Three Walking Together
Ephesians: Rooted and Grounded • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 18 viewsNotes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
As we walk through Ephesians 4:17-5:2 this morning, we are going to have two guests with us. Have you ever taken a walk with two companions? There are several things that we all have experienced when we have walked in a group.
One of the challenges about walking with two other people is limited space. Most trails or hallways or even stairways are not wide enough to accommodate three people walking next to each other. Only a few of these places are able to even allow two people to walk together. As we walk through the passage this morning, our two companions are going to subtly challenge for space.
Another challenge about walking with two other people is that you cannot look at both when you are talking to them. If you are in the middle, you are constantly looking back and forth as you walk along. When the man on your right speaks, you and your other companion turn to face him. As your companion on the left speaks, you turn back to listen. Looking at someone is a choice you make but hearing them is something you are faced with as you walk along.
A final challenge about walking with two friends is the pace of our walk. One friend often seems ready to plow ahead while the other lags behind. Sometimes, both are out pacing you or falling back as you walk. Keeping pace with two people is a tricky business. Both seem to be pushing us forward in their chosen direction. Our companions this morning are no exception.
As we trudge along this morning, let’s ask some questions of the two friends walking beside us through this passage in Ephesians.
1. The Old Man on the Left
1. The Old Man on the Left
A. What was your childhood like? v. 17-18
A. What was your childhood like? v. 17-18
The old man tells us that his childhood was one of walking with many other similar people. They all walked along with emptiness in their heads. The worthlessness of life was their conversation. Nothing of eternal value was said, thought, or needed. The old man is well versed in this useless conversation. He could tell you all that man has discovered or uncovered throughout his history. In fact, the old man has been taught these things from his earliest memories from his parents and friends. Paul gives us the first part of the old man’s answer,
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
As he grew older, the old man tells us that the wisdom of the men around him began to crowd out the testimony of his own heart. He had known as a child that there must be a God. He had seen the wonder of nature and had learned of changed lives. But age slowly drew him away from the knowledge of God, his schooling surely did. The old man tells us that he now walks in a dark place, sometimes stumbling along. No matter, he tells us. No matter for his inner wisdom will direct his steps toward his ultimate destination. Paul tells us about this old man,
Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
Have you ever felt blind? Have you ever walked in darkness or vanity? What would you say about your childhood if you were asked? Christ is bothered by the old man’s answer. We should be too because the old man’s answer is familiar to us. It is familiar because we were the old man too! As Jesus prepares to heal a man who has physical and spiritual needs, Christ asks a question of the religious leaders in Israel,
And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.
What a sad childhood for this old man! He could have used the knowledge that God had given him but instead he chose the knowledge of men which has left his way dark as he stumbled along. John tells us about the True Light which is there for each man in this dark world.
He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
The old man’s childhood was a dark, frivolous time that has blinded him in his life.
B. How were your growing-up years? v. 19
B. How were your growing-up years? v. 19
What an answer he thinks he can give to this question! His youth is full of stories of wild parties and times of rebellion. At first, he was unsure how people would react to his crazy ways. Over time, those who were walking with him had convinced him that what he was doing was just normal. “Life is to be lived to the fullest,” they said. “Only by getting what you want out of life can you be filled!” The old man smiles as he thinks of the fun that he had. We see his smile as we walk along beside him on his dark path. As he smiles though, there is sadness in his eyes. Paul tells us that the old man is one
Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Why would there be sadness in his eyes? He has gone past feeling the weight of his sin. However, one day, he knows, he will be held accountable for it. Sin is always punished. Whether Christ is the one who has paid for the sin of the Christian or the person spends eternity in hell, the sin of man is paid for! Through all those years of pleasure, no true joy entered his darkened soul. Happiness is temporary; joy is permanent. Happiness is physical; joy is spiritual. His happiness was gone when the fun stopped. Joy lingers even in the darkest times because Joy is found only in God. One Broadway song gives us an apt understanding of this old man,
“Because happy is what happens/When all your dreams come true.”
