Ephesians Week 7

We Are Made New

The New Self

Ephesians 4:17–32 ESV

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

A New Identity

The Worldly Self

What Characteristics define worldly individuals?

What is the difference between ignorance and disobedience?

What are the essentials someone needs to abandon the old self?

b. The New Self

By what means does a person change themselves?

What does it mean to be taught in Christ?

How do you put off the old self and put on the new self?

What habits, beliefs, or actions have helped you be renewed?

Is this a one time process?

2. Living Out the New Identity

Ephesians 4:25–32 ESV

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

a. Replace lying with truth

b. Replace unrighteous anger with righteous anger

With is the difference between these two angers?

Can we or how do we practice righteous anger?

c. Replace stealing with working and giving

d. Replace corrupt talk with edifying talk

e. Replace bitterness and rage with kindness and forgiveness

What is the key to living in the new identity?

What processes or habits need to be developed?

What does the it mean to grieve the Spirit?

How do relationships with others factor into this process?

Verse 32 says “Be Kind to one another, Tenderhearted, forgiving,”

How well to you do in achieving these actions?

When are they the most difficult?

How do we improve in these areas?