Out with old, in with the new
Notes
Transcript
Illustration
Illustration
We’ve all had that experience of something not being right either with food in a restaurant, or a product online or in a shop or something we’re looking to buy.
It could be a meal which is unsatisfactory, perhaps it’s a that latest gadget which has been delivered damaged, or maybe it’s a holiday which hasn’t lived up to the online description or brochure.
Who do you contact?
First, you speak with the waitor, pick up the phone or speak to the receptionist. You explain the situation hoping that they can help you resolve the issue. If they can’t help, you ask to speak to someone who can help sort out the problem, and if that doesn’t work you ask to speak to the manager.
Does anyone else have a family member who’s done this enough times that they skip to the end of the chain immedeatley and just ask for the manager as soon as the problem arises? That’s my Mum
And do you know, they’re is a good reason for that.
The manager is the person at the heart of the situation. They’re the one who is ultimately responsible for what is happening in their restaurant, store, online prescence, hotel - wherever the situation is.
By asking for the manager, you’re cutting right to the chase.
And this is important to remember as we explore this passage. Go straight to the manager to sort out any problems.
As we finish Epehesians 4 and move into we must remember that this is what Paul is talking about. He’s calling us to take off the old self and to put on the new self
3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh,
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
Eph 4.17
The Gentiles are of course the non-Jews, and here refer to anyone who doesn’t follow the ways of God
It’s quite a statement, to say that they are darkened in their understanding, we get the impression that living a life with darkened understanding is a mindset which leads to dark conversations, dark thoughts about others, with a lack of clarity. And Paul links the darkness to being separated from God. Cut off from the creator who made them and loves them.
And then there’s this phrase about hardening of hearts. The Greek word for hardened means ‘a kind of marble’ or in a medical setting a ‘callus’ or a ‘bony formation on the joints’.
When an organ hardens it stops being able to sense in the way it did before. For instance if the eyes harden, they stop sensing light and the person becomes blind. Some of you know that I play the double bass, in fact I used to be a Jazz bassist. And I used to get nasty blisters from playing the double bass everyday and very loudly. I used to dip my fingers in a little bit of terpentine to harden my fingers. It did the trick, but it did mean I had less sensitivity in those fingers
Sometimes we see hardened hearts in the Bible as stubborness. But Paul’s using this word differently here. He speaks of a dulling of our perception of right and wrong, suddenly things which we used to know were right, God’s way, or wrong, Satan’s way, are no longer viewed in the same way
Paul is asking us to open our minds and hearts to Jesus - too often in our brokenness, we rationalise our own way of thinking and living and consider the case closed. But the big question is, what’s Jesus’ oppinion on the way we live?
Sometimes we think we mean when we hear the words ‘unfaithfulness’ mentioned in church. Perhaps we hear connotations of sexual sin outside of marriage, or some horrendous betrayal. But unfaithfulness to God is anything outside of his plan for us
what about when we see someone who is hungry and don’t offer them food (take off jacket)
or we decide not to share what we have
when pay day comes, have we given any of our money to a chairty, to our church, or used some of it to help those in need. Rr did decide not to share what we have (Take off collar)
are we loving those we work with as God wants us too, or are we judging them and gosspining about them behind their back (open collar)
when we see injustice, have we gone to the aid of the person who needs support? (un do a couple of buttons)
These are big questions, and each sinful in their own right
unfaithfulness to God is living in anyway which is outside of his plan for us
sin, after all, is anything that gets between us and God
In our old lives it was all about us
And resisting my own desires is hard.
We all mess up
This week, each of us has found ourselves wearing part of our old selves.
This week, each of us has found ourselves wearing part of our old selves.
Was it when we lost our temper, or decided to ignore someone who we should have helped? (Take off shirt)
In amongst all the amazing things we did with Jesus, all those thing we did in our new selves, there were also things we did in our old. (Be standing in black darth vader T-shirt)
In amongst all the amazing things we did with Jesus, all those thing we did in our new selves, there were also things we did in our old. (Be standing in black darth vader T-shirt)
And the good news?
And the good news?
God loves us just as we are, but he loves us too much to leave us that way
We all struggle don’t we.
And in the church we say that we are ‘sinners saved by grace’. It’s biblical and it’s true.
However, I don’t want any of us living under the identity of a sinner. Yes we all sin, and we have been saved.
But a sinner by definition sins. When we get to that place of weakness, we justify it in those moments of darkened thinking, “God allowed me to be a sinner, and if I’m a sinner then naturally I sin. I’s ok, because I can just ask for forgiveness after”
But a sinner by definition sins. When we get to that place of weakness, we justify it in those moments of darkened thinking, “God allowed me to be a sinner, and if I’m a sinner then naturally I sin. I’s ok, because I can just ask for forgiveness after”
No, that’s not the good news of Jesus
Because, Sin breaks the Father’s heart
Because, Sin breaks the Father’s heart
It’s the thing that has stolen his children. It’s the thing that is killing his world. God’s beautiful creation has been tarnished and mutilated by sin which is the tool of Satan.
God said a big “No More!” in Jesus. No more exile for us, no more barriers between us and him.
God said a big “No More!” in Jesus. No more exile for us, no more barriers between us and him.
My brothers and sisters, do not call yourseleves sinners! Don’t identify that way.
My brothers and sisters, do not call yourseleves sinners! Don’t identify that way.
You are called children of God. And as Children of God, you are called to a higher purpose!
You are called children of God. And as Children of God, you are called to a higher purpose!
