Christ didn't teach you that (2)

Book of Ephesians  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Taking off the old and putting on the new

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Introduction:

Ephesians 4:20–24 NASB95
20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
Go over all of Chapter 4
-(v.1) I am a prisoner
Go over all of Chapter 4
-(v.1) Live up to your calling not beneath
-(v.2) Show humility, be gentle, patience with your brothers and sisters in Christ
(v.3) Preserve the Unity of the Spirit(doctrinal unity) in the bond of peace(practical unity)
(v.7-13) Jesus gave us Pastor/Teachers as gifts to the church and they have been sent to minister to the needs of the church let them do this without being a source of contention
(v.14-16) Grow up
(v.17-19) The world makes decision and lives according to the dictates of their desires, do not follow the pattern of the world.
Ephesians 4:20–24 NASB95
20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

I. Get back to the basics

I. Get back to the basics

eph 4
Ephesians 4:20 NASB95
20 But you did not learn Christ in this way,
(v.20) Paul is this text is reaching back into the previous scriptures that talked about how the Gentiles behave. The Gentiles are Spiritually undiscerned. They follow the dictates of the world and their own lust. They chase things that have no spiritual value. The fill their belly’s with things that destroy.
(v.20) “But you did not learn Christ in this way” Paul is dogmatic in his assertion that the believers at Ephesus were not taught Christ in this way.
How could Paul be so sure that they knew better, and that this behavior was intentional?

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Acts 18:1-
Acts 18:1–3 NASB95
1 After these things he left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them, 3 and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working, for by trade they were tent-makers.
Acts 18:1–3 NASB95
1 After these things he left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them, 3 and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working, for by trade they were tent-makers.
(v.1-3) In this grouping of scriptures we see Paul’s introduction to this powerful ministry couple. We see here and man named
(v.1-3) In this grouping of scriptures we see Paul’s introduction to this powerful ministry couple. We see here and man named Aquila who was ethnic Jew but a Roman citizen(Just like Paul) this man was married to a woman named Priscilla. They meet Paul because the Roman Emperor Claudius kicked out the Jews from the imperial city. They linked up with Paul because they all share the same trade. They were tent-makers. Notice (v.3) Due to their common shared occupation Paul stayed with them. It is safe to assume that besides working Paul discipled them. We can say that because of the NT evidence there was not place Paul went to that he sought to fit in. He taught Christ in every situation that he was put into.
Acts 18:

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Acts 18:18–19 NASB95
18 Paul, having remained many days longer, took leave of the brethren and put out to sea for Syria, and with him were Priscilla and Aquila. In Cenchrea he had his hair cut, for he was keeping a vow. 19 They came to Ephesus, and he left them there. Now he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.
Acts 18:18–21 NASB95
18 Paul, having remained many days longer, took leave of the brethren and put out to sea for Syria, and with him were Priscilla and Aquila. In Cenchrea he had his hair cut, for he was keeping a vow. 19 They came to Ephesus, and he left them there. Now he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to stay for a longer time, he did not consent, 21 but taking leave of them and saying, “I will return to you again if God wills,” he set sail from Ephesus.
acts 18:18-
(v.18) Notice Paul’s travel companions as the set sail. Priscilla and Aquila. Then in (v.19) Notice where they sailed to. They sailed to Ephesus and Paul left them there. They asked him to stay longer, but Paul says I have to go, but if it is God’s will I will return.
(v.18) Notice Paul’s travel companions as the set sail. Priscilla and Aquila. Then in (v.19) Notice where they sailed to. They sailed to Ephesus and Paul left them there.

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Acts 18:23–28 NASB95
23 And having spent some time there, he left and passed successively through the Galatian region and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. 24 Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; 26 and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he wanted to go across to Achaia, the brethren encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him; and when he had arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
Acts 18:23-
(v.23) Paul left Ephesus and began to travel to other places in Asia Minor preaching and teaching. This piggybacks what I said earlier about Paul always being about the father’s business.
(v.24) Luke then introduces a new character into the story. A man named Apollos who was a Jew that lived in Alexandria, which was the capital of Egypt. He was a trained rhetorician, which means he was a trained speaker. It looks like from the text that he believed that Jesus the Christ was the Messiah, but he had an incomplete understanding of the Resurrection and Pentecost and spirit baptism.
(v.25-26) Apollos was showing up at the Jewish synagogue’s and instructing the Jews the Jesus was the Messiah when he was noticed by Priscila and Aquila. They pulled his coattail had a fish fry and while they were eating they filled in the blanks in Apollos teaching things he had never known. Particularly about Pentecost and the indwelling HS. Then look at him in (v.28)
(v.28) We went back to work refuting the Jews in public proving that Jesus is the Christ.
Now we know that at least Three strong bible teachers are in Ephesus: Priscilla, Aquila & Apollos. Now take a look at Eph 19:1

