Change your Clothes

There always comes a point where you have to update your wardrobe. However, there are some items of clothing that you wear not because it’s in style but because it’s so comforting. It may be full of holes, wore out and faded but it’s comfortable. It could be a pair of sweats, a pair of old jeans, soft pajamas or a faded hoodie. You may love it because it brings you back to the past even though it’s full of holes and ratty. It’s hard to let it go.

Sometimes our past can be like that old comfortable piece of clothing. We may love to wear it because it’s something we’ve always done but it distracts us from following Christ; it goes against our new life in Christ.

It could be a bad habit that we went to when we felt stressed… the way we talked… how we treated certain people… the things that we did for fun… maybe it’s our desire to fit and to get the attention of others.

When we are in Christ, HE provides us a brand new wardrobe but if we are going to put on our new clothes, we have to get rid of the old.

Let’s stand for the reading of God’s Word.

Ephesians 4:17–32 NLT

17 With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. 25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil. 28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. 30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

PRAY

Leaving the old life behind and perusing righteousness and holiness requires new behavior.

We no longer live like the world (v.17)

We put off the old self and put on the new (v.22–24)

This transformation affects our words, attitudes, and relationships

You can’t walk in victory while holding onto old habits

Holiness is not legalism—it’s aligning our life with Jesus’ life.

Grace empowers change, it does not excuses sin

Here the Apostle Paul challenges believers to abandon their former ways of life characterized by futility and darkness, and to embrace the new self created in Christ, marked by righteousness and holiness.

We must reflect on our habits, thoughts, and actions that guide us because they may still mirror the old self.

Individually we are all called to intentionally cultivate new behaviors and attitudes that align with our identity in Christ. We must be willing to confront personal struggles and weaknesses with the promise of Christ empowered transformation.

True Christian living requires an ongoing process of putting away the old self and actively embracing our new identity found in Christ. Live out our faith in practical ways that demonstrate the change that has occurred through our relationship with Jesus.

Christ is the source of our new identity. Jesus fulfills the law and prophets, inviting believers into a relationship that radically transforms us from the inside out. The idea of being made new in Christ connects with the overarching biblical theme of redemption, pointing to God's ultimate plan and desire to redeem all humanity.

When we encounter our new identity in Christ it means shedding the old self and cultivating a life that reflects the righteousness and holiness of Jesus.

It starts with our mind…

1. Forsaking Futile Thinking

Ephesians 4:17–19 NLT

17 With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

Live no longer like the Gentiles do…

Paul was stressing that the Ephesian believers must abandon their former way of life. The Gentiles around them who were pagans, not Christians. Those who lived in the futility of their thinking. Their thinking was “futile” because their lives were being wasted on worthless objects (idols), untrue teachings, and immoral behavior.

The world around us is driven by fear and darkness. Our world and our culture is very anti Christ because submitting to Christ requires repentance and humility. People would rather live in sin and darkness and close their minds and harden their hearts against God then to do the hard work and reject sinful habits. People don’t want to be told how to live even if the way they live is destroying themselves.

I’ve heard it said that we can either learn the mistakes ourselves or learn from other people’s mistakes.

It’s amazing how people who still see the destruction that sin causes in other people still walk in that same destructive pattern of sin themselves.

Jesus came to destroy this sinful pattern but it starts when we forsake the futile thinking of our shameful world. Our world that is living in darkness and hopelessness.

These people are described as having no shame…

they have given themselves over to sensuality (lewd behavior, lowest morals possible),

they eagerly practice all kinds of impurity (they work toward moral decadence as if it were their occupation),

and they live for lustful pleasure (also translated “greediness,” extreme selfishness without regard for others).

This may seem extreme but understanding the culture that surrounded the believers in and around Ephesus is important.

The temple to the goddess Artemis stood in Ephesus. Artemis was the goddess of fertility in women, animals, and nature. On occasion, human sacrifices were given to Artemis.

She was believed to be a moon goddess who helped women in childbirth.

She is portrayed as the many-breasted earth mother. Her temple had a hierarchy of religious personnel, including eunuch priests, young virgins, and prostitute priests.

One month every year was devoted to ceremonies honoring Artemis which created opportunities for immorality, drunkenness, and sensuality.

This is not all that far from the world we live in today. As believers we must be aware of the hopeless confusion our world brings and renounce them and reject them for what they are. When we are in Christ, we are no longer confused so stop being led by confusion.

The futility of our old life is ignorance and hard-heartedness and must be rejected. We need to consciously leave behind thought patterns and behaviors that are based on spiritual blindness and alienation from God.

God has a stark contrast from the old to the new which is only made possible in Christ.

2. Pursuing Personal Renewal

Ephesians 4:20–24 NLT

20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

We need to renew our thinking by allowing the Holy Spirit to fill us. It’s the Holy Spirit that makes us holy and righteous so we can put on our new nature.

We can’t change our behavior until we change our thinking. Our mind needs to be renewed as we pray and read and study God’s Word and get in the habit of regularly spending time with Jesus and spending time with HIS people at church.

When we fill our mind with those things that feed our spirit man we become more aware of the things that need to die in our life.

Our selfishness, our greed, our lust for pleasure, our fear of loosing control.

The things that hinder us from loving people freely. Where we view people as objects instead of God’s image bearers

There is transformative power in learning Christ, where believers are called to put off the old self and put on the new self. This renewing of the mind is a process of embracing the truth in Jesus which leads to a life marked by righteousness and holiness.

This renewal is ongoing and intentional but the transformation is radical but it’s through a lifetime aligned with Christ.

3. Practicing Christlike Conduct

This is where the rubber meets the road. This is what it looks like when we take off our old clothes and put on the new clothes that Christ has given us to wear.

