Ephesians 4:17-32
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Jesus emphasized to His disciples that they were to be in this world, but not of it.
Disciples are to be salt. Disciples are to be light.
The New Testament writers say it this way, be holy as I am holy!
Walking His way means rejecting the ways that are not His.
Johnny Cash wrote that famous song “I walk the line”. It is a promise to remain faithful to his wife, Vivian, while he is on the road.
He loved her and his love for her changed the way he walked.
“Since your’ve been mine, I walk the line”
Since we have a new identity in Christ - “Since Christ is mine - I walk the Line”
Walking His way means walking away from immorality.
Walking His way means walking away from immorality.
eph 4
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.
You do not live your daily manner of life like people who don’t know God. It’s that simple; you know God. The believers in the ancient world found that difficult. The pagan life all around them; and the deeds of the pagans were constantly in front of them, and it was very difficult to live a different life, just as it is today. We have a terrible problem in our own age.
Walking his way means putting away
When we think wrong about God we will live wrong before Him.
When we think wrong about God we will live wrong before Him.
W
Believing like a pagan leads to behaving like a pagan.
The ESV Study Bible Chapter 4
Both in antiquity and today, people who reject the knowledge of God think of themselves as “enlightened” (cf. Heb. 10:32). Their ignorance here is not lack of general education; some are brilliant in their own way, but such brilliance is all wasted and futile in the end when combined with hardness of heart toward the truth of the gospel in Christ
Both in antiquity and today, people who reject the knowledge of God think of themselves as “enlightened” (cf. ). Their ignorance here is not lack of general education; some are brilliant in their own way, but such brilliance is all wasted and futile in the end when combined with hardness of heart toward the truth of the gospel in Christ.
lack of self-constraint which involves one in conduct that violates all bounds
Sensuality - means a complete lack of self-control which violates all moral boundaries.
Walking His way means wearing the right attire.
Walking His way means wearing the right attire.
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.
eph 4 20-
Please notice in this text that his method of changing behavior is not a personal resolution.
He says renew your minds - The “renewal” or is a process in which believers begin to think in new and right ways as they meditate on the truths of God’s Word.
The “renewal” or “transformation” of the mind () is a process in which believers begin to think in new and right ways as they meditate on the truths of God’s Word.
Dr. Tony Merida is preaching professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Tells of the adoption of his 4 children from Ukraine.
After spending about 35 days in Ukraine in an effort to adopt our four children, my wife and I finally had permission to go home with them. All of the legal work was done. We were eager to show them love in many ways, including cleaning them up and giving them some new clothes. They had been wearing the same smelly clothes and the same worn-out shoes every day since we arrived. Once we had permission to leave, we brought them some brand-new outfits. Kimberly took the older two children, and I took the younger two. I told the girls (via a translator), “Girls, we’re going home.” Little Victoria asked, “Forever?” I said, “Yes. Forever.” Their faces lit up as I then gave them their denim dresses, socks, shirts, and more. They went to the bathroom and changed every garment. In their orphanage, upon leaving, the children had to leave behind every piece of clothing they had been wearing. What a picture of the gospel! They put off their old orphanage garments and put on the clothes from their adoptive parents. New clothes. New identity. New home. New security. And a new way to live.
Personal repentance is an integral part of walking His way.
Personal repentance is an integral part of walking His way.
“Put off” - “Put way”
22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,
25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
28 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.
eph 4
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
This is what was spoken of in
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
What is it that tends to stick to you personally. What sin shows up in your life regularly?
Spiritual Laziness and indifference - Doing very little investing into your.
Personal holiness is an essential part of walking His way.
Personal holiness is an essential part of walking His way.
24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
27 and give no opportunity to the devil.
28 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.
29 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.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
25
# Tell the Truth
Holiness is not simply saying no to sin it is saying yes to God.
Holiness is not simply saying no to sin it is saying yes to God.
Jerry Bridges
“When we commit ourselves to the pursuit of holiness, we need to ensure that our commitment is actually to God, not simply to a holy lifestyle or a set of moral values.”
After spending about 35 days in Ukraine in an effort to adopt our four children, my wife and I finally had permission to go home with them. All of the legal work was done. We were eager to show them love in many ways, including cleaning them up and giving them some new clothes. They had been wearing the same smelly clothes and the same worn-out shoes every day since we arrived. Once we had permission to leave, we brought them some brand-new outfits. Kimberly took the older two children, and I took the younger two. I told the girls (via a translator), “Girls, we’re going home.” Little Victoria asked, “Forever?” I said, “Yes. Forever.” Their faces lit up as I then gave them their denim dresses, socks, shirts, and more. They went to the bathroom and changed every garment. In their orphanage, upon leaving, the children had to leave behind every piece of clothing they had been wearing. What a picture of the gospel! They put off their old orphanage garments and put on the clothes from their adoptive parents. New clothes. New identity. New home. New security. And a new way to live.
