THE SCHOOL OF CHRISTIAN LIVING PART 7: FINAL LAP- PUTTING ON THE CHRISTLIKE UNIFORM — THE CHARACTER THAT GRADUATES

THE SCHOOL OF CHRISTIAN LIVING

PART 7: FINAL LAP- PUTTING ON THE CHRISTLIKE UNIFORM — THE CHARACTER THAT GRADUATES

Ephesians 4:32 (NLT)

“Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

In Part 6, we learned that Christian growth is not only about adding good things to our lives. Sometimes, something must come off.

Paul gave us a list in Ephesians 4:31:

Bitterness.

Rage.

Anger.

Harsh words.

Slander.

Every kind of evil behavior.

We called these things the old uniform.

We learned that you cannot continue wearing the old uniform while claiming to represent the new life in Christ.

We also discovered the process:

REMOVE. REPLACE. REBUILD

Remove bitterness and replace it with forgiveness.

Remove harsh words and replace them with grace.

Remove rage and replace it with self-control.

Remove slander and replace it with truthful and constructive speech.

Remove evil behavior and replace it with Christlike conduct.

The question we asked was:

“What needs to leave me?”

But the Teacher doesn't simply tell us what to take off. He also tells us what to put on.

And that brings us to the final lap of our journey through Ephesians 4:26–32.

OPENING ILLUSTRATION — THE GRADUATION UNIFORM

Imagine a student who has spent years in school.

The student has attended classes.

Written examinations.

Completed assignments.

Learned different subjects.

And finally, graduation day arrives.

But when the student walks onto the graduation platform, everyone notices something strange.

The student is still wearing the uniform from the first year of school.

The student may have passed every examination, but the appearance doesn't communicate the progress.

The question is:

“After all these years of learning, what has changed?”

This is the question Christian living presents to us.

After years of attending church...

After years of reading the Bible...

After years of prayer...

After years of listening to sermons...

After years of singing worship songs...

What has changed about us?

Can people see Christ in the way we treat them?

Can they see Him in our conversations?

Can they see Him in our forgiveness?

Can they see Him in our kindness?

Can they see Him when we are offended?

Can they see Him when nobody is watching?

Because Christianity is not simply about what we have learned. It is about who we are becoming.

BACKGROUND & CONTEXT

Paul has spent this section of Ephesians teaching believers how their new life in Christ should affect their everyday behavior.

He has addressed:

Anger — Ephesians 4:26–27

Work — Ephesians 4:28

Speech — Ephesians 4:29

The Holy Spirit — Ephesians 4:30

The old attitudes — Ephesians 4:31

And now he gives us the positive replacement:

“Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another...”

That word “Instead” is powerful.

Paul is saying:

Don't live that way.

Live this way.

Don't wear that.

Put this on.

Don't allow bitterness to define you.

Put on forgiveness.

Don't allow harshness to define you.

Put on kindness.

Don't allow hardness of heart to define you.

Put on tenderness.

This is the final lesson.

1. PUT ON KINDNESS

Paul begins:

“Be kind to each other.”

Kindness may appear simple, but it is one of the clearest expressions of Christlike character.

Kindness is how you treat people who cannot benefit you.

Kindness is how you respond when you have the advantage.

Kindness is how you treat someone who made a mistake.

Kindness is how you speak to someone who is struggling.

Kindness is choosing to make someone's burden lighter rather than heavier.

Sometimes we think spiritual maturity must always look dramatic.

But sometimes maturity looks like:

A gentle response.

A helping hand.

A patient explanation.

A word of encouragement.

A simple act of consideration.

The Holy Spirit wants kindness to become part of our uniform.

2. PUT ON TENDERHEARTEDNESS

Paul continues:

“Be tenderhearted...”

A tender heart is not a weak heart.

It is a heart that has not become hardened by life's disappointments.

Life can make us hard.

People can hurt us.

Betrayal can make us suspicious.

Disappointment can make us cynical.

Repeated offenses can make us say:

“I don't care anymore.”

But Christ calls us to remain tenderhearted.

A tender heart can still love.

It can still show compassion.

It can still feel the pain of others.

It can still forgive.

It can still believe that people can change.

The classroom question is:

Has life made you wiser, or has it made you harder?

There is a difference.

God wants you to become mature without becoming bitter.

3. PUT ON FORGIVENESS

Paul says:

“Forgiving one another...”