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Acts 19:1 NASB95
1 It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples.
(v.1) Apollos left Ephesus and went to Corinth, but look at who replace him. Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus. By the time Paul made his way back to Ephesus we believed that a Christian Community had already sprung up under the missionary work of Priscila, Aquila, and Apollos. Paul came in to strengthen their faith. We believe Paul was in Ephesus from the Autumn of 52ad to the Spring of 55 ad. So Paul was in Ephesus for three years during those three years we wrote: 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, and Phil.
-The book of Ephesians was written approx. 62ad. So Paul is writing back to a place he had just left 7 years prior.
Ephesians 4:20 NASB95
20 But you did not learn Christ in this way,
Eph 4:
(v.20) Paul could say with confidence that they did not learn Christ this way, because he knew they had been taught by some of the best. Him being on of them. You see why my point last week was “You know better than that!!”
Ephesians 4:21 NASB95
21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus,
Eph
(v.21) “if indeed you have heart” Paul moves from a general proclamation “Yall were not taught like that” to an individual proclamation. Paul seems to be granting a little bit of grace & mercy. He is giving them the benefit of the doubt. He says maybe not all of you have been taught, but I am pretty sure most of yall know better than to act like you are acting.
(v.21) “if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus” Paul says I am relatively sure that you have been taught in him. Meaning that your teaching has been built on the solid foundation of Christ and him Crucified. There has been no ambiguity, nor deceit. You have gotten pure Gospel.
Ephesians 4:22 NASB95
22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,
(v.22) “that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self,” Paul tells them that you have been taught about what to do with your former manner of life.
(v.22) “that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self” Paul then goes into the teaching that has been taught but needs to be reiterated. Sidenote: To all Teachers, Parents, and Mentors; People need to be taught things from different angles before it registers with them. Don’t get frustrated when a person does not change behavior the first time you tell them, that is rare. Most of us need reminders!!
a. Take off your dirty clothes-Lay aside the old self
What is the old self?
-You will see this phrase “old self” “old man” of “flesh” these all refer to the same part of us. The Sin nature. We are all born with one nature in that is “Sinner”. David said it best in
Psalm 51:5 NASB95
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.
Romans 3:10 NASB95
10 as it is written, There is none righteous, not even one;
What is the best way to understand this concept of being born with a Sin nature?
-This does not mean that everything we do is intrinsically evil, or that we are not capable of sincere acts of kindness and compassion.
-What it means; is that even our good, sincere acts of kindness are inherently sinful, because they are done separate from the power of God. You see if you aren’t in Christ then even your good acts bring Glory to yourself.
-I don’t like this song, but it describes us well “We are bad to the bone” the poison of sin is in our very DNA!! Sin has affected all parts of humanity:
a. Body-Body is decaying everyday
b. Soul & Spirit-You are born separate from Christ and that gulf grows further everyday that you reject him.
-Understanding Nature-Trained Animals at the ZOO or Circus.
Ephesians 4:22 NASB95
22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,
(v.22) Paul says “lay aside the old self” The verb “lay aside” is often used to describe removing a garment. This is wonderful analogy that describes the process of putting off sinful deeds. Like the removal of dirty, smelly garments we are to remove the deeds of the flesh.
If it is in our nature to sin even after salvation how are we able to stop sinning; or lay aside the old self?
How are we able to remove the

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-Paul in Romans gives us the reason Why we are able to not sin
Romans 6:4–7 NASB95
4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for he who has died is freed from sin.
(v.4) At our point of conversion we were “buried” with Christ in his death. As Christ was raised he also raised us so that we might be able to walk in newness of life.
(v.5) Logical conclusion: We united with him in his death, so then must also be united with him in resurrection so that all the benefits from his resurrection have been passed on to us.
(v.6) “knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for he who has died is freed from sin.” Paul says knowing this. Meaning this is something we must embrace and know:
(v.6) “That our old self has been crucified” We must deal with this phrase.
The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament 4957. συσταυρόω sustauróō

In Rom. 6:6 the verb is in the pass. sunestaurṓthē, indicating that the old man was crucified together with Christ so that sin cannot have preeminence in a believer’s life.

