Please turn with me tonight to Ephesians 4. Ephesians 4, as we read together, beginning at verse 17 through chapter 5, verse 8. The text being chapter 4, verse 28. Ephesians chapter 4, and part of chapter 5. When you have found that, please also turn in the back of this altar hymnal to page 54. Page 54. Tonight we consider this text from Ephesians 4, verse 28, in connection with the Eighth Commandment, You shall not steal. Page 54. It's interesting, I think. the section in Ephesians 4 and 5 that we're going to read there, Paul is talking about being children of light. It's interesting to me that Paul, in a number of his epistles, he makes a distinction, a clear distinction, as he's talking to God's people, as he's talking to believers, he makes it clear that we are, as believers, to put off the deeds of darkness, the deeds of the old man, which still stick to us, and put on the deeds of light, the deeds of the new man. Put off and put on. That is to be our active duty as God's children. And we consider that tonight in this section, in this section, Paul gives some concrete ways in which the Christian puts off the old life, with its deceitful desires, and puts on Christ. And we're going to be considering one of those in connection with Lord's Day 42. And let's first turn to Lord's Day 42 and give expression to what we believe concerning the Eighth Commandment. Question 110 asks, What does God forbid in the Eighth Commandment? He forbids not only outright theft and robbery punishable by law, but in God's sight, theft also includes cheating and swindling our neighbor by schemes made to appear legitimate, such as inaccurate measurements of weight, size, or volume, fraudulent merchandising, counterfeit money, excessive interest, or any other means forbidden by God. In addition, He forbids all greed and pointless squandering of His gifts. What does God require of you in this commandment? that I do whatever I can for my neighbor's good, that I treat him as I would like others to treat me, and that I work faithfully so that I may share with those in need. Ephesians 4, beginning at verse 17. Hear now God's holy word. So I tell you this and insist on it in the Lord that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity with a continual lust for more. You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires to be made new in the attitude of your minds and to put on the new self created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor for we are all members of one body. In your anger, do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children, and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality or of any kind of impurity or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure, no immoral, impure, or greedy person, such a man as an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work doing something useful with his own hands that he may have something to share with those in need. Well, beloved, in Christ the Lord, how many thieves do we have here tonight? How many thieves do we have here tonight? Well, you know, I'm not talking about hardcore criminals, bank robbers, jewelry thieves, or cat burglars, or anything of that nature. I'm not talking about someone who may have been arrested for a crime of burglary and tried and found guilty and convicted. But how many thieves are here tonight? You see, as believers, we are to be humbled because each one of us, I trust, understands just how close to home this hits. Each and every one of us must raise our hand because we are all guilty of stealing. We are all guilty. And that's why we need the Eighth Commandment. You see, probably more than any of the other commandments, this commandment deals with the most visible way to show love or a lack of love for our neighbor, doesn't it? Showing a lack of love by violating this commandment. Showing love for our neighbor by promoting what God intends us to promote by way of this commandment. Now remember again, the law reveals sin. It illumines sin. And the law of God teaches us that stealing is wrong. Stealing is sin. Stealing is disobedience against God. And we know that our only hope is the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ. You see, through lists like the one Paul gives here in Ephesians 4 and 5 and the other list that he gives in the other epistles where he clearly says to put off and to put on. The comfort there is that in the grace of God we are able to put on. So what we see there, we are reminded through lists like these of the glorious wonder of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the transforming power of the Gospel that transforms us from the old man of sin to the new man of righteousness. With regard to the Eighth Commandment, It transforms us from burglar to benefactor. Boys and girls, a benefactor very simply is one who benefits someone else, who gives and helps someone else. Now, someone might say, well, what do Paul's words here, especially in this text, but also the other things, the other items that he gives, what do Paul's words have to do with believers? After all, Paul also says in 2 Corinthians 5 or 17, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone. The new has come. And certainly that must mean then that one who has been regenerated, one who has been given new birth, is free from everything associated with the old life. It's gone. It is no more. Including stealing. But of course we know better, don't we? We know that it simply isn't true. We know that slavery to sin and a delight in sin is gone as Paul teaches in Romans chapter 6. However, we