This brings us back to one of the hardest examinations in Christian living.

Forgiveness.

Forgiveness does not mean pretending the offense never happened.

It doesn't mean that consequences should disappear.

It doesn't mean that trust must immediately return.

It doesn't mean you should put yourself in an unsafe situation.

Forgiveness means refusing to allow the offense to become the master of your heart.

And Paul gives us the standard:

“Just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

Think about that.

We are being asked to forgive because we have been forgiven.

We are not forgiving because people always deserve it.

We forgive because we have experienced God's grace.

THE GOLDEN FORMULA OF CHRISTIAN CHARACTER

Look at the progression of the entire passage:

PART 2: CONTROL YOUR ANGER.

PART 3: WORK WITH INTEGRITY.

PART 4: CONTROL YOUR SPEECH.

PART 5: LISTEN TO THE HOLY SPIRIT.

PART 6: REMOVE THE OLD.

PART 7: PUT ON THE NEW.

This is more than a list of instructions.

It is a picture of transformation.

The Teacher is not simply trying to make us behave better. He is forming Christ's character in us.

THE CHRISTLIKE UNIFORM

If Ephesians 4:32 were a school uniform, what would it contain?

KINDNESS

How I treat people.

TENDERHEARTEDNESS

How I feel toward people.

FORGIVENESS

How I respond when people hurt me.

And underneath it all is:

GRACE

Because I remember how God treated me through Christ.

This is the uniform the world should see.

Not perfection. But transformation.

Not people who never make mistakes.

But people who know how to repent, forgive, grow, and become more like Christ.

THE FINAL EXAMINATION

Now imagine that the Holy Spirit gives you a final examination.

Not a written examination.

A life examination.

Someone insults you.

What comes out?

Someone disappoints you.

What comes out?

Someone succeeds where you expected to succeed.

What comes out?

Someone apologizes.

How do you respond?

Someone refuses to apologize.

What do you do?

Someone needs help.

Do you notice?

Someone makes a mistake.

Do you destroy them or restore them?

Someone speaks against you.

Do you retaliate or respond like Christ?

This is where the lessons become practical.

Life is the examination hall.

And character is what we are demonstrating.

EVERY CLASSROOM NOW BECOMES A GRADUATION STAGE

AT HOME

Let kindness be visible.

Let forgiveness be practiced.

Let tenderness be experienced.

Your family should not have to travel to church to experience your Christianity.

AT WORK

Let integrity and kindness work together.

Don't become successful at the expense of your character.

Let people say:

“There is something different about this person.”

AT SCHOOL

Be the student who doesn't need to insult others to feel important.

Help someone who is struggling.

Stand for what is right.

Refuse to participate in destructive behavior.

IN CHURCH

Serve without competition.

Correct without humiliation.

Disagree without hatred.

Forgive without keeping records of offenses.

Remember that everybody sitting beside you is also a student in the School of Christian Living.

IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

Let people experience your Christianity through your conduct.

Don't only preach peace.

Become a peacemaker.

Don't only talk about love.

Demonstrate it.

ONLINE

Your Christlike uniform must also appear on social media.

Before you comment, ask:

Is this kind?

Before you respond, ask:

Is this Christlike?

Before you expose someone, ask:

Is this necessary?

Before you share something, ask:

Does this build or destroy?

The screen does not remove the presence of the Teacher.

LESSONS TO LEARN

1. CHRISTIANITY MUST PRODUCE VISIBLE CHARACTER

If Christ is changing you internally, eventually something should become visible externally.

People should see the fruit.

2. KINDNESS IS NOT WEAKNESS

You can be kind and still be strong.

You can forgive and still have boundaries.

You can be tenderhearted without being foolish.

Christlike character is not weakness.

It is strength under the control of the Holy Spirit.

3. FORGIVENESS IS PART OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY

You cannot continually carry every offense and expect to walk freely.

Sometimes the next level of your spiritual growth requires releasing what happened yesterday.

4. THE STANDARD IS CHRIST, NOT OTHER CHRISTIANS

Don't measure your Christianity by saying:

“At least I'm better than him.”

The standard is not another student.

The standard is Christ.

Ask:

“Am I becoming more like Jesus?”

5. GRADUATION IS NOT THE END OF LEARNING

Remember the foundation of this entire series:

SALVATION IS ADMISSION, NOT GRADUATION.