Stephen Schwartz
And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Instead of temporary happiness in the sins of the world, Solomon tells us that happiness will never truly be achieved for this old man. He will continue to live in the darkness of his joy-less life without ever reaching what he seeks for!
Hell and destruction are never full;
So the eyes of man are never satisfied.
The old man’s youth was full of fun but none of it was lasting. So-called “fun” does not equal good times.
C. What is your driving factor in life? v. 20-22
C. What is your driving factor in life? v. 20-22
As he answers this question, the old man tells us first that he is a good person. In fact, he is a person that has heard about God and about Jesus but he never felt religion was for him. Instead, he chose to live his life doing the right thing for the sake of those around him. Everyone doing the wrong thing would surely be chaos, he says. “If you do the right things, good things seem to come along.” For this old man, his driving factor is his desires.
But, Paul tells us instead that the testimony of Christ does not match the way that this old man is living,
But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
So many look at the Gospel with their minds already made up to reject. The darkness of their minds is so thick that they just enjoy the feeling of it. Their sin comforts them as it does this old man. But what does this old man have lurking in the shadows of his darkness? Heaps of debris from a ruined life. Why not live in darkness when it envelops the depths of the wasted days of sin and vice! Paul notices these piles and exhorts us,
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
The old man’s darkness hides ruins, but in light, we can build skyscrapers. This old man has sadness in his eyes that is more than just sentimentality. He knows in his heart that one day these ruins will be the evidence of a life built without the Gospel of Christ.
The way of the Lord is strength to the upright:
But destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
Christ recognized this same situation in the lives of those who claimed to be religious in His day. He preached to them,
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
This old man has some things hidden by the darkness that he has allowed to cloud his mind. What is hidden in your life? Disobedience is noted by God just as obedience is recorded. Moses told the Israelites that, if they would follow the instructions of God in being faithful to fight the good battles for the land,
And the land be subdued before the Lord: then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless before the Lord, and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the Lord. But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out.
The old man’s legacy is ruins and debris from a life lived in the pursuit of deceitful desires.
The old man has told us that his childhood was dark; his youth was fun but frivolous; and his legacy was deceitful. As we walk along, we have learned more about the companion on our left, the old man. What about our other companion on the right?
2. The New Man on the Right
2. The New Man on the Right
A. Would you tell us about your childhood? v. 23-24
A. Would you tell us about your childhood? v. 23-24
The new man answers our first question by talking about a choice that he made. He chose to allow the Spirit to work in his life. The Spirit is the Third person of the Trinity. He works in each Christian to strengthen habits that will reflect the work of Christ in saving him. The new man tells how he has been improved and developed by the work of the Holy Spirit. Paul instruct us that,
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Renewal is a passive process in the life of the Christian. Renewal requires the person walks in touch with the Holy Spirit. Renewal needs a clear relationship for it to occur. The new man is renewed because of what the Holy Spirit does where before only darkness was able to work. In Colossians, we read that
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
The new man hasn’t always been walking with you, he reminds us. He only joined up at the fork in the road. Remember that fork? We should as the fork is recorded for us by Paul.
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Salvation is the fork in the road of life. Rejecting salvation leads to the end of destruction. Accepting salvation leads to the end of perfection. The new man joined us when we took the right path at the fork of salvation. What a joy it is to be a new creature that is being created and formed by God!
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
The new man’s childhood was intimately connected to the free work of the Holy Spirit to make all things new.
B. What choices have you made along the way? v. 25-32
B. What choices have you made along the way? v. 25-32
The new man has a series of statements that he uses to decide on different choices in life. These are found here in the Word of God. I personally don’t feel that preaching lists in the Bible is as effective as seeing the connections between these items. The new man is going to show us that all of these are connected to a personal relationship and an intentional decision to follow the example of Christ our Saviour.
“I choose truth” v. 25
Lying is what the old man does. He tries to conceal the debris of his ruined life.
A false witness that speaketh lies,
And he that soweth discord among brethren.
