Renewal Part 2 (MORE)

Intro:

Paul, here in Eph 4 as we continue there this morning in verse 20-24

he compares being renewed to what it’s like to put on new clothes

Ephesians 4:17–24 NIV

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, and they are full of greed. That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ 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.

Paul actually begins this section with an education picture

How part does our mind play when we talk about renewal?

Romans 12:2 NIV

2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

So, transformation happens by renewing the mind

Justin and the snake

James 1:22–25 NIV

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

So, part of it is, to be like Christ we have discover Christ with our minds.

But also remember, Paul says “you hear about Christ (Mind) and were taught in him.” (relationship/heart)

This phrase ‘to learn a person’ appears nowhere else in the Bible and to date, has not been traced anywhere else in pre-biblical Greek documents.

Because Christianity, unlike other religions, is about knowing and putting your hope and faith into a living person

This is strictly relational language.

So, Paul here, and this is important, is not merely calling us to learn about the teachings of Jesus, He calling us to develop a relationship with Him

So what part does the heart play in renewal?

A.W. Tozer said “A man can die of starvation knowing all about bread, and a man can remain spiritually dead while knowing all the historic facts of Christianity.”

The call to renewal is ultimately a relational invitation

Yes we need to know about Jesus, but we must also know Him.

So how do we balance these two?

How do we balance head and heart?