The Old and the New (2)
Notes
Transcript
The Old & New
The Old & New
17 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. 18 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. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Old & New.
There’s a quite a few different references in the bible teaching about the new and the old. Obviously related to life before and after Jesus. The old and the new life is not just a metaphor but also a literal change and transformation that is expected and SHOULD be witnessed and testified by the individuals and also as a/the church.
Here’s illustration to begin with. Not everyone will be able to relate to it.
Generally speaking, and the culture of FASHION had always been a hot topic/trend world wide. Back in the days, The London times used to give daily reports on what the royal family wears each day. Whether you travel to NY, London, Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul Nairobi, to mountain tribes, you bound to find FASHION CONSCIOUS PEOPLE. Even the traditional clothes.. having extra colour, extra ornament etc etc).
It writes in a article I read,
“Much of this LURE comes from fashion’s enticing promise of a ‘NEW YOU’”
The BEFORE picture of a plain, unhappy looking woman/man seem to lack confidence, and the AFTER he/she has come under the care of a salon and has a different hair colour, cut, make-up and matching clothes. He/She is now a NEW person, brimming with confidence and appeal. Everyone loves them now.
“Clothes don’t make the man or the woman, but they sure help”
The promise from the fashion world to men and women is surely a REGENERATION.
But the problem is, not only does clothing NOT make the man or woman, it covers up the REAL YOU. Clothing can polish the image but not the soul (maybe arguable for some). If you believe that it polishes the soul, it only does until you have those particular clothes on. The set(s) of clothes in your wardrobe, or the new sets of clothes in your wardrobe is not an indicator to the NEW YOU! Because they do wear out, and do go out of trend.
The man/woman, who is TRULY NEW don’t care what they wear, it doesn’t matter what they wear, but are filled with confidence and high self esteem because not what they see on the surface matters.
And todays passage, I mean, EPHESIANS in whole, presents something far better. A divine wardrobe, divine clothes that really change one’s life! That will never go out of date! That will forever be in style!
As long as you PUT THEM ON!
Again, one thing to note, Paul’s encouragement, exhortation, or rebuke for the Ephesians, and also for us, is in light of RELATIONSHIP WITHIN the Body of Christ, especially conduct characterised by harmony, UNITY. That is a life lived consistent to the DIVINE CALLING!
The OLD
The OLD
17 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. 18 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. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.
Again, writing in response to the news/testimonies of believers in Ephesus. They are still walking as the gentiles do. Living a pointless, useless, unfruitful and God dishonouring life. Lives of those who live opposing the word of God, life absence of God is a life continuing to walk in darkness and sin.
One’s walk and life will be in darkness if one does not have correct knowledge and understanding of the TRUE, SAVING and powerful gospel.
To this, John Stott outlines as follows (He states that its sequential):
Hardness of heart
Darkness of heart
Deadness
Recklessness - Unrestrained abandonment to SIN
Some might call this unrealistic or exaggerated. Might not be sequential, but it is quite factual and many would testify that hardened, darkened heart also are likely to be NUMB to the sin. Borrowing Paul’s words, once one builds callous to the sin one will not only continue to sin the same sin but are very likely to sin greater (not there are any greater sins), meaning MORE sins. This is so because, as shared sometime ago, there is no immediate consequences to the sin one had committed.
Old Self (defined):
Former manner of life
Corrupt through deceitful desires
Former manner of life, life filled with corrupt thoughts and deceitful desires according to Ephesian is a life and attitude that are INSENSITIVE TO OTHER’S NEEDS. Such as choosing personal luxuries over helping those in need.
Greed (materialism)– Wanting more than we need, often at the expense of others (Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5)
Sexual immorality – Pursuing lustful pleasure outside of God’s design for purity (Ephesians 5:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:3–5)
Pride (Self-centred ambition)– Self-exaltation and seeking status or control rather than humility (Philippians 2:3; Galatians 5:26)
Deception / Dishonesty – Twisting the truth for personal advantage (Ephesians 4:25)
Bitterness and vengeance – Nursing grudges and desiring harm to those who hurt us (Ephesians 4:31)
Self-indulgence (comfort/security first living)– Living for comfort and pleasure rather than for God’s purposes (Philippians 3:19)
Idolatrous desires – Loving and trusting created things more than the Creator (Romans 1:25; Colossians 3:5)
It is extremely easy for us to believe, think and give into such life. It is not too hard to live according to the standards of the world because that is our nature!
3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
The New
The New
20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Not the way you LEARNED CHRIST!
Paul explains what LEARNED Christ means in verses 21-24.
But to begin, learning Christ means WELCOMING HIM as a LIVING person and BEING SHAPED by his teaching. This involves submitting to his RULE of RIGHTEOUSNESS and RESPONDING to his CALL to standards and values completely different from what they have know. This is not the way you think that it is beneficial for you, or even cleverly mix and matching what seem right and good for your. But all according to God and His will. Paul is basically unpacking this and reminding them of this truth, call and encouragement using the imagery of OLD & NEW.
