Facing Prometheus — Week 13 (Sacred Lives in a Secular World) | “Change Your Mind, Change Your Life” | Pastor Howie Smith
Building on last week’s foundational message about repentance and the renewed mind, Pastor Howie Smith picks up exactly where Pastor Jason left off — moving from doctrine into deeply practical territory. In Week 13 of Facing Prometheus: A Letter to the Ephesians and the Future Church Dilemma, we continue our mini-series Sacred Lives in a Secular World with a message that names a frustration most Christians have felt at some point: trying to behave like a follower of Jesus while still thinking like the world.
The good news is that Paul never asks us to do that. He says something much more freeing.
The Text — Ephesians 4:25–32
“Therefore, putting away lying, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, because we are members of one another. Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, and don’t give the devil an opportunity. Let the thief no longer steal. Instead, he is to do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need. No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear. And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by him for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.”
— Ephesians 4:25–32 (CSB)
The Frustration of Behavior-Only Christianity
At first glance, this passage can sound like a list of commands — almost like the rules posted on the wall of an elementary classroom. Don’t chew gum. Don’t write on your desk. Stay seated. Keep your hands, feet, and other objects to yourself. Most of us remember the dynamic too — there was always one kid who never broke a rule and policed everyone else, and always one kid who ruined it for the entire class.
That kind of rule-based environment might work for a fourth-grade classroom. But it breaks down completely when it becomes our understanding of the Christian life:
Stop lying. Control your anger. Be kind. Don’t take what isn’t yours. Don’t cuss. Don’t murder people.
All of those are true. All of them are biblical. But all of them are incomplete — because if following Jesus is just behavior modification, it becomes exhausting and often hypocritical.
★★★ If you’re simply trying to do the right things, you’re not actually following Jesus. You’re performing.
You’re acting a certain way. Not living. Putting on a show. Performing for approval and applause. We often think the word hypocrite means saying one thing and doing another — but that’s not actually the definition. The Greek word literally means “actor.” Jesus condemns hypocrites because he is calling people to stop acting and live the real thing.
Paul gives us something deeper than a rules list. Before he ever tells us what to do, he tells us who we are and how to think. Look at the verses just before our passage:
“To take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires, to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.”
— Ephesians 4:22–24 (CSB)
- Put off the old self.
- Be renewed in the spirit of your mind.
- Put on the new self.
That’s the key. Transformation begins in the mind, not in the doing.
The Gospel Creates a New Identity
Paul’s command is not “try harder to be better.” It is “live out who you already are in Christ.” The language of “put off” and “put on” is clothing language — and there’s a beautiful illustration of this from someone most of us grew up watching.
Mr. Rogers had a famous routine. Every time he came home, he changed his clothes. He’d take off his dress shoes and jacket and put on his sneakers and that iconic cardigan. It wasn’t just a casual habit. It was intentional. It marked the difference between work and home. It was a routine that signaled something had changed — that he was now available, present, attentive.
Notice the order though:
★★★ You don’t become a new person by changing behavior. You are a new person, so you change your behavior.
The sweater didn’t make Mr. Rogers different. Mr. Rogers was different — and so he changed his appearance and behavior to match. That’s the gospel order, and it lines up perfectly with what Paul writes elsewhere:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!”
— 2 Corinthians 5:17 (CSB)
This is what we celebrate in baptisms. But it takes practice, patience, and intentionality for this truth to settle into your mind.
The mindset shift:
- I am not my old self trying to improve. As Pastor Jason said last week, “You cannot out-behave unsaved thinking.” You simply cannot act in a sustainable way if your mind hasn’t been changed by the Holy Spirit.
- I am a new self learning to live new. Nobody is achieving perfection. We’re learning what it means to live new.
If you miss this, you’ll try to obey Ephesians 4:25–32 in your own strength — and you will either fail miserably or fake it and be miserable. Paul is going to walk through some very practical changes now, but every one of them flows from this new identity and renewed mind.
Five Practical Changes That Flow from a Renewed Mind
1. New Thinking Produces Truthfulness
“Therefore, putting away lying, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, because we are members of one another.”
— Ephesians 4:25 (CSB)
Paul doesn’t just say “stop lying.” He says put it away. Like the drawer where you can’t find anything once it goes in — fold it neatly or cram it in, whatever your style, just put it away.