are not yet perfect. We know that the Bible teaches and we know from experience, don't we? Because we have new desires and new delights. We know that there is that principle of new life in the one who is born again because the Holy Spirit has taken up residence in us and has transformed our hearts. But what is the Holy Spirit doing? He's busy, isn't He? He's busy carrying out that work of cleansing us, that work of sanctification, making us actually, on the inside, the way that God sees us, the way God declares us to be, righteous in Jesus Christ. But we are not yet there. And we won't be until we reach glory. And therefore, Paul knows that God's people, He knows that believers need instruction. We need encouragement in righteousness. You see, Paul is addressing those to whom stealing used to be a way of life in their wickedness. Especially if they were slaves. And if they were slaves, it is suggested that it was even somewhat expected that they would steal. That's what they were used to. But now as Christians, he knew that God's people need to be warned again and again and again. lest they would give in to temptation and fall back into these old sinful habits. Now with this particular list that Paul gives us, especially from chapter 4, verse 25, through chapter 5, verse 5, with this list, we see a pattern. Largely a pattern. Paul first tells us what not to do. And then he tells us what to do. And then he gives the reason for not doing the one and for doing the other. New life in Christ means a change. And again, as far as the Eighth Commandment is concerned, a change from burglar to benefactor through respect for others' property, through participating in honest labor, and through providing for the needs of others. First of all, through respect for the property of others. Paul says, he who has been stealing must steal no longer. See, that's how we show respect for others' property. We don't steal it. Now, what is the meaning of stealing? Well, I suspect that even the youngest boy or girl here among us tonight knows what stealing is. In fact, we see it in our children at a very young age. As soon as they're able to grab things, they're reaching out, taking whatever's not theirs, even food out of your hand that you're about to stick in your mouth. They take it as if it was their very own. In the obvious sense, it means taking something that belongs to someone else, taking it as your very own, taking it without permission. But, of course, this doesn't only mean with regard to material things, things that you can see and touch and hold, but even things that are not material. Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones gives this definition of stealing, that it is taking possession of and using as your own something that does not belong to you. Basically the same as we just said. And then he adds appropriating something, and this can be material or not material, appropriating something that is not yours to serve your own ends and own gratification. And we can broaden this out even more stating that stealing includes using your own possessions wrongfully in the sight of God. Stealing is a very, very comprehensive thing and that's no doubt why the Catechism gives it a comprehensive definition. He forbids not only outright theft and robbery punishable by law, but in God's sight, theft also includes cheating and swindling our neighbor by schemes made to appear legitimate, such as inaccurate measurements of weight, size, or volume, fraudulent merchandising, counterfeit money, excessive interest, or any other means forbidden by God. In addition, he forbids all greed and pointless squandering of his gifts. Now, notice there, the Catechism, which we know is a faithful summary of Scripture, teaches that the Bible teaches that there are three aspects of stealing. First, that which is punishable by law, that which we would normally think of. That open, blatant stealing and robbery. But it's not only that which is punishable by law, it's not only that for which you might get caught by the governing authorities, but it's also that which is underhanded, cheating and swindling, that which is of a concealed nature. And the third aspect is that it involves greed and wasting of God's gifts. Now, from these, of course, we can talk for hours about examples of stealing. It's possible to steal money or objects. It's also possible to steal time. To steal time from each other when you're late, making others wait. It's possible to steal time from our employer, not putting in the hours for which you have contracted, said you would work so many hours for so much pay, or even employers not paying the employee for the hours that they said they would pay them for. It's possible to steal time from God through our laziness. It's possible to steal thoughts and ideas from others and take them as your very own. And as the Catechism says, we steal by way of fraud. charging too much. But also as a purchaser, trying to pay too little. Trying to get just the right bargain so that the one who is selling the object is not able to make a livable profit. The writer of Proverbs even points to this, I believe, in Proverbs 20, verse 14. It's no good, it's no good, says the buyer. Then off he goes and boasts of his purchase. Trying to get the price down. Complaining about the price. Then going away bragging to his family and friends, look what I got, and this is what I paid for it. We steal through gambling, wasting resources, placing our life in the hands of chance. We steal through waste. Wasting food, wasting usable items that others can easily use when