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BY DAVID DOHERTY, TH.D.

Positive Essentials For Churches

Ephesians 4:32

The assembly of Christians in Ephesus was a model church in many ways. These saints were noted for their faith and love (1:9) and were sufficiently mature to embrace the great doctrines of the first three chapters of Paul’s letter to them. He gave thanks to God for them continually (1:16). However, there was significant room for spiritual growth. They, like many today, had a need to put away all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, evil speaking and malice (4:31) and to ...

1. ...BE KIND. The word “kind” (crhstoV) is used seven times in the New Testament and is also translated as “good, gracious, better and easy.” Words such as “useful, morally good and benevolent” describe the meaning of “kind”. God’s people will attract and bless others more effectively with honey than vinegar! Kindness should always be as a perfume typical of believers. Genuine kindness is an attribute of God as taught in Romans 2:4 where God displays His goodness (crhstoV) by leading people to repentance. Abusive or rude speaking is totally inconsistent with kindness. Our message and our manners in delivering God’s truth should always be in harmony. It may be helpful for believers to premeditate ways in which the kindness of God can be demonstrated to others in words, attitudes and behaviours. Kindness is a defence against the sins listed in 4:31. In addition, believers are instructed to ...

2. ...BE TENDERHEARTED. A heart that is surrendered to the Lord (Proverbs 23:26) will be “tenderhearted”. This word (eusplagcuoV) is used only here in Ephesians 4:32 and in 1 Peter 3:8 where it is translated “pitiful”. Literally it means “healthy bowels” as the ancients considered the stomach area to be the seat of affections. This feature is also an attribute of God (Luke 1:78). Here the Ephesians are called upon to cultivate tenderheartedness in their individual lives and in the assembly gatherings. To be tenderhearted implies a healthy heart that is free from anger, pride, selfishness and other toxic impurities. Mark 7:21-23 clearly reveals the contagious “diseases” that lurk in the human heart and contaminate the lives, even of God’s people, at times. Where there is tenderheartedness, one many expect to find believers who are “all of one mind”, who are compassionate one of another, who genuinely love and who are courteous (1 Peter 3:8). It is appropriate to have a tender heart towards even very difficult people - we don’t know what work God is quietly doing in their lives. Concerning God, Scripture declares, “...for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil” (Luke 6:35b). Further, Christians are to ...

3. ...BE FORGIVING. The word “forgiving” (carizomai) is present tense which reveals continuous action. Those who sin against us are to be forgiven “seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:22). When the believer sins, it is vitally important to honestly seek forgiveness rather than merely dismiss the issue. God’s people are to be characterized by forgiveness as the Lord Jesus Christ has forgiven all our sin.

God expects you and me to be kind, tenderhearted and forgiving.