Put On Holiness

Ephesians 4:17–24 NIV

17 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. 18 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. 19 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. 20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 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; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

V17-18) Stop Living Like A Boúfos (μπούφος)

Little did I know that my biblical greek education started as a child…

Ephesians 4:17 NIV

17 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.

(Read v17)

Unholiness leads us to think in non-intelligent ways. (17)

Unholiness leads us to harden our hearts (18)

Unholiness leads us to numbness (19)

They no longer saw the value they had as image bearers of God, they gave themselves over to the sins of the world, the sex, the money, the substances.

v20-21) This is not the life that we were called too.

We are called to freedom from sin

We are called to follow him

v22) We are to put away the old, corrupted ways.

Ephesians 4:22 NIV

22 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;

The greek literally means for one to take off the old like a coat.

This means that we do not have to be known for our past sins, we can walk as new people, and that others should be able to see this.

(The kid with the new school clothes)

v23-24)

Ephesians 4:23–24 NIV

23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

We have to let our minds be renewed. But How?

1: We are intentional about what we let in (media)

2: We are intentional about who we spend time with

3: We are intentional about meditating on the scriptures.

We put on the new self by putting into action the word of God within our lives.

This leads us to be what we are created to be.

Righteous and Holy.

Take Home?

Are you putting on the New Self?

Paul tells us to examine ourselves before communion