The Obligation of Righteousness

By Al Felder

Called to Live Differently

When Paul turns to the practical section of Ephesians, he makes it plain that the blessings of salvation are meant to change the way God’s people live. The church is not only called to believe certain truths. It is called to walk in a way that reflects those truths. That is why one of the great obligations laid upon the church is righteousness.

This obligation is rooted in the character of God Himself. God is holy, and the people who belong to Him must be holy. God is righteous, and the people who wear the name of Christ must live righteously. This is not about outward religion without inward transformation. It is about a life so changed by truth that it can no longer be mistaken for the life of the world.

Paul shows that there must be a visible difference between the Christian and the unbeliever. The church cannot claim to belong to Christ while continuing to walk as the Gentiles walk. The old life is marked by vanity of mind, darkened understanding, ignorance, hardness of heart, sensuality, impurity, and greed. The world may normalize such things, excuse such things, or even celebrate such things, but God does not. A life apart from His truth is not neutral. It is corrupting and destructive.

You Have Not So Learned Christ

Paul makes a powerful statement when he says, “But ye have not so learned Christ.” That means Christ is not only the object of faith. He is also the pattern of the new life. To come to Christ is to be taught by Him, shaped by His truth, and transformed by His rule.

The Christian life begins with a decisive break from the old man. Paul says the former way of life must be put off because it is corrupt according to deceitful lusts. Sin always lies. It promises pleasure, freedom, or satisfaction, but it leaves the soul more damaged than before. The old man cannot be polished into holiness. He must be put off.

In his place, the new man must be put on. This new man is created after God in righteousness and true holiness. That means righteousness is not a human invention or a matter of personal taste. It is defined by God. It is a life shaped by His truth, formed by His will, and brought into harmony with His character.

This transformation begins in the mind. Paul says believers must be renewed in the spirit of their mind. The world walks according to false thinking, but the Christian is taught by Christ. He does not let culture, appetite, emotion, or popular opinion decide what is right. He learns to think according to the word of God, and that renewed mind produces a different walk.

Righteousness Shows Up in Relationships

Paul does not leave righteousness in vague language. He makes it concrete. One of the clearest places righteous living appears is in the way Christians treat one another.

He begins with truthfulness. “Putting away lying, speak every man the truth with his neighbour.” Lies destroy trust, and where trust is broken, unity begins to fail. In the church, dishonesty has no rightful place because believers are members of one another. Truth is not merely a personal virtue. It is necessary for the body's health.

Then Paul speaks about anger. There are times when anger may arise, but it must never be allowed to turn into sin. It must not be nursed, cherished, or allowed to take root. Lingering wrath opens the door to the devil. A righteous person does not excuse bitterness as a personality trait or justify resentment as a form of strength. He works toward peace and refuses to let anger become a settled condition of the heart.

Paul also points to responsibility and generosity. The one who once stole must steal no more, but must instead work honestly with his own hands so that he may have something to give to those in need. This is a striking picture of transformation. The selfish taker becomes a faithful giver. Righteousness does not merely stop doing evil. It replaces evil with good.

Speech is another test of holiness. Corrupt communication must be put away. Words that tear down, poison, inflame, mock, or degrade do not belong in the mouth of one who belongs to Christ. Instead, speech should be edifying and minister grace to those who hear. A righteous heart produces gracious speech.

Finally, Paul says bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, and malice must be put away. In their place must be kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness. Why? Because this is how God has treated us in Christ. The church is most clearly righteous when its members reflect the mercy they themselves have received.

Walk in Love as Christ Loved

At the opening of Ephesians 5, Paul gathers the previous commands into one great summary: walk in love. To imitate God as dear children means to love as Christ loved.

This is not sentimental love detached from holiness. It is sacrificial love. Christ gave Himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God. That means love is not merely kind feelings or gentle words. It is self-giving obedience shaped by the will of God.

If believers are walking in mercy, truth, graciousness, and forgiveness, then they are walking like Christ. Their lives become a sweet-smelling offering to God because they reflect the spirit of the One who gave Himself for them.

This is one reason righteousness can never be reduced to a list of prohibitions. It is more than avoiding evil. It is an active imitation of Christ. It is love lived out in truth.

Saints Must Not Live Like the World

Paul then sharpens the contrast between the life of the church and the life of the world. Certain sins are not to be casually tolerated among the saints. Fornication, uncleanness, and covetousness are not to be once named among God’s people in a way that suggests such things are normal or acceptable.

The same is true of filthiness, foolish talking, and coarse jesting. Speech that is indecent, empty, vulgar, or morally careless does not fit the mouth of one who belongs to Christ. Paul is not being narrow or outdated. He is reminding the church that words reveal what fills the heart, and saints are to be marked by thanksgiving, purity, and reverence.

This matters because people are often tempted to treat conduct lightly so long as it is common in the culture. But Paul warns against being deceived by vain words. God’s wrath comes upon the children of disobedience because of these very things. The church must not accept what God condemns simply because the world has grown comfortable with it.

To belong to Christ means refusing fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. It means recognizing that the life of holiness will not blend comfortably with the life of rebellion. The Christian is not called to fit in with darkness. He is called to stand apart from it.

Walk as Children of Light

Paul uses one of the strongest images in this passage when he says, “Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord.” He does not merely say they were in darkness. He says they were darkness. But now, in Christ, they are light.

That means righteousness is not superficial. It is not an occasional religious moment added onto worldly living. It is a complete transformation of identity. Those who belong to Christ now walk as children of light, and the fruit of that light is seen in goodness, righteousness, and truth.

Walking in the light means more than personal separation from evil. It also means exposing what darkness really is. Truth has a revealing power. The church must not hide the light of Christ under fear, compromise, or silence. A righteous life exposes sin by contrast. It shows that another way of living is possible through Christ.

This is part of the church’s witness. When believers live in holiness, purity, kindness, and truth, they do more than preserve their own souls. They shine. And in shining, they help awaken others who are still asleep in darkness.

A Righteous Church Makes Christ Visible

The world may not always understand righteousness, but it can see the difference it makes. It can see the difference between bitterness and forgiveness. It can distinguish between corrupt speech and gracious speech. It can see the difference between impurity and holiness, greed and generosity, selfishness and love.

That is why righteousness is such an important obligation of the church. It is not merely a private spiritual concern. It is part of how Christ is made visible in His people.

The church is called to walk in unity, but that unity must be joined to holiness. The church is called to love, but that love must be joined to truth. The church is called to be merciful, but that mercy must never become a compromise with sin. Paul’s message is clear: the saved are special and walk differently. They have put off the old man. They have put on the new. They now live in the light of Christ.

That kind of life will always stand out. And that is exactly what God intends.

Reflection Questions

1. Are there any parts of the old man that I am still trying to keep rather than put away completely?

2. Does my speech build others up and minister grace, or does it tear down and corrupt?

3. Am I known more for bitterness and irritation, or for kindness, forgiveness, and tenderness?

4. Is there anything in my conduct that gives the appearance of fellowship with darkness?

5. Does my daily life show that I am truly walking as a child of light?