Ephesians 4:17-24

Introduction:

Paul is conveying that we are responsible for the way live our live

Part of walking worthy is working to keep the unity in the spirit in the bond of peace

Its a call to maturity and part of walking in maturity is living our life in a Christ like manner

One of the great dangers in the Christian life is being content with knowing truth without living it. The apostle Paul refuses to allow that. Beginning in Ephesians 4, he makes a clear turn—from doctrine to duty, from belief to behavior.

As Warren Wiersbe rightly said, the Bible was written to be obeyed, not simply studied.

After spending three chapters unfolding all that Christ has done for us—our salvation, our identity, and our unity in Him—Paul now says, therefore. Because of the glorious privileges we have received and the high calling we have been given, we are called to walk differently. Our calling determines our conduct.

And to understand the weight of Paul’s command, we must remember the world the Ephesians were coming out of—a culture where darkness felt normal and sin was celebrated. Against that backdrop, Paul’s message is clear: coming to Christ means leaving the old walk behind and learning a new way of life in Him.

1. (V17) No longer walk as the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind

Paul moves from doctrine to duty, from belief to behavior.

Warren Weirsby said, The Bible was written to be obeyed and not simply studied

a) Therefore:

This makes the connection, it goes back to the beginning of the chapter, where Paul is exhorting the Ephesians

Because of all that Christ has done for us—

The glorious spiritual privileges of Ephesians 1–3, and

The high calling of a unified, mature body in Ephesians 4:1–6,

Believers are called to walk—to live—in a way that is distinctly different from the world around them.

To understand why Paul speaks so strongly, we need to understand the world the Ephesians were coming out of.

b) Walking as the Gentiles

Context:

Ephesus was the home of Artemis (Diana), one of the most worshiped goddesses in the Roman world (Acts 19).

Worship wasn’t just religious—it was economic, social, and political.

Artemis worship was tied to fertility and sexuality.

Festivals, sacrifices, and temple prostitution were normal parts of life.

Sexual immorality was culturally accepted

Adultery, prostitution, and sexual excess were not only tolerated—they were often celebrated.

Application: There are many similarities between Ephesus and our modern culture…

Paul’s call reminds us that following Christ means learning to walk differently

No longer shaped by what is accepted, but by what is holy.

Against that backdrop, Paul says: You cannot live like that anymore.

Paul echos this in…

Romans 12:1–3 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

c) No longer walk as Gentiles

The Christian has been called out of the former way of living

We think and live differently because the Holy Spirit has done a transforming work in our life

We must die to the flesh daily

Pauls thought is in continuation with idea of walking in Christian maturity

Grace never leaves us unchanged

Ephesians 4:22 “that you put off, concerning your former conduct

Ephesians 2:2 “in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,”

d) Futility of their mind

Being void of useful of a useful aim

Minds that are filled with things that lead to nothing.”

Knowledge is readily available, but they don’t come to the true knowledge

1.1 (V18) Having your understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God

a) Having their understanding darkened

The unsaved have been blinded by satan, their understanding is darkened

For those of us who didn’t grow up in the church, there was a time when our minds were darkened—and we didn’t even know it.

It was like living in a dark room so long that it felt normal. We learned our way around and convinced ourselves everything was fine.

Then Christ turned on the light. Nothing in the room changed—but everything became clear. Once the light is on, you can’t go back to calling darkness good.

b) Being alienated from God

Because of their ignorance

Because of the blindness of their heart

The message of salvation is foolishness

1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

1.2 The blindness of the heart

a) Blind heart

The ignorance and lack of understanding of man is a heart problem.

It is shown not only in a foolish denial of God, but also in his moral failures

Romans 1:21 “because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

1.3 (V19) Who being past feeling has given themselves over to lewdness to work all uncleaness with greediness

a) Past feeling 

has the idea of one’s skin becoming callous and no longer sensitive to pain.

1 Timothy 4:2 “speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,”

Because they have rejected God and given themselves over

They have no sense of shame

b) Given themselves over to lewdness

Lewdness speaks of lust and filthiness

c) Uncleanness

Carries the idea of sin that flaunts itself, having no sense of shame

Uncleanness is a broad word, mostly with reference to sexual impropriety.

The result is they have given themselves over to every kind of evil

Application: I hear of destruction because people have given themselves over and are controlled by lust and lewdness

One small compromise after another

2. (V20-21) But you have not so learned Christ

a) But you

Paul says, But you know these things because you know Christ

You are different, you’re not like the Gentiles in the previous verses

Why?

b) Learned Christ

Because you have learned Christ

We hear the teaching / It’s modeled for us to follow in His example

It’s learning, but it also means to abiding in the knowledge of Jesus

This keeps us from the sinful conduct Paul is talking about

Grace never leaves us unchanged

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

2.1 (V22) Put off the former way of conduct

a) Put off the old man, the former conduct

Take off those stinky grave clothes

He calls us out of darkness into the new man

Old things have passes away and everything become new

Throughout the day we find ourselves in a series of tests

Maybe you are verbal attacked or mistreated somehow, or cut off on the highway

How do you respond?

Colossians 3:8 “But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.”

b) Placing your faith in Christ is just the beginning

We place our trust in Christ

Part of that is surrendering the old way of life and trusting Him while living the new way

God wants to shape our lives to conform us into the image of Christ daily

He wants us to experience His highest

2.2 (V23) Be renewed in the spirit of your mind

a) Renewed in your mind

Romans 12:2 “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.”

Its time spent with the Lord changes you from the inside out

It makes you unrecognizable

The disciples didn’t start out well, but they were faithful to keep going despite their failures

Acts 4:13 “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”

2.3 (V24) Putt on the new man according to God in true righteousness and holiness

a) Put on the new self

Righteousness

Holiness

The opposite of lewdness, uncleaness, and greediness

Romans 7:6 “But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.”

In Conclusion:

Paul draws a sharp contrast between two walks—one in darkness and one in light.

The old walk is marked by futile thinking, darkened understanding, hardened hearts, and lives given over to sin.

That was once true of all of us. But Paul reminds us, you have not so learned Christ.

Salvation is not just a change in destination; it is a transformation of direction.

In Christ, the old way is put off, the mind is renewed, and the new self is put on—created according to God in true righteousness and holiness. Grace never leaves us unchanged.

So the question Paul leaves us with is not merely what do we believe? but how are we walking? 

Are we still stepping in patterns that belong to the old life, or are we daily putting on the new life Christ has given us?

Because when Christ turns on the light, walking in darkness is no longer an option.