Here’s a life hack: when the Bible says to do or not do something, it’s okay to ask why? But there’s a better question — what does this reveal about God’s character? God cannot lie:
“God is not a man, that he might lie.”
— Numbers 23:19 (CSB)
“…in the hope of eternal life that God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.”
— Titus 1:2 (CSB)
And even more importantly: it’s far less about not lying and far more about speaking truth. God identifies himself this way:
“The LORD — the LORD is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth.”
— Exodus 34:6 (CSB)
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
— John 14:6 (CSB)
Why is speaking truth so important? Paul gives the reason directly: because we are members of one another. Lying isn’t just breaking a rule. It’s violating a relationship.
- The Old Self says: “I need to protect myself.”
- The New Self says: “I reflect Jesus to others in my words.”
Truth-telling flows from identity. As people created in the image of God, we are made to reflect the image of God. It’s not mere rule-keeping.
2. Righteous Anger vs. Sinful Anger
“Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, and don’t give the devil an opportunity.”
— Ephesians 4:26–27 (CSB)
Paul assumes anger will happen. The mindset is what determines what we do with it.
Does God get angry? Yes. He’s described as “slow to anger” (Exodus 34:6) — slow, but not absent. So what does God get angry about? Violations of his character. Idolatry and false worship (the golden calf, Jesus overturning tables). Injustice and wickedness:
“The LORD hates six things; in fact, seven are detestable to him: arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet eager to run to evil, a lying witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up trouble among brothers.”
— Proverbs 6:16–19 (CSB)
So anger is not inherently wrong. But for us, it is most often misdirected. We get angry because of unmet expectations, because we feel disrespected, because we perceive a threat, or because we perceive injustice — typically toward us, sometimes toward others. And it gets exacerbated by lack of sleep, hunger, and stress.
The data backs this up. Anger has increased statistically year over year for the past decade. According to The Anger Project research, 60% of men report getting angry at least once per day (20% say once daily, 40% say multiple times per day). 38% of women report getting angry at least once per day.
The most common triggers:
- Being treated poorly (53% of men, 51% of women)
- Experiencing or witnessing injustice (43% of men, 49% of women)
- Not getting something they want (45% of men, 33% of women)
Why is this so important? Because Paul says undiagnosed and unresolved anger gives the devil an opportunity — the Greek word means a foothold or crevice. A crack. An opening.
And the result of unresolved anger is exactly the list Paul names at the end of this passage:
“Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice.”
— Ephesians 4:31 (CSB)
This list isn’t exhaustive. There are other byproducts of anger that destroy relationships, health, and witness.
The remedy Paul gives is simple but powerful: don’t let the sun go down on your anger. A daily principle. Praying at night — alone, with a spouse, with kids — is one of the most practical applications of this command.
Our culture tells us the issue is just emotional control — anger management. But Paul says it’s something deeper. It’s spiritual awareness.
- The Old Self says: “I have the right to be angry about this.”
- The New Self says: “If I leave anger unresolved, I give the devil a foothold.”
You don’t just “manage anger” — you reinterpret it through the lens of spiritual warfare and gospel reconciliation. Then you see forgiveness not as an obligation but as ammunition in the battle against the real enemy.
3. From Taking to Giving
“Let the thief no longer steal. Instead, he is to do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need.”
— Ephesians 4:28 (CSB)
Notice what Paul does not say: stop stealing. He says start working so you can start giving.
And let’s be honest — most of us have stolen something. Maybe you were petrified at the store as a kid. Maybe your friends stole and pulled you in. Maybe you took money or cigarettes from your parents. Maybe you’ve had someone clock you in early at work, or stayed clocked in after you left. Maybe you’ve stretched a job out longer than necessary to make more money. Maybe you’re capable of working but have accepted someone else’s provision without putting in your own effort.
Paul’s instruction goes beyond don’t take. It’s work, so you can give. Once again, this traces back to the character of God. God is one who provides. God is one who gives:
“For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
— John 3:16 (CSB)
“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him.”
— Matthew 7:11 (CSB)
- The Old Self says: “I take because I lack, I want, or I deserve it.”
- The New Self says: “I work so that I can give generously, because God provides and gives generously.”
