25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin” [Psalm 4:4]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:25-32)

Now comes a long run of dos and don’ts. In many ways, they are practical illustrations of the texts we covered in the two previous devotions. The “do nots” of this list are examples of “putting off” the old self, and the “dos” are examples of “putting on” the new.

It is important to read this list in light of the first three chapters of this Ephesians letter, remembering that our work on the dos and don’ts comes second to God’s primary work in Christ that saves us. For three chapters, we have heard how God, in Christ, through the Spirit saves us. Now we hear about how we are to receive, respond, and get in on this good work of God.

There’s a balance here. Ultimately, our salvation rests in Christ—so even if we completely fail at these commands before us, God is still able to save us. He may indeed be grieved, as any parent is grieved when their child leaves the good path. But our failure does not mean God ceases to be our Father—in the Spirit we “were sealed for the day of redemption.” Our adoption papers have been signed and sealed, it’s done.

Yet at the same time, we must respond, as Paul repeatedly states in this section. The “new self” in Christ is who we are now. Everything in our lives now leans and longs in this direction.

To the extent that we live out this new identity in Christ, we bear witness to his resurrection message of reconciliation, life, love, and peace. Because to the extent we live these commands out, we bear witness to the fact that we have all been “forgivingly reconciled” (v. 32) by Christ into “one body” (v. 25). In this way, the first and last verse of this section connect together.

In fact, all the eight verses of this section are paired in just this way. Verses 25 and 32 are both about our way with one another in light of Christ’s already completed work by which “God [already] forgave you” and by which “we are all [already] members of one body.

Verses 26 and 31 are both about getting rid of anger and its attendant sins (brawling, slander, etc.). Verses 27 and 30 pit the devil against the Holy Spirit of God—how can the devil get a foothold if we have already been “sealed for the day of redemption” by the Spirit of God?

Lastly, verses 28 and 29 pair together warning us away from taking away (stealing) or tearing down (through unwholesome talk) by our hands or mouths, inviting us instead to use those hands and mouths—our words and actions—to share and build up according to the needs of others. So you see, the work of God in Christ brackets on both sides everything of our obedience that comes in between. Not only that—God’s work flows through this list as the Holy Spirit’s sealant guards the surface of our lives against unwanted footholds for foreign objects, like the devil. Our internal life is addressed (anger), as is our external life (hands, mouths). All of it, a witness to the work of the Triune God in, through, and among us.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:17-21).