Walking Like a Gentile

Introduction:

I know that in this room I’m talking to more seasoned adults here, which is a nice way of saying that you have some miles on your tires and years under your belt! It also means that some of you may remember a song that came out a few decades ago called “Walk Like an Egyptian” by a group called the Bangles.

Now, I’m not going to endorse the song and it really is a bunch of crazy lyrics, but the premise in the song is that people from different walks of life often adapt and its about embracing the absurdity of modern life.

Again, I’m not endorsing the lyrics, but I’m going to borrow the title and apply it to the Gentiles.

In this part of Paul’s letter, he compares how the godly walk and how the people of this world walk by using the term Gentiles to refer to the people of the worldly culture around the church in the city of Ephesus and contrasting them to how Christian ought to be walking.

In our modern era, we have so many people that seem to be trying to get away with living like the world, while at the same time claiming to be Christians. So, how should a Christian walk and how does someone from this world walk.

We are going to find out tonight as we take a look at vv. 17-24 tonight.

Ephesians 4:17–24 ESV

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.

1. How the Worldly Live (v.17-19)

They are Darkened in Their Understanding (v. 18)

Ephesians 4:18 ESV

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.

Darkened in their understanding - unable to see

All of us are darkened in our understanding unless we have the illumination of the Holy Spirit

We can pray that anyone who is darkened might be enlightened

They want to be darkened - See John 3:19-20

John 3:19–20 ESV

19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

Futility of their minds - human reasoning is fallen

Romans 1:18–23 ESV

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

People who reject God’s truth often consider themselves enlightened - consider how people will say religion is a crutch and a way for people in the past to try to explain what they can’t understand

They are Separated from Life in God (v.18)

Ephesians 4:18 ESV

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.

They are dead

Ephesians 2:1–3 ESV

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 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.

Without the life of God, you cannot live for God

John Owen Book reference

Hard-Hearted (v.19a)

Ephesians 4:19 ESV

19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

callous - think about how callouses are formed (rubbed over and over again)

Sin will build spiritual callouses

Greedy for Sin (v.19)

Ephesians 4:19 ESV

19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

CSB says with a desire for more and more

They’re not even trying to abstain from sin anymore

2. How the Godly Should Live (vv. 20-24)

Put Off the Old Self (vv.20-22)

Ephesians 4:20–22 ESV

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,

You can’t keep pet sins

You must be killing sin or sin will be killing you - John Owen

Be Renewed in Your Minds (v.23)

Ephesians 4:23 ESV

23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,

Paul told the Romans the same thing

Romans 12:2 ESV

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.

Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation is required to renew your mind

You need a biblical worldview and you have to fight against false ideas and the world’s worldview

Put On the New Self (v.24)

Ephesians 4:24 ESV

24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Our aim is maturity in Christ that looks like Jesus

We are to resemble godliness

We are to live in true righteousness and holiness

Conclusion

The end of the matter is that we cannot walk like a Gentile. We have to walk like a Christian. We have to look like Jesus.

When you examine yourself, what do you think your life looks like? Better yet, what does God say about who you look like?