Ephesians 4:17-32

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.

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Intro:

The Bible has been teaching us, about our condition..

Very specifically.. here in Ephesians.. we have learned.. where we “sit” with the Lord..

What is, our standing with God?

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What does He think about us?

What has He, done for us?

What is He doing.. now, and in the future.. concerning you and me? ++

And we learned.. in chapters 1-3.. that we are in a good place.. with God..

Chpts 1-3 tell us, that we have been blessed above measure..

And.. this recognition.. this realization..

Is intended.. to produce in us.. a response.. ++

Because.. we have been so blessed by God..

God now intends.. for us, to walk in a worthy manner..

Not because He is obligating us to..

But rather.. because we recognize.. the grace that we have received in Him.. ++

Grace.. - if we truly recognize what grace is..

If we even get a glimpse.. of the grace which we have received..

We will respond..

Not because of the Law..

But rather – because of .. the Love.. ++

Grace says: “I love you more, than you have ever been loved.”

Therefore.. walk in a worthy manner. ++

In chapter 4:1-6.. we were encouraged to walk in love and in unity.. ++

In Chapter 4:7-16..– we were encouraged to walk.. in the gifts that we have been given.. ++

Now.. as we move on.. to vs. 17.

. We’re still walking..

But this time. We’re encouraged to walk:

..as a “new creation in Christ” ++

To get a better understanding of what it means.. to walk as a “new creation in X”..

Paul gives us a comparison..

We’re about to talk about the nice brand new Cadillac..

But first.. let’s get perspective..

Let’s talk about the old busted down Rambler we used to roll around in.. ++

That Junky old car.. that didn’t have a front seat in it..

Actually.. it just had a bucket there.. and you sat on that..

And it had 3 on the tree transmission..

When you stopped.. you had to rev the engine to keep it running

And it required 2 quarts of oil every week.. ++

We’re about to talk about that new home you live in.. w/Heat and Air.. / good insulation.. comfortable mattress.. overstuffed couch.. and a giant flat panel television..

But first.. let’s get perspective..

Let’s talk about the old busted down shack you used to live in..

That abandoned 1950’s RV trailer..

No heat.. no a/c.. ++

You slept on a pull-out board with a 1 inch, vinyl covered piece of hard foam..

The bathroom was an out-house..

And the kitchen consisted of a Coleman cooler and a hot-plate. ++

You’re wearing a new pair of the best… Nike tennis shoes.. ..

But first.. let’s remember the worn out plastic flip-flops that gave you a blister on your big toe.. ++

It’s a matter of comparison..

to realize how good the good is..

we need to remember.. see and understand..

how bad the bad is.. ++

The comparison here.. is one of identity…

We’re going to talk about .. what it means to be a new creation in X..

But first.. let’s remember.. what it means..

to live as the “old man” ++

.. to qualify what he’s about to say.. Paul uses the word “testify”

Basically.. this word states.. that the message which follows..

Is one based on experience.. as a witness.. ++

I’m sure Paul could site example after example.. concerning the motivations of a futile mind..

But here.. he merely sites the revelation that God has given to him..

He doesn’t “testify in personal experience”

Here.. he “testifies in the Lord” ++

Now.. I can’t help but to segue away from the topic of this passage..

And ask the question..

What’s more reliable?

To testify in personal experience..

Or.. – “to testify in the Lord?” ++

Here’s what I mean..

There are perceptions that we can gain.. from experience..

There are ideas, concepts, philosophies..

That we sometimes subscribe to.. create.. and draw a conclusion from.. ++

If we experience abuse.. if we get ripped off.. if we are offended..

We might be inclined.. by experience..

To make a blanket judgment, and to give a biased testimony. .. ++

If the cashier at Food Lion gave you change back for a $10..

And you gave her a $20..

And you didn’t notice it until you got back to your car..

So you went back in to argue.. and they didn’t believe you.. ++

Do you… then conclude.. that every Food Lion Grocery store is crooked? ++

If one experience in a Baptist church was bad..

Do you say: All Baptist churches are bad? ++

If your Volvo springs a leak in the radiator..

Do you conclude that all Volvo’s have bad radiators? ++

You could testify..

By your own experience..

And say these things..

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We can feel, experience and have impressions..

Here in the flesh.. that contradict reality.. ++

Very possibly, in the same way.. we could perceive emotions and experiences..

That contradict the Scriptures..

Why? ++

Because our minds are imperfect..

Our emotions are fickle

And our understanding.. is limited.. ++

If I were to say.. that I: “testify in the Lord”

I’ll be.. bearing witness.. to something in the Word..

Or.. to something that is consistent with the Word.. ++

This is where God defines my faith..

This is where God tells me.. who He is..

This is where.. the guidelines are established..

This is where.. the proven wisdom originates.. ++

My mind.. my understanding goes all over the place..

But here.. is something solid..

