The Call for Change

The Call for Change

32 (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. 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. 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. 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 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.

Change is difficult for a lot of us. We are creatures of habit. I teach a weekly Bible Study and everybody sits in the same seats all the time, it never changes.

In another church one of the members sat in the same pew and the same spot, every Sunday for years. It was a standing joke that when Jesus came again she would tell Him that she couldn't leave without her pew spot. The unthinkable happen one Sunday, a visitor sat in her spot. There you saw Priscilla standing in the isle next to him until he became so uncomfortable he moved. I don't think she said a word. After all it was her spot.

The difficulty with change is because we have a gift of habituation. While it is a blessing it also because of the sinful, it works against us at time. It is a blessing because if we didn’t have it we would have relearn things continuously. It would take us hours just to get functioning each day.

That brings me to our text. Our God who is the one unchangeable constant in the universe desires change in every believer. So let’s look at the steps we are to take for change.

The first step is...

I. Stop following the world. Vs. 17-19 sets the stage for our understanding as Paul describes what the world looks like . "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." The first aspect of this is the...

A. Subtle enticement. Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do. Highlight the words "no longer." The assumption here is that they have been too much like the unbelievers and they need to change. I am afraid this can be said about too many church members. Paul warned us in (ESV) Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. The Phillips translation says, "Don't let the world squeeze you into it's mold." Have you notice the tremendous draw to conform to the world standards. Think about the pressure to be in style. Not many want to be out of step with society. We want to be accepted. There is a book that each of you ought to read. When People are Big and God is Small by Ed Welch. Even if our country says something is legal doesn't make it right. Killing babies in the womb is legal but it doesn't make it right. In Nazi Germany killing Jews was legal, but it wasn't right.

We are too much like the world. Next we need to...

B. See the world God's way. that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do. They are to stop living like the world. Paul lists the way God see the world. It could be said another way, "Don't be influenced by the world and see things the way God see them. We are called to be different. Look at the...

1. Spiritual picture of the world. To often we approach the understanding of this from a superficial angle. Most of us know our world is in trouble, but for the reason, we need to go deeper. 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."The Paul tells us the human problem is a heart problem. , (ESV) And he (Jesus) called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” Then he explained it to them in verse 18. But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.” Multiplies this a billion times to get a picture of our world.

Paul’s descriptive way gives us the world's contamination. In another letter Paul described the heart of the problem. In , Paul tells us that there is none who are righteous. In (ESV) He tells us the reason. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Total depravity is the basic problem. Paul then describes the world's inner issues.

a. Futility of mind. Vs.17b the futility of their minds. For the unbeliever life is meaningless. You hear that in Solomon's words in (ESV) Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. 3  What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? 4  A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.

Without Christ there is no eternal purpose. We are all drifting generalities. I have spoken to unbelievers who struggle to find any meaning for life.

b.Darkened in understanding. They cannot understand the things of God. It is like when I heard two guys speaking in Farsi. I didn't understand what they were saying. The unbeliever is in the same dilemma when it comes to the spiritual life in Christ. They just can't grasp it.

c. Separated from life. They are...alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.They are spiritually dead. Paul describes our condition before Christ in (ESV)  "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins." They are in this condition due to their hardness of heart or total depravity. This characteristic is seen in a stubbornness to learn or a resistance to responding to the Word of God for change. When our country was founded the Word of God was an essential element of our education system. Secularization of our education removed it and we have reaped the results ever since. Then they have...

d. No shame. 19a They have become callous This Greek word means to lose the capacity to feel shame or embarrassment. Paul said it another way in (ESV) Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, I was reared in the 40s and 50s. Divorce was rare in our small town and when did happen it was a scandal only quietly whispered by my folks. I can only remember one. The messages communicated today through TV, internet, movies and videos is a clear demonstration of the radical change. There is no shame.

Then Paul describes how it is expressed in the...

