God, through the Apostle Paul, tells us that, when we put all our faith in Christ, and we turn away from our sinful path to follow Christ, the Holy Spirit enters into our hearts and minds, and He, then, begins to transform us into the very image of Jesus Christ:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come (2 Corinthians 5:17).”

He also describes for us what that “new creation” looks like,

 

“For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers (Romans8:29).”

Today’s verse teaches us another characteristic of a person who is a real Christian.  It says:

“No foul language is to 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).”

There are a few things he wants us to know in this one verse:

1. “No foul language is to come from your mouth,” – The world “foul” literally means: morally bankrupt; immoral, therefore, worthless.  He is referring to language used with the intent to demean, bemoan, offend, and/or destroy another person’s character, and self-worth. This is what is natural for a person who is not a Christian and Christians are to be different.
2. “but only what is good for building up someone in need,” – A Christians our speech must always be for the purpose of building up, edifying, encouraging, the weaker Christians to live a holy and acceptable life to God (Romans 12:1).  It is also a way to testify about, and demonstrate, our personal relationship with Christ to the non-Christian community.
3. “so that it gives grace to those who hear.” –  Our speech should give grace, unmerited favor, to all people who hear us speak, Christians and non-Christians alike.  Our grace should not depend on how people treat us or speak to us, first.  We must give grace in speech, and in deed, no matter how others treat us.

What comes out of our mouths is irrefutable evidence of what rules our hearts.  Jesus said,

“A good man produces good out of the good storeroom of his heart. An evil man produces evil out of the evil storeroom, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart (Luke 6:45).”

So, who, or what’s in you heart?

In Christ’s love,

Phil