Summary: The power of sin over the believer was broken at the cross so that anyone who claims to have him as Lord and Savior Sin no longer has any constitutional power over the saint.
(v.6) 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for he who has died is freed from sin. Paul then gives some reasoning behind why the old man needed to be crucified. So that the body of sin is done away with. Pre Salvation Sin had infected both Body & Spirit. Post Salvation Sin has only infected the Body.
In the verb is in the pass. sunestaurṓthē, indicating that the old man was crucified together with Christ so that sin cannot have preeminence in a believer’s life.
Zodhiates, Spiros. The complete word study dictionary: New Testament 2000 : n. pag. Print.
(v.6) 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for he who has died is freed from sin. Paul then the conclusion of the why: So that we would no longer be slaves to sin. This is the nail in the coffin if you had two natures One God & a Sinful nature you would then have two legitimate slave masters. Creating all kinds of spiritual confusion. Look at the text. Your “Old Man” was crucified with Christ so that you would no longer be a slave to your Old man(which was your nature) You have been constitutionally changed at the Spirit level so that the chains have been broken in your life.
(v.7) 7 for he who has died is freed from sin. Paul says he who has died. Who has died? those who have been crucified with Christ from (v.4) If you have been Crucified then you have been freed from the Slave Master and his name was (Sin)
Pastor you didn’t answer your own question; Then why do we still sin?
-Now those who believe that we have two natures still know that they have an uphill battle biblically so they make the very cogent practical argument that “if we don’t have a sin nature how do you explain why believers still sin”
-My conclusion is that our Spirit which was once dead has been made alive. Meaning we have the power to so no to sin. But there is a part of our unredeemed humanity that Paul is constantly talking about that needs to be renew. And that is our “Mind” when you were converted your mind was so although you are fundamentally different your mind still thinks like a sinner. So the reason you sin is not because it is in your nature. You sin because your mind still believes you are sinner.

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Proverbs 23:7 NASB95
7 For as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, “Eat and drink!” But his heart is not with you.
-ultimately the mind controls the action. So that is why when you stumble the Devil accuses you and says things like “you supposed to be a christian but you out here living just like the world” Because if he can get you to believe that you cannot have victory over your vices then his battle is won. Satan knows that he, nor the world, nor your flesh has any power over because all of these three things where defeated at the cross, but he uses the very effective method of reminding you of your past, so that you remain there instead of fixing your mind towards perfection. Paul tells us to be renew,restored & rebuilt in our minds so that we walk in the power and authority that has already been given to us by the Lord.
-The reason you sin is out of habit, not because sin has any power over you......Yall have seen the person who is in a relationship and they are “whipped” they won’t listen to friends/family they are totally under the spell of the opposite sex. Then something happens and they finally wake up. They start to see that they have been manipulated, they start to see that the only power the person had over them was given up not taken. But yet they still hang out with the person knowing these things and when they are out they don’t have fun because they know they ought not be there. They have an attitude, they are short, just being there makes them mad, but they stay!!! and why??? Habit. That’s what they are used too.
Ephesians 4:22 NASB95
22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,
-Paul says take off those dirty clothes, they may be comfortable, they may be cost effective, they may match perfectly, but they are old garments that need to be discarded.
What does it mean to throw off “Old Garments”?
Lord I am no longer going to use poor language
Lord I am no longer going to engage in back biting, or gossip
Lord I am no longer going to be a grudge holder
Lord I am no longer going to be a flirt
Lord I am no longer going to brag about my posession
Lord I am no longer going to use my physical appearance to manipulate people
Lord I am going to cut my portion down, and not go for seconds every time I eat.
Lord I am going to forgive those who have wrong me, so that you forgive me when I wrong you.
Lord I am going to reconnect and reconcile with my children
Lord I am going to sit with my wife at church
Lord I am not going to let any external stimulant or depressant control me....Pain Pills, Drugs, or Alcohol.
Throwing away my black shorts in College.
Open up the Doors of the Church
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