Disciples in Every Day Life

Saturate: Being a disciple of Jesus in every day life • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

Ephesians 4:17–32

Discipleship

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Introduction

Good morning CrossPointe!

Despite how I am feeling it is a good morning indeed. If you are new here, my name is Justin and for the last two years, the Lord by His grace and mercy allowed me to help pastor this beautiful church that you are apart of today and it is also by His grace and mercy that it comes to an end this morning. But enough about that, right now we are going to open God’s Word and hear what he has to say to us as individuals and as a church body this morning- amen? Amen!

We began this series 4 weeks ago. And the purpose of this series, as I understood it, was to see God’s plan of salvation for us and His mission left for us as His disciples to spread the good news of His love and grace thus saturating the world with His love and grace throughout our every day life. All this to say, our job as disciples is to leverage our every day life for His glory and to spread His news of the redemption of His people to our communities. Being a disciple of Jesus and living a new life to the glory of God is our calling and I want to journey through this text in Ephesians, to see the charge that Paul is going to lay before believers feet. But my hope this morning is not only that you would see the task at hand as healthy disciples of Jesus but see how you’ve been empowered to do all the Lord is asking you, His people, to do- together.

Open to

Context:

We have quite a bit of ground to cover here. So let me give you kinda the layout of the book, if you are a new believer or just someone who is curious as to what the Christian life is about or wanna know where to start reading your bible- I would argue to start with Ephesians. Ephesians is 6 chapters. The first 3 chapters are largely indicative, which means it plays out like this:

“God has done this for you. He did this because of His love for you. You were dead, he made you a live, you were sinner, he made you saint.”

We have quite a bit of ground to cover here. So let me give you the layout of the book, if you are a new believer here or just someone who is curious as to what the Christian life is about or wanna know where to start reading your bible- I would argue to start with Ephesians. Ephesians is 6 chapters. The first 3 chapters are largely indicative “God has done this for you. He did this because of His love for you. You were dead, he made you a live, you were sinner, he made you saint.” The last three chapters are the imperative. “Live this way, you are free from this so don’t do that but do this” but this is why it’s important it’s written this way: the indicative fuels the imperative. So it’s not “live this way not that way” its God has done a work in you, you could not do on your own, therefore we obey because we want to-not because we have to. You get to obey.” You understanding what I’m saying here? being a disciple is not a checklist of wrongs and rights. Being a disciple is a gift you couldn’t afford but God gave to you freely. Costs nothin.

The last three chapters are the imperative, which means it kinda plays out like this:

“Live this way, you are free from this so don’t do that but do this.”

But the way this book is written is important! It’s important because the indicative fuels the imperative. So it’s not just “live this way, not that way” — Its more like:

“God has done a work in you that you could not do on your own. Therefore, we obey God because we want to- not because we have to. You get to obey. You don’t have to obey”

You understanding what I’m saying here? Being a disciple is not a checklist of wrongs and rights. Being a disciple is a gift you couldn’t afford but God gave to you freely. Costs you nothin but Him everything. And so because of God’s great love for you you are empowered by Him to obey Him for His glory and your good.

Paul opens chapter 4 with a message on unity. We as a body should maintain a bond of peace with each other because we are united in Christ. He then moves on to this portion here; we pick up in verse 17…

Ephesians 4:17–24 ESV

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. 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 have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 4:17–19 ESV

If you are wondering how you should read this, you’re the Gentiles here. Now notice what Paul has said. He’s not making a you vs. them argument. He is saying you are not to act the way you used to act. You are not to live as though you did before you received the work of salvation, before you had a new heart, before you were transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Christian position is not one that pursues a good life missed out on, the Christian life is the good life because we live our days in light of a life that was laid down for us. We live from a position of Christ’s victory over our sin. You are no longer sinner, you are saint. You are no longer a wretch, you are being made righteous. Pauls warning here, is to live as though we are alive. Not as though we’ve remained dead.

2 weeks ago Pastor Steve defined a disciple as someone who seeks to glorify God by submitting all of life to Him. Now mind you, Paul is talking to a church in this letter. He is talking to a people who at the very least seem informed on what the gospel is, its application to their life but also it also seems there are some among them wrestling with belief and following Jesus. Here’s what I mean:

There are so many times in talking to my Christian brothers and sisters where we reach this crossroad in our conversations. There’s a belief in Jesus but a constant wrestle with following of Jesus. Some times it’s not even a wrestle. It’s complete abandonment to obedience. There’s a constant war here, to seek after a life they desire to have while claiming their belief in the finished work of Jesus of sin, and the restoration of all things including the redemption of His people. But in actuality the absence of obedience only proves that there is no real belief in Jesus. You lack of action proves your hidden lack of trust. Let’s get back to Ephesians 4.

Ephesians 4:25–32 ESV

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:

Paul has not once separated belief in the risen son of God, with obedience to His will. Not once. Pauls argument is the one leads to the other. I’m passionate here because eternity is at stake! There is no category of Christianity that says, I believe but I don’t follow. This attitude, this perspective will cost you eternity to hear me family- true belief in Jesus will result obedience. When you truly believe the finished work of Jesus you are sealed, just as Paul just said, with the Holy Spirit of God for the day of redemption. God empowers you to obey.