Even after completing this seven-part course, there will be new classrooms.

New situations.

New challenges.

New lessons.

New opportunities to become more like Christ.

The School of Christian Living never stops teaching because Christlikeness is a lifelong journey.

PRACTICA ASSIGNMENT — PUT ON THE UNIFORM

For the next seven days, deliberately practice the three qualities Paul gives us:

DAY 1–2: KINDNESS

Look for one practical opportunity each day to make someone's life easier.

DAY 3–4: TENDERHEARTEDNESS

Pay attention to someone who may be struggling.

Listen.

Encourage.

Show compassion.

DAY 5–7: FORGIVENESS

Identify an offense you are still carrying.

Bring it honestly before God.

Ask Him for grace to release the person and the pain.

Then ask yourself every evening:

“Did people see Christ in me today?”

Not:

“Did I attend church?”

Not:

“Did I quote Scripture?”

Not:

“Did I pray for a long time?”

But:

“Did my life look more like Jesus today?”

KEY TAKEAWAY

The goal of the School of Christian Living is not simply to produce Christians who know more. It is to produce Christians who look more like Christ.

Paul's final instruction is simple:

“Be kind.”

“Be tenderhearted.”

“Forgive.”

And then he gives us the reason:

“Just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

The greatest evidence that you have learned grace is that you begin to extend grace.

The greatest evidence that you have received forgiveness is that you become willing to forgive.

The greatest evidence that Christ is transforming you is that His character begins appearing in your everyday life.

The Uniform Is Not For Display. It Is For Daily Living.

CALL TO ACTION — NOW TAKE THE LESSON INTO LIFE

We have walked through seven classrooms.

We have talked about anger.

Work.

Speech.

The Holy Spirit.

The old nature.

And Christlike character.

But don't allow this series to become another collection of notes in your Bible.

Put the lessons into practice.

When anger comes:

Remember the lesson.

When temptation comes:

Remember the Teacher.

When conflict comes:

Remember the classroom.

When someone hurts you:

Remember forgiveness.

When you have an opportunity to serve:

Remember kindness.

When nobody is watching:

Remember your identity.

You are still a student.

And every day, life will ask:

“What have you learned from Christ?”

Let your answer not only be verbal.

Let your life answer.

FINAL PRAYER

1. LORD, MAKE ME MORE LIKE CHRIST.

Let the character of Jesus become visible in my thoughts, words, decisions, relationships, and actions.

2. LORD, TEACH ME TO LIVE OUT WHAT I HAVE LEARNED.

Don't allow Your Word to remain information in my mind. Give me grace to turn every lesson into practical obedience.

3. LORD, GIVE ME A KIND AND TENDER HEART.

Keep my heart soft toward You and toward people. Don't allow disappointment, betrayal, or offense to make me bitter.

4. LORD, HELP ME FORGIVE AS I HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN.

Give me grace to release offenses and walk in the freedom that comes through forgiveness. Help me extend the same grace You have shown me through Christ.

5. HOLY SPIRIT, CONTINUE TO TEACH ME.

Even though this series has come to an end, don't let my learning stop. Continue teaching me in every classroom of life until Christ is fully reflected in me.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

THE FINAL WORD

The School of Christian Living has no final bell. There may be a final part to this series, but there is no final day of learning Christlikeness on earth.

Every morning brings another class.

Every relationship brings another lesson.

Every challenge brings another examination.

Every mistake can become another opportunity to learn.

Every victory can become another opportunity to grow.

And every day, the Holy Spirit remains our Teacher.

So wherever you go tomorrow—

Church.

Home.

School.

Office.

Business.

Neighborhood.

Online.

Private life.

Remember:

YOU ARE STILL IN CLASS.

The Bible is your Textbook.

The Holy Spirit is your Teacher.

Life is your classroom.

Your circumstances are practical lessons.

Your trials are examinations.

And Christlikeness is the standard.

So don't just go to church.

Go to class.

Don't just hear the Word.

Learn the lesson.

Don't just learn the lesson.

Practice it.

Don't just practice it.

Become it.

Because at the end of the day, the world should not only hear that you belong to Christ.

They Should Be Able To See Christ In You.

SALVATION IS ADMISSION, NOT GRADUATION.

God is speaking, are you listening?

Prince Julius Nenebi-Darkson

(EL-PJ God’s Penman)