Young People's Group

The Challenge to Walk Righteously

by Mitchell Tan
July 29, 2020

PUTTING OFF THE OLD MAN AND PUTTING ON THE NEW MAN

Change is not an easy goal to achieve. Because sin is still part of our life, there is the constant struggle to fight against it and to prevent ourselves from reverting back to our old ways. This was Paul’s challenge to the Ephesian Church that they were to walk in righteousness and not to live as the rest of the world do (Ephesians 4:17). They were to set aside the old man and to put on the new man (Ephesians 4:22-24). Because they have been redeemed, they were now to live uprightly and to reflect the image of the Lord in life. They were to find the impetus and His grace to grow and to change to be what God wanted them to be. Young people, this is our challenge too. We are to practise righteousness and to not return back to worldly sins.

REASONS TO PRACTISE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND NOT SIN

What were the reasons that Paul gave for the Ephesians to not sin but to walk righteously?

1. PRESERVING THE BOND AS MEMBERS OF THE BODY

“For we are members of one another.”
Ephesians 4:25

One reason why we should walk righteously is because we are part of the same body of Christ. Paul had written much in this chapter about His body. The Church is meant to walk in love and to keep that oneness; in one body and one Spirit (Ephesians 4:4). We are to edify each other that we as a whole body may be joined and knit together as one (Ephesians 4:16). We should not lie to each other but to always speak the truth to each other. We should love each other as members of His body.

2. PROTECTING OURSELVES FROM THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL

“Nor give place to the devil.”
Ephesians 4:27

Another reason why we should walk righteously is because of spiritual warfare. We do not want to allow the evil one to influence us through our own feelings of wrath or other sins. When we sin and are focused on the things of the world, the evil one can come between us. Because of his cunningness, he can take advantage of ill-feelings between two people and create hate and animosity between them. They can end up with strife. We are to protect ourselves from his works.

3. PREVENTING OURSELVES FROM GRIEVING THE 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

The apostle Paul gave a strong entreaty to the Ephesians to not grieve the Spirit of God. They were to cease from causing Him to sorrow. Because the Spirit of God is holy, He is saddened when we sin against Him. One of His roles is to bring about the oneness of the body of Christ. When there is contention and strife among people in the body of Christ, He is grieved. There should be this spiritual sensitivity to how He feels about us. Our hearts should be convicted by the Spirit of God when we sin against the Lord. We have been sealed by the Spirit of God for the day of redemption. He is the guarantee of our inheritance in heaven (Ephesians 1:14). This assurance and hope of His coming should bring joy to our hearts and help us focus on eternal things rather than on the things of the world. We should set our hearts and minds on things above and not on things below (Colossians 3:2) and put to death the deeds of the body. Let’s be deeply encouraged to walk righteously and prevent ourselves from grieving the Spirit till the day of Christ.

Back to Article Listing