2. Sinful behavior.

a.Lacking moral restraint. Vs. 19b "They...have given themselves up to sensuality," Paul in (ESV) The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.

b. Greedy for impurity. Vs. 19c"greedy to practice every kind of impurity." This is sexual sin and very much related to what he just said about sensuality. I have seen in my life our culture consumed with every kind of impurity. It is epidemic. I have had many men in counseling seeking deliverance from their addiction to internet porn. I have counseled teenagers with this problem. The control it has is not a whole lot different than those I counseled with drug and gambling addictions.

The second step is......

II. Submit to the transforming word. Look what Paul says in (ESV) 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. Paul set out a contrast between the world with what God expects of His people.He uses three different verbs, all having to do with education, and he follows them with a reference to “the truth is in Jesus” Paul is speaking of an education experience every one of us should follow. When we are drawn to receive Christ we enroll in His school. The first verb is to be...

A. Sitting under instruction. Vs 20a "you learned Christ" The word Paul uses is extraordinary because it is found no where else in the Greek Bible. He is calling us to learn Jesus. It means more than learning about the historical Jesus or become acquainted with His doctrine. It probably means what the Lord prayed in (ESV) And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. The Greek word He uses is knowledge that comes through personal experience. It means that Christians are Christian because they enter into a personal relationship with the living Lord Jesus Christ. It is learning Him that changes us at the deepest level. This is far deeper than behavior modification, it is heart change. This is the source of our problems as we saw earlier in (ESV).

The second verb is to be...

B. Schooled by Him.Vs. 21 "assuming that you have heard about him." The NASB translation is clearer than the ESV. "You heard Him" is a clearer understanding of this Greek word. It carries the meaning that you heard Him speak. How have you heard Him speak? It is through the Scripture that we have heard Him. As the Word of God is faithfully exegeted we hear Him. Have you heard Him as you read a particular passage of Scripture or heard it preached and you thought it was written just for you. You heard Him. That was supernatural. I remember hearing the testimony of Louis Zamperine WWII POW survivor who attended a Billy Graham Crusade and thought of the thousands who were there that Graham was speaking to him and he was drawn to receive Christ. Are you hearing Him speaking to you? Have you heard Him tell you that His Son died on the cross for your sins? Have you heard Him tell you need to receive Him by simple faith?

The third verb is to be...

C. Saturated in Him."were taught in him" The challenging aspect is the words "in Him." Normally we would expect the sentence to read "taught by Him or "taught about Him." But it actually says "in Him." This carries the meaning that we are immersed in Him. That means that Jesus is the school, as well as the teacher and the subject of the instruction. It is all about Him. He is the truth. He is the very embodiment of truth. Paul is speaking of an all encompassing relationship with Christ. He is saying this because of what he said in the previous verse. The unbelieving world was willfully ignorant of God. It is harden against Him. But Paul is saying that coming to Christ changes all that. In (ESV), Jesus said to him (Thomas), “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. To find the very aspect of eternal life and real change is to be immersed in Christ's school. Have you enrolled?

The instrument the Holy Spirit uses in Christ's school to bring change is the Word of God. The psalmist stated that the Word of God "revives the soul."()

The third step is......

III. Strive for renewal. (ESV) "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." Do you see that this is a process of heart change? So we have deal with the...

A. Sinful nature. Vs.22 "to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, I think many after being drawn to faith in Christ, and then have sin raise it ugly head, wonder how they can really be saved. Paul tells us here that the sinful nature needs to be dealt with. It is connected the unbelieving past that is still making its present known and needs to be removed.

B. Sanctification process. Vs.23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, This is expressed by the psalmist in (ESV) Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. 34  Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. 35  Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. 36  Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! 37  Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways. 38  Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared. 39  Turn away the reproach that I dread, for your rules are good. 40  Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life!

C. Savior's likeness. Vs. 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."

(ESV) But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. Saturate your self with the Gospels and learn from the Master what He likes, how He thinks and acts.

The fourth step is...

IV. The switching illustrated. (ESV) Paul illustrates how this process works. 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 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.

The whole goal of the Gospel is saving us from Hell and transforming into the likeness of God. It is those heart issues of the sinful nature that hinders that process. Are there areas of the sinful nature that are keeping you from being like Jesus today and need to be put off? I would invite you in the power of the Holy Spirit to do business with God today.