My anchor.. my North Star.. My Control Group.. ++

My mind will lead me..

To redefine my religion..

My emotions will tell me..

To establish my own beliefs… ++

But, what will this new belief system be based on? ++

It will be based on my wants.. my experiences.. and my desires.. ++

There are hundreds of thousands of people.. who call themselves Christians in this world..

But their beliefs.. though based on scriptural content..

.. are not.. lined up.. in whole.. with the Word.. ++

Instead..

They pick and choose..

They get their religion from politics.. from the news.. from television.. from personal preference and desire..

And they say.. ++

I’m a Christian..

But.. all paths lead to God..

I’m a Christian..

But.. drunkenness and premarital sex are okay..

I’m a Christian..

But.. there’s no such thing as sin.. ++

Paul could have said “I testify in my own experience”

But he didn’t..

For our own experience, our own perceptions.. our own conclusions..

Do not always line up.. with the unwavering truth.. ++

So.. what is Paul testifying of, in the Lord?

He is testifying of the walk.. that we should no longer walk…

Turn to:

Colossians 3:5–10 ESV

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

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Why does the wrath of God come?

Because of.. the deeds and mentalities listed in vs. 5.. ++

Before we accepted the call, to follow Christ..

Those where the deeds and the mentalities that we walked in..

But now.. we are called.. to walk differently..

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The wrath of God is coming upon these things… but we know, that God’s wrath for these sins… was satisfied in the work of the cross..

We know… that as recipients of God’s grace… by trusting wholly in Jesus… we are not subject to this wrath..

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1 Thessalonians 5:9 ESV

9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

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We who have received Christ..

We are new creations..

But.. you and I..

We need to be walking, in a more appropriate manner.. not according to our desires… but according to grace.. ++

This is tough stuff.. Why?

Because.. all this junk.. is still on us.. the: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness

All of this.. is still on us..

But the Word cries out..

Put it off..

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Put off the old man with his deeds,

And put on the new man.. ++

Back to Eph 4.. it says that this walk.. is “in the futility of the mind”

meaning.. the walk of the old man.. is rooted in.. a “lack of understanding” ++

What is this understanding which is lacking?

It’ll be crystal clear to you.. if you go back and read chapters 1-3 again..

The understanding is this: ++

We have received grace.. we have been blessed, abundantly.. we possess a salvation…. That is crazy awesome..

Such a wonderful thing.. is intended to inspire us.. to walk in a pleasing manner to God.. ++

Because I have an understanding.. of the goodness of God, extended to me..

It will be more appropriate.. if I walk in a manner that pleases God.. ++

If I don’t have any understanding of God’s grace in my life..

I will, instead.. operate according to my feelings.. my flesh.. my natural tendencies.. ++

That’s the comparison that’s being laid out here..

We have learned.. about.. how good it is , to be in Christ..

Those who do not know the goodness.. who do not understand the magnitude of grace.. and the Love of God..

They think differently.. spiritually speaking.. ++

They’re still driving the Rambler with the 5 gallon bucket seat.. living in the old rusty rv.. wearing the flip-flops…

Their mind (vs. 18).. is futile and ignorant..

They are blind..

And.. they are numb..

it says, in:

1 Peter 4:3–4 ESV

3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you;

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Maybe, before Christ came into our lives..

Maybe.. we once walked in this fashion..

But now we don’t.. OR, should I say.. now we shouldn’t.. ++

And as we choose to walk a righteous path..

The world will look on.. and think it strange.. that we don’t do.. what we used to do.. ++

Spiritually speaking.. they wonder:

Why we don’t drive the Rambler.. wearing the flip-flops.. sleeping on the foam vinyl mat.. in the broke down r.v.… cooking our meals on the hot plate..

Spiritually speaking..

We cruise in our Cadillac, wearing our Nike Tennis shoes.. sleeping on our nice mattress, in our nice climate controlled house.. ++

We have understanding.. that in Christ..

Things are good.. even.. if the world looks on.. lacking understanding..

The contrast kicks in.. in vs. 20 ++

Ephesians 4:20–24 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, 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.

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God has given us.. a new life..

God has revived us.. spiritually..

God has put His Holy Spirit.. in our lives..

We are.. a new creation.. a new.. person..

A spiritual being.. ++

That’s what we are.. that’s our truest identity..

But.. in this flesh..

That is not our sole identity..

We still have a struggle.. a war..

There is still.. the old nature.. ++

There is a part of us.. that wants to cut loose..

We’re in church on Sunday..

But come Friday night.. – the beast w/in us wants to go out.. get drunk cuss and fornicate..

And it doesn’t make any sense at all….. ++

That’s why.. God is trying to give us understanding..

His love is relentless and His grace is abounding..

We have received a gift that is “crazy awesome”…

Because of this understanding..

We should be inspired.. to respond…

By putting off.. the conduct.. that is according to our deceitful desires.. ++

notice.. it didn’t just say “desire”

it said “deceitful desire” ++

Lust/deisre is never, strait forward and honest..