we are finished with them. It's possible to steal the generosity of others. Taking advantage of their generosity when you don't really need it. It's possible to steal the reputation of others through gossip and lying. And of course then, it's possible too to steal by way of cheating. Cheating on our taxes. Or students cheating on someone else's paper in class, taking their answer as your very own. Stealing is so very, very comprehensive. And that's why the character of stealing is shameful and despicable. As Paul makes clear, it is a natural part of the sinful old life. He says, let him who is stealing. He's talking to believers. But he's reminding them of something, of the natural part of the sinful heart. Who is stealing a continuous action. The sinful heart tries to steal at every opportunity. And the character of stealing includes the fact that it is stealing from God. To steal from others is to steal from God, to steal what He has given to them. At the same time, it is to demonstrate a dissatisfaction with what God has given to the one who steals. And as well, breaking trust with God. The character of stealing includes also that it is a work of darkness. It involves concealing, hiding the truth, working secretly, because the one who steals doesn't want others to see what he is doing. It is done in the dark, which we know, according to the Bible, is the way of wickedness, the way of the wicked. And its dark character includes lying and manipulation. Beloved, the shameful, despicable character of stealing is that it is a misuse of God-given resources. And now I'm not just talking about money or possessions, but also the resources of hands. Paul speaks of hands. Our hands are a resource. And God has given to us our hands to work with faithfully and honestly. But when they are used to steal, they are used to do evil. They are used to hurt others and take from them. To reach out and grab from them. He has also given us the resource of our brain and our intellect. And in stealing, that intellect is used for deceptive, hurtful purposes. It's not used in honest, God-glorifying ways. It's used instead to plan to do evil, evading and avoiding what is God-honoring and proper. One teacher described a student as being brilliant, trying to figure out the best shortcut. Trying to figure out the best shortcut. When that one wasn't supposed to take a shortcut in doing their homework, their classwork. You see, boys and girls, that is stealing from God. It is a misuse of the intellect that God has given to you. The shameful, despicable character of stealing ultimately is that it is selfishness. The one who steals is not satisfied with what he has. He wants more. He wants what others have. And even more than that, he desires to have it without the effort. The one who steals desires to get the most by doing the least and figures it's really stupid, as it were, to work so hard to get something when you can simply reach out and take it from someone else. You see, the stealer thinks he has a right to anything he wants without regard, without respect for others and their possessions. About three or four years ago, a couple of young boys from the neighborhood had stole a scooter that belonged to one of my children, one of, I think, to Ryan Wardenburg. And Candy chased him down, and I with her, and we caught him. As we were waiting for the police to arrive, I asked these young boys, why? Because it's somewhat foreign to me. Why would you take something that doesn't belong to you? And the one boy, as callous as can be, said, because I don't have one. Because I don't have one. And you do. I said, well, go buy one. Well, I don't have any money. And since you already have one, you must have the money to go be able to buy another one. And just as callous as ever, he figured he had the right because he wanted it and he didn't have one. He could take it as his very own. Stealing is shameful. It is despicable. But also, beloved, it is dangerous for the life of the church. We know the obvious danger of stealing is that it is disobedience to God. It angers God. But it also attacks the fellowship of God's people. You see, where stealing is practiced in any way, shape, or form among God's people, whether taking credit for something that you don't have a right to have credit for, whether taking someone else's ideas and using them as your own, whether taking advantage of another's generosity in the church, We're stealing his practice in any way among God's people. There can be no fellowship. Because there will be no unity. Because there is no trust. Only suspicion. Therefore, only looking out for the needs and interests of oneself. But that's contrary to the Christian life. That's contrary to the life of the church where we are to be united in faith, hope, and love. and therefore there is to be trust and honesty among God's people where we are to look out for the interest of others. We are to be grateful for all that God has given to us, our talents and abilities and intellect and resources. And therefore Paul says, stop stealing. Stop. Put an end to it now. Don't ever do it again. Put off darkness. Put on light. be transformed from burglar to benefactor by respecting the property of others by not taking from them and instead through participating in the second place in honest labor. Paul says that one instead must work doing something useful with his own hands. You see, beloved, honest labor is God's gift to man. It's God's gift to man. I must confess, I'm lazy by nature. So I struggle with this. But honest labor is God's gift to man. God gave man the