Am I Walking with God? Ephesians 4:17–24 (ESV)

The Futile Walk, 17-19

Ephesians 4:17–19 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.

Ephesians 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.

· HEAD: What are their minds like? 17-18a

· HEAD: What are their minds like? 17-18a

o This is a walk that takes place in the mind

o It’s from a darkened understanding

· HEART: What are their hearts like? 18b,c,d

o Alienated from the life of God

o And its because of ignorance

o Their hearts are hardened

· HAND: What is observable from their lifestyles? 19

o Callous (not ashamed – blatantly sinful)

o Given up to sensuality

o Practice every kind of impurity

The Faithful Walk

In theory, 20-21

Ephesians 4:20–21 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,

Ephesians 4:20 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,

· We must LEARN the CHRIST WAY, 20

· We must LEARN the CHRIST WAY, 20

· We learn by HEARING ABOUT HIM, 21a

· We learn by being TAUGHT IN HIM, 21b

· Because TRUTH IS IN JESUS, 21c

In practice, 22-24

Ephesians 4:22–24 ESV

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.

Ephesians 4:22-23

· We transform our thoughts & attitudes by:

· We transform our thoughts & attitudes by:

o Putting off our old self (baptism), 22

§ It belongs to former old life habits

§ Was/is corrupt through deceitful desires

o Being renewed in the spirit of our minds, 23

o Putting on our new self (resurrecting to faithfulness), 24

§ Created after the likeness of God

§ In true righteousness

§ And holiness