The Word “ASSUMING” in verse 21 can also be substituted with “IF.” In verse 20 Paul says you have already LEARNT! Then he says “IF/ASSUMING” that YOU HAVE HEARD. Both verse 20 and 21 is written with certainty that the TRUTH/Truth in Jesus/Jesus needed is taught/shared/proclaimed truthfully and faithfully. The fundamental foundation of one’s faith should already been in the CORE of one’s life, forefront of the one’s own life. The truth of Jesus, what one have learned of Christ, does not END in one’s SALVATION. It continues to work in one’s life to TRANSFORM mind, heart and action. Transformation according to Paul in todays passage is “PUTTING OFF OLD SELF.”
The NEW life in Christ is not OVERCOMING ONLY by our efforts or knowledge or experiences or ESPECIALLY not by worldly wisdom. But we are to be TRANSFORMED by the Spirit and our obedience to the works of the Spirit.
The New life in Christ
The New life in Christ
Renewed Mind and Heart
Renewed Mind and Heart
Reference: Romans 12:2
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Think with God’s truth, not the world’s values.
Put on the “new self,” created in righteousness and holiness.
Example:
Refusing to be driven by materialism, and instead making decisions prayerfully with eternity in view.
Rejecting Sinful Patterns
Rejecting Sinful Patterns
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Put to death sexual immorality, greed, idolatry, anger, slander, filthy language.
Do not let sin reign in your life.
Example:
Deleting harmful online content and breaking habits that dishonour God.
Pursuing Unity in the Body of Christ
Pursuing Unity in the Body of Christ
Reference: Ephesians 4:1–6
1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another in love.
Looking to the interests of others.
Example:
In church disagreements, listening with empathy and working toward harmony instead of pushing personal agendas.
Like all the teachings on sanctification or transformation, there’s a notion of PUTTING ON, not transforming or changing. At same time, it also contains the sense of “to be imparted,” meaning “BECOMING” is also included. But the “put on new self” in verse 24 means taking on of characteristics and virtues INTENTIONALLY. Meaning one is to CHANGE! Not to put on the new on top of the OLD but first take off the old and put on the new.
It’s not covering up or hiding blemish or spots. It’s not cleaning the blemish or spot and trying to make it look new. But taking the old off and changing it, replacing it with the NEW.
Application
Application
23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
If you find yourself feeling disconnected from your church, with colleagues, Ephesians 4:17-24 calls you to engage actively. This week, take the initiative to reach out to someone you don’t know well. Invite them for coffee or sit with them during a group event. Be open about your journey, and share what God has been teaching you. Taking this small step can break down walls and build a supportive community rooted in Christ that encourages each other's growth.
In a work environment where gossip or negativity prevails, you might feel pressured to join in. This week, consciously decide to be the voice of positivity. When conversations shift to negativity, redirect them by highlighting the strengths of a co-worker or sharing a recent success story. Additionally, initiate a weekly ‘appreciation note’ for your team, where everyone can share something they admire about their colleagues. This will help create a culture of encouragement and kindness that aligns with the teachings of Ephesians 4:17-24.
Actions of TAKING OFF, or REMOVING!
Actions of TAKING OFF, or REMOVING!
6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin
9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Goal!
Goal!
Obviously is to form UNITY!
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
The fruit of the Spirit is key to building UNITY.
One other key element to forming UNITY in the Church, among believers is to be “TRANSPARENT”
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Building unity among believers starts with CONFESSION of SINS. We need to confess our SINS and ask forgiveness to God. At same time, we ought to share our personal struggles and sins with each other for accountability.
Confession and transparency and openness can be fearful. But it UNLOCKS deeper connection with God, the Spirit also with member of the body of Christ!
Transparency in Relationships
Transparency in Relationships
Transparency cultivates healthier relationships. When you share your thoughts and feelings honestly, it invites others to do the same. This openness builds trust and helps resolve conflicts effectively.
: Sharing your true self encourages others to be transparent. This mutual honesty strengthens bonds.Trust
: Addressing issues openly prevents misunderstandings. Clear communication allows for quicker resolutions.Conflict Resolution
: When you’re transparent about struggles, friends can support you better. Sharing burdens leads to stronger community ties.Support
Transparency in Faith
Transparency in Faith
Transparency enhances your relationship with God. It involves being honest with yourself and God about your thoughts, doubts, and feelings. This openness fosters spiritual growth.
: Regularly assess your heart and intentions. Being honest allows for deeper self-understanding.Self-Reflection
: Share your true feelings in prayer. Candid conversations with God create intimacy in your faith journey.Prayer
: Acknowledge shortcomings openly, allowing for forgiveness and healing.Confession
Conclusion
Conclusion