gift to tend and care for this earth. In Genesis 2, He said that Adam was to work the garden to take care of it. And the pattern was to be creation. Six days of labor, one day of rest. And not only did God give him the gift of labor, but He gave man the gifts to perform that labor. Paul says, hands again. And the proper use of our hands is to work, to produce. And of course, the hands points to all the human faculties needed to perform the work that God gives us. Our intellect and our talents and strength and wisdom. Our senses. Honest labor is God's gift to man. And honest labor is also a satisfying labor. Paul says work. Work. A simple word, right? Work. We are to find satisfaction in our work. How? By knowing that you have done it. You see, this word work here has the idea of doing something tiring. It has the idea of effort. He's talking about putting in a hard day's work that brings with it what we sometimes call a good tired. because it comes with a sense of accomplishment. And therefore, also, satisfying labor is dignifying. It's dignifying because we know that work produces something. But Paul says doing something useful, or as it's also translated, good, with his own hands. And simply that means, beloved, acquiring something in a good way by honest labor without cheating, without wronging, or harming another to get it. we are not to supply our wants at the expense of others. But we are to support our life by honorable labor. And that means, too, that satisfying labor is steady. Work and labor that is steady is to be a rule of life. Now we know again that that's contrary to society. We live in the midst of a society that desires to work the shortest hours possible for the fewest number of years and then retire and play. And worse yet, we live in a society that has no problem taking advantage of government handouts like welfare or even taking advantage of church benevolence as we sometimes run across. But satisfying labor is steady and it is characteristic of Christianity. Paul calls for work so as not to be a burden to anyone else. And he himself was the model to follow. In the book of Proverbs, we know that righteousness and wisdom are put together. They go together. And the writer of Proverbs also makes it clear that the wise man is diligent in labor and that is contrasted to the wicked, to the godless, which is characterized by being lazy and slack and being freeloaders. Honest labor is God's gift to man. It is a satisfying labor. And it's also a means of support that God has given to us. Proverbs 6 directs our attention to the ant. Boys and girls, you watch ants once in a while. You see them working hard, scurrying around on the ground. Sometimes they're a nuisance to us. But what does the Bible say? The Bible says they work hard. They store up in the summer. Why? So that they have food in the winter. satisfying labor is a means of support we are to live from our labor paul says to share he doesn't say give it all away he says to share it which means that part of it is to be used by ourselves in second thessalonians 3 verse 10 he says we gave you this rule if a man will not work he shall not eat and he says in second timothy 2 verse 6 the hard-working farmer should be the first to receive the share of the cross. And again, that's contrasted with the one who was lazy. Proverbs 13, verse 4, the sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. Chapter 19, verse 15, laziness brings on deep sleep, but the shipless man goes hungry. And then one more, Proverbs 28, verse 19, he who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty. Satisfying or honest labor is a means of support, beloved, for you and me. But it's more than that. It's more than self-support. You see, the positive side of this commandment is to stop taking and to start giving. We are called to work in order to give, to be a benefactor, to be one who benefits others. In the third place, through providing for the needs of others. Paul says, work that he may have something to share with those in need. Notice, Paul calls for a complete U-turn. A complete turnaround. Taking and giving are complete opposites. Don't take anymore. Instead, give. You see, beloved, this is a call for stewardship. We know that everything that we have is from God. He is the giver of every good and perfect gift. We are just stewards. It's not really ours. It's His. And we are to use all that He has given to us in this life in a way that is pleasing to Him. And that means not only our possessions, but also our time and our talents. We are to use them to work, to produce, to earn a living. Why? Because this is also a call for generosity. Generosity is not optional for God's people, but generosity is natural for God's people. We are not to hoard all that we have and use it for our own selfish pleasure, but we are to have a concern for the poor because the poor are God's concern. The psalmist says in Psalm 72, verse 13, He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. And Paul in Acts 20, verse 35 says, In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself. It is more blessed to give than to receive. And then going to Proverbs one more time. Proverbs 28, verse 27, He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses. Beloved, this is a call for generosity as God has blessed us. We know that God has not given the same to all. We know that. Some of us have more, some of us have a little less. To the rich, he has given a greater responsibility. We are not to let our riches consume us. Are we to enjoy our riches? Sure. But the rich have been given more to