Putting on the new man

Intro

with new years eve passing ,

who made a new years eve resolution?

if you made a resolution

its because you want to change

change is good.

you get rid of the habit you used to have

and add a new habit that is healthier

so if my resolution as is many

is to loose weight

then you get rid of the candy and eat fruit

you stop being lazy and go to the gym

today

we are going to be getting into this aspect of

getting rid of something that is old

and putting on something that is new

the big difference is that we are not just putting on new habits

we are putting on a new man

when salvation happens

the old man passes away

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

when we believe in the Lord JEsus

our love for Him

and His for us

changes us

So let us walk as the new creation

as the new man

please open up your bibles to

Ephesians 4:17–25 NKJV

This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.

The passage starts with a therefore

the following statment is in light

of the church all using their gifts to edify and build up the church

pasul then says for this reason

and furthermore

I say and testify that

you should no longer walk as the gentiles

walk — means the way of their living ....

gentiles - non Jews

Had many pagan beliefs and they were very immoral

most importantly —they did not worship God

to make it simplified

we should not walk like unbelievers

paul quickly points out the fuitility of their mind

this means empty and useless

the unbelievers mind has no understanding of the things of God

for it is darkened because of the absence of the light of Christ

without Christ in their minds and hearts

they are alienated----cut off from the life of God

paul says its because of the ignorance that is in them

and because of the blindness of their hearts

they walk in lewdness , uncleaness , and greediness

lewdness - sexual indulgence

pornography , sex before marriage, multiple partners ---even religious orgies that took place

common in our day in age - sexual perversion on almost every show, commercial,

it is championed to look at someone sexually

uncleaness- impurity , sinful behavior

greediness- the excessive desire of acquiring more and more.

The gentiles walk this way

and they are seperated from the life of God....

that is crazy to think about

its because of their

ignorance - not aware of life with Jesus

thats what is so scary

people who are headed for hell have no idea

they think they are fine

but they are not

they have no life with Jesus ....

this is the state of an unbeliever

and unfortunately there are a lot of people who profess

faith in Christ

but they have no idea who God is

these are those who come to church every sunday

yet still look like the old man

I want to point out that

putting on the new man

starts in your thinking

Get your thoughts on Jesus

the way you walk

has everything to do with the way you think

Proverbs 23:7 NKJV

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you.

Jesus always put what goes on in your head and heart

as a bigger concern than your actions

Matthew 5:28 NKJV

But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

story- uncle matt looking at a girl on beach

I was like nooooo

so If you want to change how you walking /living

it starts in the mind

the unbelievers mind is wirthless because it

never thinks of the things of God

this means there is no restraint on his heart

or direction in holiness

they are blinded in their heart and it leads them to a life of

self serving and sin

2 Corinthians 4:3–4 NKJV

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

why are people perishing

because their minds have been blinded

they have been in the dark of the things of God

so christian I say to you

light up your mind with the things of Christ

if you want to walk as a new man

you need to get your thought life on God

your actions always start in your mind first

and please reflect on this question

What comes into your mind when you think about God ?

AW Tozier coined this as the most important thing about our life

Paul continues to write

but you have not learned christ in this way

if indeed you have heard Him, and have been taught by Him

as the truth is in Jesus

this is an imoprtant part of the equation

Have you learned Christ?

Do you know Who He is

and have you learned Him as the Lord of your life...

Lord means King- Ruler

Is He king of your life or are you?

If He is king of your life then you will

put off the old man

and thats our second point

put of the old man

That old man is you…

your self

with all of its self serving

think of the sins

and lifestyle that goes against God

put it off

meaning get rid of it

and how do we do that

by

Ephesians 4:23 NKJV

and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

back to the mind

Romans 12:2 NKJV

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

We are transformed in the mind when we learn of Christ

through His word

repent in the mind

learn what is needed to be put off

and then go to God and ask for help putting it off

Must be done by faith

(have story for guys mine is porn / girls) ---lead into prayer for small group

in contrast to putting off the old man, we must put on the new man

put on the new man

Ephesians 4:24 NKJV

and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

The new man is Christ in you

Galatians 3:27 NKJV

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

When you repent and believe the gospel

you die to the old man

and put on the new man

This is Gods purpouse for you

That you would be saved and transformed into a man or woman after His own heart

now the only way to live in true righteousness and holiness

is to live by faith in Christ

He is righteous and holy

and by faith in Him

He considers you perfectly righteous and Holy

but its not just about making you righteous in the spirit

but He transforms your mind and lifestyle

to look like Him

Gospel

the gospel leads to a new man

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

if you want to become a new creation

it starts with giving your life to God

if you are realizing you still are the old man

it starts with giving your life to God

lets put off the old man

and put on Christ

every day of our life

lets pray.