Desire never tells us up front.. that the activity we are being drawn to… will be regretful, and most likely, damaging in the end.. ++

No way.. Lust sells everything as being the most wonderful thing in the world..

Even as our mind screams..

“it’s a trap.. don’t do it.. you’ll regret it.. “ ++

We still, sometimes.. go willingly..

In those times.. our understanding is darkened..

Our understanding of what?

How good we have it!!! ++

That’s when lust really gets a hold of us..

When we get: ignorant, blind and numb..

Like vss. 18-19 said.. ++

And such things.. lead us to.. lewdness and works of uncleanness and greediness.. ++

But Vs. 22 says.. “put it off”

how do we do that?

How do we put off the old rusty Rambler with the 5 gallon bucket as a seat?

by looking at our Cadillac.. ++

when we see that thing.. with the heated leather seats.. power steering.. and turbo charged engine..

we’ll put off .. the Rambler.. ++

When we see our dream house..

We’ll put off the rusty r.v. ++

When we see those comfy shoes..

We’ll put off the flip flops.. ++

With clarity of understanding.. comes reason..

Vs. 23.. calls us to a spiritual renewal..

David prayed for this, in:

Psalm 51:10 ESV

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

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Looking back again.. to Col 3:10..

Colossians 3:10 ESV

10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

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In Titus 3:5.. it says.. we are renewed by the H.S.

In Romans 13:12.. it says.. to “cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light” ++

When we find ourselves climbing back into that dumpy old Rambler.. putting on the flip-flops…

When we find ourselves wanting to indulge in the flesh..

When we want to hand ourselves over to the desires that are deceiving us…

This is God’s solution.. ++

Be .. renewed in knowledge.. (be reminded.. of who we are, in Christ)

be renewed by the H.S.

Seek His power and His intervention.. to pull us back up.. on our feet!

put on the armor of light.. ++

light.. is revelation..

that which is revealed.. is understanding..

understanding.. who and what we are.. is like an armor.. it’s a protective force.. protecting us from destructive deeds.. we so often desire..

And here’s where it gets practical.. ++

Ephesians 4:25 ESV

25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

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by nature.. we want to lie..

to avoid difficult or burdensome explanations..

to prevent people from having their feelings hurt..

to make ourselves look good, or others.. to look bad..

It comes naturally.. ++

But again.. we are told to put it away..

Why?

Lying is an act of self promotion, self exaltation, or personal convenience..

But, if we recognized, that we are all members of one another..

The need for selfish motivation goes away..

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Ephesians 4:26–27 ESV

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.

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Anger will almost always try to attach itself to sin..

Don’t let it..

Put anger to rest.. before it drives us.. to violence.. or malice.. ++

Ephesians 4:28–29 ESV

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.

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our hands.. and our mouths..

they may have once been used in a negative fashion..

God challenges us.. to change the activity.. ++

The hands that once did wicked things..

Can be redeemed to do righteous things..

The mouth that once spoke destructively..

Can now speak.. of edification.. ++

Ephesians 4:30–32 ESV

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.

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As believers.. the Holy Spirit is going to lead us to do those things.. which are good and righteous..

But our flesh.. the old man..

Is going to be given to: bitterness.. evil and malice..

In contrast.. the new creatures that we are in Christ..

Should behave in kindness.. compassion and forgiveness..

Christ is our example.. ++

He is the one we are called to follow..

Therefore, what He has done, for us..

We should be willing , to do for others.. ++

Conclusion..

This section of scripture..

has taken us back and forth..

Both sides of the comparison had to do with walking.. ++

Walk.. according to the desires of this flesh..

Which.. are destructive, selfish and unprofitable..

Or.. walk, according to the ways of Christ..

Which are edifying, selfless and productive.. ++

It is also.. more than just: what you do, and how you behave.

.. it’s also..

Who you are..

We are children of the King..

We are blessed, w/all spiritual blessings, in the heavenly places..

We are, co-heirs with Christ..

We are recipients.. of grace..

Freely receiving, that which cannot be gained or earned by human efforts..

We are called and created to bear God’s image to the world around us..

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This isn’t about rules… this isn’t about behavior modification… this is about us, being who we are, in Christ, and walking appropriately, to the grace which has been given.

One produces the other.

If we struggle to walk… then we are probably struggling to realize and understand who and what we really are.

And if that is the case… I would encourage you… to get more acquainted with your Savior..

How do we get more acquainted with people? We spend time with them… we talk, we listen, we experience..

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It’s the same with God..

He wants our company… our prayers… He wants us to involved Him in our day to day lives. He wants us to listen to Him, by reading His Word… He wants to be actively involved, allowing us to recognize and experience Him.

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There’s no fancy formula.

The God who created the whole concept of ‘family relationship’… wants you to be in His family… and be fully acquainted with Him.

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