But the new man chooses,
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
“I choose mercy” v. 26-27
Full to the brim with anger is what the old man is constantly. He is both lashing out and harboring bitterness inside. His anger is a cover for the free access he has given the devil in his life.
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
But the new man chooses,
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.
“I choose labor” v. 28
The old man is not willing to put forth effort, except for himself. He is willing to take from others what God has given them. He is also happy to get away with anything that he can and to do the least that is required.
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold;
Therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit
Than seven men that can render a reason.
But the new man chooses,
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
“I choose grace” v. 29
The old man holds everyone to an unreasonable standard that he will not strive to meet. He holds on to all of the negative things that have happened to him. Whenever he can get even without consequence, be sure that he will try.
All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
But the new man chooses,
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
“I choose the Spirit” v. 30
The old man is not ashamed of the ruin of his life. He relishes it on the outside. He is not ashamed as long as everything is hidden and under the old man’s control. Should the truth come to life, he will only react with more deceit.
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
But the new man chooses,
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
“I choose kindness” v. 31-32
The old man is bitter. He is angry without a cause. His anger reaches the point of vengeance often. Loud speaking are common for him. Nothing is off limits in his conversation. What vitriol is seen in his constant holding of grudges against every person!
Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known:
But the new man chooses,
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
The new man chooses each day, in each situation, to follow the character of a righteous and holy mind.
C. Who do you follow? v. 1-2
C. Who do you follow? v. 1-2
The new man tells us that he follows the path of the Light, Christ. Following Christ is what the Disciples were called to do. Following Christ is what Paul commanded his churches to do. Following Paul was only as good as he continued to follow Christ himself. The new man tells us that his path is following Christ. When he was a child, he learned that the right path to the eternal destination is the one that is made clear by following Christ.
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
The new man answers as well that the way that he follows Christ is by focusing on His love. The love of Christ is what shows him how to treat other people. The love of Christ helps him to deal with the concerns he has about his own mistakes. The love of Christ is hope to those around him who are not walking in the right direction.
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Paul clarifies the life of love-filled sacrifice to the Romans,
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
The new man has a legacy of following Christ and living out His love as a offering of himself to God.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Maybe, as we walked through the passage this morning, you noticed that you only have one companion. Perhaps you can only hear the voice of the man on your left. Only the two of you are walking along the path. He describes the way you have experienced life and all that you have struggle with day to day. Don’t be alarmed!
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
God knows your situation. We are born with the man on the left because of our sin. Because God loves us, He sent His Son to die to free us from that man.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
What is the name of the man on our left? His name is Adam. Each of us has that same sinful nature inside of us that Adam had after he sinned in the garden. Adam’s name means man, and so as men, we are just like him. Everyone of us is condemned to a place called hell because of our sin. The old man is a man that is dead. He is ruined. He is hopeless for the future. What can be done with Adam? Paul tells us that,
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Can you hear the man on the right? He calls out to us from our passage this morning. He is the man that God wants you to be like. He is the man that is following Christ. In fact, the reason that he walks with us who are Christians is that Christ died for us. Our salvation allows him to walk beside us.
What is the name of the man on our left? He is Jesus Himself. God wants us to allow Christ to work in us and renew us into the new man. The new man is our image in Christ.
Think back to what we talked about at the beginning. We talked about three people walking together along a path. In your life today, there are at least two and maybe three people walking along the path. One is the old man. One is the new man. One is your will that makes choices.
Who has the space on the path of your life? The new man is a gentleman but the old man is a thief.
Who are you looking at as they speak to you each day? The new man is quiet and He calls you to obedience. The old man is shouting but he is driven by desire.
Who is setting the pace of your daily walk? The old man is running behind to lead you back to your past. The new man is walking ahead to lead you to life everlasting.
Today and everyday make the right choice between your two companions!
Three are seen walking
to the end of life’s day.
One to the left
One to the right
One with a load
One with a Light
Which of those walking
will lead life’s way?
You in the center
Alone have the say!