share. And the less rich? Well, the less rich are not to work their fingers to the bone only in order to try to keep up with the rich. You see, if you are using everything you have for yourself, you are stealing from God. And you are stealing from those that He intends for you to help. We are to be content and satisfied with what God has given to us. And we are called to live within our means. And our means, beloved, includes having something to share. Our means includes having something to share. Well, this is a call for self-examination. To examine ourselves. Question 111 again asks, What does God require of you in this commandment? Talking positively now. That I do whatever I can for my neighbor's good. that I treat him as I would like others to treat me, and that I work faithfully so that I may share with those in need. Beloved, we are to take an honest look at ourselves and ask, how would I like to be treated? Well, number one, I don't think any one of us here would like to be stolen from. I think I can say that pretty safely. And number two, I trust as well that each one of us, if we would find ourselves in a position of need, we certainly would appreciate our neighbor helping us in our time of need. And that's what we are called to do. To look out, to do whatever I can for my neighbor's good. Not taking their property, helping to preserve their property. Helping them in whatever way I am able to. And we are called to follow the example of Jesus Christ. To have the mind of Christ. He gave His utmost. He gave His highest. He gave His entire life and energy and time for you and me. As Paul says, For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. He didn't come to take from you and me. He came to give and give and give until He had given His all. There is the saying that every man has his price. But when Satan offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, Jesus could not be bought. Because He came to empty Himself. He came to give Himself a ransom for you and me. And we know that He was arrested. He was punished as a thief in our place. Beloved, stealing dishonors God. It is disobedience against God. and it demonstrates a complete lack of thankfulness for the gift of Jesus Christ, a lack of understanding what Jesus Christ has done. But giving in Jesus' name glorifies God, and it demonstrates that understanding of the gift of salvation and our dependence upon the mercy of God. We have become rich in Him with eternal riches, riches that cannot be destroyed by moth or rust or fire, Riches that cannot be stolen by thieves. We have become rich in Him and He helps us to see this life and the things of this life as temporary. But while we are in this life and our God continues to provide for us, we are called to share. To share in the name of Jesus Christ. To give a cup of cold water in His name. Giving is to be our delight even as God gives to us all that we need so generously for this life and especially for the life to come. And we have seen that in the gift of Jesus Christ and His saving love. And that means, too, that the greatest gift that we have to share, beloved, is the very same gospel that transforms us from burglars to benefactors. That's the greatest good of our neighbor, isn't it? That we tell them about the saving grace of Jesus Christ and that for all who repent of their sins and look to Him in faith, they will be saved. But we are called to give as we are enabled. And that means that sometimes we will not have the resources to give very much. That means that sometimes we will not see our neighbor's predicament. We won't see it. And that may mean that at other times we might have to refuse helping our neighbor because they ask wrongfully for something that we know would not be for their good or they ask something that would be unlawful for us to do but whenever we can and are able if it lies within our means and possibility and whenever we may whenever it's lawful we are to promote our neighbor's good whomever God places in our path not that we might be praised but so that they would experience the love of Jesus Christ through us the Holy Spirit has transformed his people from burglars to benefactors and we know that we can't begin to out give God but may it be pleased brothers and sisters that we would be pleased may it be that we would be pleased to give gratefully to him by giving to those in need that they may come to see in us the gift of Jesus Christ and his saving love Amen Let's pray together. Father, we praise Your name for Your gift that You gave and You gave and You gave the very life of Your Son as He gave Himself all the way to the eternal punishment that was due for us. And Father, we pray that You would drive selfishness far away from us that we would not desire to get and get and get for ourselves and thereby be tempted to steal and take that which you have not given to us. Take that which does not belong to us. Drive selfishness far away from us and give to us a selfless spirit, O Lord, more and more day by day that we might be pleased in the name of Jesus Christ as we understand your precious gift to us. to be generous to others, to see to their needs in this life. And as we see to their needs, O Lord, inasmuch as you make us able, that you would give to us the opportunity to give them the greatest gift, the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Father, we praise you for your gifts to us. Help us to never take them for granted, O Lord, but to always be so very grateful for all that you have given to us in Christ Jesus, our Lord. We pray these things. Amen.