for anger gives a foothold to the devil (cp. Jas 1:20 ^y). God’s people are to be gentle and gracious, not harsh or angry (see Eph 4:31-32 ^z).

• Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry: Anger must quickly be resolved, not allowed to stew.
4:28 ^aa Christians are to be hard-working people who have integrity and care for others (cp. 1 Thes 4:11 ^ab; 2 Thes 3:6-12 ^ac).
4:29 ^ad Believers are to learn new patterns of speech to be an encouragement to others (see also 5:3-4 ^ae, 12 ^af).
4:30 ^ag Believers must not alienate God’s Holy Spirit, who identifies them as belonging to God (cp. Mark 3:29 ^ah; Acts 5:3-5 ^ai, 9 ^aj; 1 Thes 4:8 ^ak; Heb 6:4-8 ^al).

• has identified you as his own (or has put his seal on you): The presence of the Spirit both confirms and guarantees the future redemption of believers (see Eph 1:13-14 ^am; Rom 8:16-17 ^an; 2 Cor 1:22 ^ao; 1 Jn 4:13 ^ap).
4:32 ^aq Forgiving fellow believers is a natural and good response to experiencing God’s forgiving grace in Christ (cp. Col 3:12-13 ^ar; 1 Jn 4:19 ^as).