This is a complete reorientation of identity — from consumer to contributor. Generosity isn’t just a new habit. It’s the natural fruit of believing that God is the One who provides.
4. Words That Build, Not Destroy
“No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.”
— Ephesians 4:29 (CSB)
Words have value. Words have power. How does the Bible say the world was created? Then God… said.
“Foul language” means more than just cuss words. We’re talking about words that bring destruction and chaos, disorder and pain. And we’re remarkably good at it. Sarcasm crosses a line we know in our gut isn’t building anyone up. Our culture is saturated with words that destroy.
We use words as tools for venting frustrations, for winning arguments, for wounding when we feel we’re losing. A jackhammer is a tool too — but it’s a tool for destruction. We’re called to use our words as tools for building.
For construction:
- Encouragement
- Compassion
- Humility and confession
Words are stewardship. Paul says: “only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.” Your words are now vehicles of grace.
- The Old Self says: “I need to watch my mouth.”
- The New Self says: “My words are a reflection of God’s character with the purpose of bringing life.”
5. The Relationship Behind It All
“And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by him for the day of redemption.”
— Ephesians 4:30 (CSB)
Most of us don’t view the Holy Spirit as a person enough. We see him as a force, a feeling, a heightened emotional sensation. But the very act of grieving the Spirit reveals his personhood — you cannot grieve an idea or a force.
F.F. Bruce captures this beautifully:
“The Holy Spirit’s scrutiny is omniscient, and our blessed Refiner cannot but be instantly conscious of every germ of contamination latent in the souls He has sealed for the Lord’s possession. It is not an influence that these sacrileges stifle, but a sacred Person they repel — one who deigns in loving-kindness to dwell in our sin-deflowered souls, to become our Teacher, our Consoler, our Warden, the earnest and ensurer of our final purification.”
— E.K. Simpson and F.F. Bruce, The Epistles to the Ephesians and the Colossians
“In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed.”
— Ephesians 1:13 (CSB)
★★★ I am in relationship with the Holy Spirit. Sin is not just rule-breaking — it is relational grieving.
And then Paul contrasts two clusters that summarize the entire passage:
“Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.”
— Ephesians 4:31–32 (CSB)
| The Old Self (v. 31) | The New Self (v. 32) |
|---|---|
|
Bitterness Anger Wrath Shouting Slander Malice |
Kind Compassionate Forgiving |
Why? “As God in Christ forgave you.”
- The Old Self says: “I’m supposed to forgive.”
- The New Self says: “I am forgiven, therefore I forgive.”
Behavior Is the Fruit, Not the Root
When you look at all that Paul has laid out here, three things become clear:
- Identity — who you are in Christ
- Mind — how you think because of that identity
- Behavior — how you live because of that thinking
At the heart of the Christian life is not just what we do but what we love. In her book Glittering Vices, Rebecca DeYoung argues that sin is not simply doing bad things — it’s loving good things in the wrong way. Our problem isn’t just behavior. It’s disordered desire.
The vices Paul calls us to “put off” are ways we reach for good things — like approval or comfort — but apart from God. When those loves are misdirected, they begin to shape our lives in destructive ways. But the gospel doesn’t just call us to stop. It calls us to be reordered. Virtue is what happens when our loves are brought back into alignment with God himself. So when Paul says “put off the old self and put on the new,” he’s calling us not just to new behavior, but to new loves — with Christ at the center.
★★★ Behavior is the fruit, not the root. It’s the fruit of a life being transformed by Jesus, not the source.
The question isn’t “Are you trying harder?”
The question is:
- Are you in Christ? — Rooted in him as your source.
- Are you thinking differently because of that relationship? — Growing. Blossoming.
- Are you now living differently? — Fruit.
References
- Campbell, Constantine R. The Letter to the Ephesians. Edited by D. A. Carson. Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2023.
- Cohick, Lynn H. Ephesians. New Covenant Commentary Series. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2010.
- DeYoung, Rebecca Konyndyk. Glittering Vices: A New Look at the Seven Deadly Sins and Their Remedies. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2020.
- Simpson, E. K., and F. F. Bruce. The Epistles to the Ephesians and the Colossians. The New International Commentary on the Old and New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1957.
- Stott, John R. W. God’s New Society: The Message of Ephesians. The Bible Speaks Today. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1979.