But before I go there, I’m actually going to end there- but before I go there there is something else Paul is getting at in this text, right? You didn’t miss it did you? Paul talks about how we are to be with one another. How we are to live alongside our other brothers and sisters in the faith. We Christians man we love this word I’m about to say and I love that we love this word. It’s community. We are to live in community with one another. Do you wanna know the most rejected aspect I’ve seen personally, so I’m not painting with a broad brush here, I’m just talking about me, but the most rejected aspect, the most under-appreciated aspect of our faith is living with each other.

Now Im not talking Z88.3 big big house where we can play football and eat food-kinda living together. I’m talking about in community as a church body, warring against sin, confessing sin, taking care of each other, providing for each other, raising our children together in the house of the Lord. Quickly turn to . The mandate to meet with one another, to live alongside each other is not even an option for the author of Hebrews.

Hebrews

Hebrews 10:24–25 ESV

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Not neglecting it as is the way of some, but to encourage one another stirring each other up in love and good works. This can only happen if we are meeting together, in each other’s homes, outside, in community group, the call to community is not an optional one. The scripture says plainly “not neglecting to meet together”. I don’t know that I would’ve held on to life, to faith, to faithfulness to my wife, faithfulness to gospel-centered parenting, faithfulness to my work, if not by the means of divinely ordained grace that is gospel community. God has used my brothers and sisters in this very church to sustain us. One of the many gifts of grace is the counsel of a brother. Fellowshipping in community. Sharing a meal. Receiving correction and rebuke. Receiving encouragement, all of this designed by God to the believer to war with our pride, to break us down, and fall humbly to the feet of Jesus.

Some of you are thinking now- Justin you don’t know my schedule fam- aight cool. Let me share this story with you...

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Christian professor, and theologian who lived in nazi Germany and smuggled himself out of Germany where it was illegal to be a Christian to safety in Italy. Once in Italy he became uneasy. The Lord started to bring to his mind and heart the many Christians who did not have the luxury of being able to flee Germany and would have to keep their faith in secret. Knowing this wouldn’t serve them well, he smuggled himself back into Germany to hold an underground church. Believing it better to be in open rebellion to the law than to go on without the blessing of community.

We are fortunate to not have those same roadblocks here in our country- and yet we neglect it still.

“What determines our brotherhood is what that man is by reason of Christ. Our community with one another consists solely in what Christ has done to both of us. This is true not merely at the beginning, as though in the course of time something else were to be added to our community; it remains so for all the future and to all eternity. I have community with others and I shall continue to have it only through Jesus Christ. The more genuine and the deeper our community becomes, the more will everything else between us recede, the more clearly and purely will Jesus Christ and his work become the one and only thing that is vital between us. We have one another only through Christ, but through Christ we do have one another, wholly, for eternity.” ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community

But we are not without hope.

There is much hope, and much grace where we fall short. The wrath of God for those who fall short to live the way mandated in Scripture is held back by the grace of God by His love for us. He extended His hand to those who truly trust and believe in Him and empowers those with the promised Holy Spirit to do the work He has entrusted to His people.

Remember the book of Ephesians, it’s the indicative that fuels the imperative by the power of the Holy Spirit. By His Spirit we are made new each morning, empowered to live a life according to His grace. To turn away from the life we once lived.

2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians

Focus: are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” it doesn’t say you might be transformed, it doesn’t say you choose when you’re transformed, it doesn’t say by the power of belief you are void of any transformation...

It says when you behold the glory of the Lord (that’s belief- true Spirit lead belief) are being transformed by the Lord is also the the Spirit. I mean its cheating at this point, right? God by the power of the Spirit, enlightens you to trust Him, then transforms you into a new life by, guess what, His Spirit.

Romans 6:14 ESV

For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

Do you know what this means? You are free from the bondage of your former life-which is to say the bondage of sin. He has freed you from having to say yes- to give in! You can see sexual sin and flee, you can see drunkeness and debauchery and flee, you can see the temptation of lying and flee, you are free, a new creation in Christ, for Christ through Christ!

God being rich has called us to be His disciples. To surrender life wholly to Him and to glorify Him in our every day lives. This sounds impossible apart from the Spirit- but it has been made possible because of the Spirit:

Philippians 1:6 ESV

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 10:14 ESV

For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 ESV

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:

Being a disciple of Jesus is, difficult. It means intentionality in all our works, to do everything unto the Lord. Soli Deo Gloria, let our lives, be lives that d all things to honor and glorify the risen king and saturate our communities with the love of God and the good news of Jesus.

If you are one who says, man I believe but I don’t follow- then I would challenge you this morning and say maybe you have not truly believed. And thats okay! You can come and believe this morning. Repent, and trust wholly in Jesus who died a death you deserve to make you His son or daughter. Salvation can be yours this morning.

If you are one who says, man I believe and I follow but man it’s just been a dry season. A season of wrestle and shortcomings - then there is grace for you brother and sister. Repent this morning and soak your mind and heart in the truth that by a single offering he has perfected for all time those being sanctified.

If you’re one who has been avoiding or neglecting community- then man run to someone here in this room. Get connected, get messy, seek gospel saturated community with those who desire it also.

There is grace and mercy to be found in Jesus. There is love by God and by His community for those who would fall on Him and repent of their sins.