When temptations come, a child of God is not created to sin. Yes, you still have some of the old sinful nature in you, but you’re a child of God. (take off Darth Vader and reveal the white t-shirt underneath - be careful not to pull both off!)
Seperation from God = hardness of hearts and darkened understanding
Full of greed
However, this is not the life we have learned when we heard about Christ and were taught in him
in accrodance with the Truth that is in Jesus
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror
24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
James 1.19-
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;
14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.
15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
But as Children of God, we’re not called to a life of death but an eternal life of hope, joy, peace and love
Paul says you are called to more. He says this isn’t the life that you learned in Christ, that you heard about Christ, when you were taught in him.
Paul says you are called to more. He says this isn’t the life that you learned in Christ, that you heard about Christ, when you were taught in him.
As a follower of Jesus you are called to an exciting life with him.
Greed has no place. Pride has no place. Envy has no place. Violent anger has no place. Gossip has no place. Malicious talk has no place.
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
(Start putting shirt, collar back on)
23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
Ephesians 4.23
Ephesians 4
Paul says that truth is in Jesus
Paul says that truth is in Jesus
I’ve said it before that truth is not a knowledge to be gained or passed on. Truth is a person, and he’s the greatest person to get to know.
I’ve said it before that truth is not a knowledge to be gained or passed on. Truth is a person, and he’s the greatest person to get to know.
Jesus Christ, God the son is the truth of all. And he invites us to live life with him to the full
To bring every concern to him. To spend time getting to know him more.
This is the journey that Henry is embarking on today. A life long friendship with Jesus who is the Lord of all. Not a religion of rules, but a rela relationship with Jesus who made him.
And how will Henry grow in this friendship?
Through talking to Jesus and hearing him speak both in prayer and also when he’s reading his bible.
Henry joined the family of the world wide church this week, and he’s joining one of Liverpool’s footballers this week in the world wide church this week
Roberto Firmino took the plunge this Wednesday and got baptised.
Firmino, who I don’t need to tell James and many of you, is Liverpool’s Striker, supported by Allison the Goaly and this is what he wrote on instagram when he posted the video to instagram. - “I gave my failures and the victories I will give you too. 🙌🏻 My greatest title is Your Love Jesus. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.🙏🏻❤️😁”
"My greatest title is Your Love Jesus. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.🙏🏻❤️😁”
While standing in the pool he said "Jesus is love," [There is] no explanation. just believe it. Just believe and feel the Holy Spirit."
While standing in the pool he said "Jesus is love," [There is] no explanation. just believe it. Just believe and feel the Holy Spirit."
For Firmino something has changed. He’s turned a corner in his life. He’s turned to Jesus and committed that he has turned his life away from the old way he used to live.
For Firmino something has changed. He’s turned a corner in his life. He’s turned to Jesus and committed that he has turned his life away from the old way he used to live.
This is massive. With well over 12 million followers on instagram, and even more off instagram, for someone with his fame to come to know Jesus is immense. The ripple effects in our current society are huge.
So today, go straight to the manager of your life. Just trying to get your body to do some things and not other things is like going to the junior members of staff and hoping they’ll fix the deep seated issue.
We need to go to the manager, we need to have our minds transformed through a daily walk with Jesus.
We get baptised once, but we choose every day to put on the clothes of our new self. Of the follower of Jesus rather than the old sinner. (put the jacket on)
And it’s interesting. We believe that there is one baptism, that we are all united together by one spirit. We make our decision to follow Jesus and he saves us then and there.
That we choose to take off the old life, or not return to it.
Firstly, remember that this is a partnership
And to choose to take the new life and put it on.
Firstly, remember that this is a partnership
What can you and I do?
Firstly, remember that this is a partnership
we do everything with Jesus, in our friendship with him, through our relationship with him
You’re prayer life and your time reading the Bible is critical to hearing from him
Secondly, remember that you’re identity is as a child of God
you are not defined by God as a sinner
you are his beloved son or daughter
you were worth dying for
Thirdly, listen to his prompting
how are you with giving your money to charity, church and those in need
are you living the way he wants you to live? - if you’re not sure how he wants you to live get praying and chat to a Christian friend who’s further along in their walk with Jesus
next time you see an injustice, don’t walk past it, don’t feel powerless but ask God there and then what he’s asking you to do. Is it to report something you’ve seen, is it to do some research on behalf of someone, or help them to access citizens advice or Christian’s against poverty. Perhpas it’s to help them fill in some paperwork, or to listen to them in their time of crisis
Response
Full of greed
However, this is not the life we have learned when we heard about Christ and were taught in him
in accrodance with the Truth that is in Jesus
Our identity is not as sinners, but as children of God
Let’s stand in response
The sinner by nature sins, but the child of God by nature lives out our Father’s love
Under new management
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Notes from commentaries
A new existence in Christ
Collect
Loving Father, your Son Jesus went among the crowds and brought healing with his touch: help us to show his love, in your Church as we gather together, and by our lives as they are transformed into the image of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Roberto Firmino - Liverpool Striker, supported by Allison the Liverpool Goaly - “I gave my failures and the victories I will give you too. 🙌🏻 My greatest title is Your Love Jesus!
Absolution
"My greatest title is Your Love Jesus. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.🙏🏻❤️😁”
Almighty God,
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
who in Jesus Christ has given us
a kingdom that cannot be destroyed,
forgive us our sins,
open our eyes to God’s truth,
strengthen us to do God’s will
and give us the joy of his kingdom,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.