Truthful speech, managing anger, contributing positively to community, and forgiving others serve as outward indicators of the inward change as we follow Jesus.

Ephesians 4:25–27 NLT

25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

Truthful Speech

Stop telling lies. Living with integrity, be genuine, be the same person in public and private. We must be the same person at church and home, work and at the gym, around your family or around your friends. Reject your false self, stop telling lies, and stop living lies. Don’t let your faith be a facade… don’t try to impress people but be real… be real about your struggles… about your emotions, about your strongholds, your weaknesses.

Don’t bottle things in because when they come out, it will be ugly and there will be casualties.

Managing Anger

Don’t let anger control you. Is anger a sin? No, anger is an emotion and emotions are not sinful.

However, anger can be controlling and weaponizing if we allow it to be use it that way.

Paul warns us not to sin by letting anger control you.

If we use anger to control or manipulate a situation then it’s sin.

Know your emotions, talk about your emotions and when you feel angry ask yourself some questions.

Is my anger justified?

Is the situation that I am angry about something that I have the power to control?

Can my anger empower me to bring justice and freedom to others?

When Jesus was flipping tables at the temple, Jesus was visibly angry.

Luke 19:45–46 NLT

45 Then Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people selling animals for sacrifices. 46 He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.”

Jesus was moved and visibly angry because of an injustice. The temple leaders were making it hard for the people to worship and pray.

“don’t sin by letting anger control you.”

My go to emotion was anger and it controlled me. It controlled how I treated others… the people who were the closest to me became the victims of my anger.

I’m thankful for my wife who had the courage and wisdom and the love to confront me on it. I thought it was normal to respond that way because it was how I was brought up.

Once I became aware of it, and I was honest about it, I got into the habit of releasing it to the Lord and that’s when it didn’t control me.

I may not be able to control the situation but I can control my anger by not letting it control me.

The devil will use anger as a foothold that brings division in our relationships with others and with God.

Ephesians 4:26 NLT

26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry,

Too often we ignore disagreements and conflicts and that create frustration and tension in relationships.

Talk about the things that are causing you to get angry.

Communicate with openness and honesty.

Don’t be critical, judgmental, or cynical; those things will destroy any safe space for openness and honesty.

Humbly and lovingly seek out forgiveness.

Ephesians 4:28 NLT

28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.

Contributing Positively to Community

Quit stealing if you are a thief. We have to stop doing those bad things, we have to take off our old nasty clothes. It’s our choice, it’s not our mom’s or dad’s… it’s not because of society, or my poor upbringing, it’s our own choice and we will suffer the consequences or receive the blessings of our own choices.

When we take off the old and put on that new outfit provided to us through Christ a thief will be transformed into a hard working contributor to society. Not only that but one who generously gives to those who are in need.

When we take off our old self and put on our new self God gives us a new heart. Jesus says, where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Our old self, our selfish self has no respect for other people or there possessions. But our new self that is made new in Christ realizes the benefit and blessing that comes through working hard. When you work hard, you have money to live on. When you budget your money wisely you have more money to be generous with.

Our new self will change our heart which also changes our speech.

Speaking Words of Life and Forgiveness

Ephesians 4:29 NLT

29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

In our old self we would say whatever we felt like saying regardless of the casualties or consequences. Often times it was motived by our anger and frustration.

Our new self filled with the love of God which empowers us to speak things that are beneficial, good, and encouraging.

Take off your old self and put on your new self and let Jesus change the way you speak. God wants us to speak life and encouragement; blessing those who are around you.

Ephesians 4:30 NLT

30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

The Holy Spirit is a person who can be saddened by the way we live. We will continue to battle our sinful nature as we live for Christ each day. However, when we refuse to do so by giving in to lying, anger, stealing, and foul talk, that’s when we grieve the Holy Spirit.

As believers the Holy Spirit binds us together in the body. When we quarrel and hurt one another, we grieve the Holy Spirit.

It’s the Holy Spirit that controls and guides speech… give us the ability to praise, prophecy, and speak in tongues. If we use our words improperly that’s when we bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 4:31–32 NLT

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Get rid of…

Bitterness—a spirit that refuses reconciliation.

Rage—outbursts of anger or quick temper for selfish reasons.

Anger—a continuous attitude of hatred that destroys harmony and unity among believers.

Harsh words—loud and angry people who are determined to make their grievances known.

Slander—when we destroy another person’s good reputation by lying or gossiping.

Malice—doing evil despite the good that has been received.

Get rid of those things but replace them with kindness, compassion, and forgiveness.

Kindness - acting charitable and benevolent toward others.

Kindness takes the initiative in responding generously to others.

God has been kind and compassionate to us therefore we ought to act with kindness compassion toward others.

The word for tenderhearted is also translated “compassionate.” It’s that genuine sensitivity and heartfelt sympathy for the needs of others.

As we are kind and compassionate because that’s what God is toward us we must also forgive, just as God through Christ has forgave you.

God had to give up his only Son to forgive us; we have nothing to give up but our selfish natures and our unwillingness to forgive those who have wronged us.

Matthew 6:14–15 NLT

14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Matthew 18:35 NLT

35 “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”

As we grow in our understanding of God’s mercy and we have a greater desire to be like Jesus we see the freedom that happens when we forgive.

Having received forgiveness means that we must pass it on to others and those who are unwilling to forgive have not patterned their lives after Christ.

Letting go through forgivness is part of removing the old clothes from our past and putting on the grace and the love of Jesus.

TAKE AWAY:

What old habits need to be put off?

What new Christlike traits need to be put on?

Don’t carry last year’s sin into this year’s calling.