August 8, 2021 - New Identity in Christ

Ephesians  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  47:24
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If you were with us last week - you heard the apostle Paul call us to WALK IN LOVE...
as we broke into chapter 5 of Ephesians.
And the way that Paul described the LOVE that we are to walk in...
was to POINT TO - the love of Jesus - and say...
“walk in love, AS Christ loved us”
And so we spent time looking at his UNIQUE kind of love...
A LOVE that...
walks in the Light of Jesus
seeks the FAITH of OTHERS over comfort in this world
feels empathy
pursues Eternal Life
And we saw how Paul, WHILE HE HAS been calling us to LIVE a certain way...
He also has been calling us to FEEL a certain way...
That the NEW LIFE - is mainly about walking WITH NEW AFFECTIONS of heart…as opposed to JUST new behaviors in life.
And so EACH WEEK = for the past several weeks...
Paul’s message has been building on itself.
And the MAIN THEME all along has been - MATURE in the FAITH
If we were to pull out some of the MAIN points throughout these chapters, it would sound like this:
SLIDE: Main points
Walk in a manner worthy of the call
Put off the old self
Put on the new self
And as we look at this list - something should jump out to us...
Paul here - is speaking to - Believers
See these points here - are ALL ABOUT maturing in Christ!
Which means - you have to first be - IN CHRIST…in order to MATURE in Christ
*If someone said to me - HEY - you really need to mature - as a mom
I’d respond - yeah....I’m not a mom
OH....good point.
Paul HERE is speaking to those - IN CHRIST...
walk in a manner WORTHY of the call
PUT OFF the old self
PUT ON the new self
And TODAY - Paul’s going to continue to look at what it looks like - AT GROUND LEVEL - to walk in love...
AND - we’ll see the NEW IDENTITY that we hold - being believers
Ephesians 5:3–14 ESV
3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Lot to look at here - BUT - i think there’s really just a couple points that Paul is trying to make...
And the OVER-ARCHING banner that hangs over ALL that Paul says today - is this...
SLIDE: New Identity in Christ: Once Darkness, Now Light

New Identity in Christ

And for us to see this in the text, we’re actually going to go right to it - in v8...
…and then from there - Paul will flesh this out
Ephesians 5:8 ESV
8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
We know what Paul has been calling us to the past several weeks right??
Maturity!
walk in a worthy manner
put off the old self
put ON the new self
Put away falsehood
Speak truth
Be renewed in your mind
NOW - Paul doesn’t speak this way to UNBELIEVERS!
If you speak this way to unbelievers - you’re calling them to - SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS!
No - Paul is speaking to BELIEVERS...
and that’s why he says - “FOR AT ONE TIME…you were darkness, but NOW - you’re different!”
NOW - you are LIGHT in the Lord!
Now - you have a NEW IDENTITY!
- LIVE iT OUT!
This is verse 8 - now from here - we’ll circle back and make our way thru our passage to see different aspects of this NEW IDENTITY...
And what we’re going to see throughout the passage is that we’re going to come to MANY FORKS in the road of Christianity!
On the one side - we’ll see - the road of the OLD SELF
On the other side - we’ll see - the road of the NEW SELF
And Paul is obviously going to call us to the path of the NEW SELF...
And the first FORK in the road that we’ll come to is in verses 3-4
Ephesians 5:3–4 ESV
3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
Do you guys remember Paul’s call from last week?
Walk in - Love
And we saw how THE LOVE that Paul called us to WALK IN - was actually the LOVE of JESUS
Here we see that our LOVE - can be MISDIRECTED!
Instead of our LOVE AIMING at:
The Truth of Christ
Other’s Faith
We can find our love - aiming at:
Sexual immorality
impurity
covetousness
· And so as Christians – instead of WALKING in LOVE…
· We can find ourselves – ABUSING the love of Christ which LOVED us first.
His love – which saved us
Our flesh – using that LOVE for its own evil desires
And so – as Christians – we can find ourselves at a fork in the road…
SLIDE: Fork – Covetousness vs. Contentment
And what is Paul’s call to us?
SLIDE: New Identity in Christ: Pursue Contentment in the Lord

New Identity in Christ

Ephesians 5:3–4 ESV
3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
· What we see here is a fork in the road…
On the one side – sexual immorality, impurity, filthiness, foolish talk, crude joking – and I would say all of that is rolled up under – Covetousness (to DESIRE things in ways you shouldn’t)
That’s the one side
On the other side – thanksgiving
What is at the root of Thanksgiving?
o Contentment
Being THANKFUL for your spouse…therefore not coveting another
Being THANKFUL for your savior…therefore not coveting to elevate SELF
Being THANKFUL for the conquering of sin…therefore not coveting to embrace it
· Having a NEW identity in Christ – we are called to be known as people who are THANKFUL!
· CONTENT!
Philippians 4:11–12 ESV
11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
Paul was content in ANY situation…If he was brought low – facing hunger – in need – he was content in what he DID have
If he was abounding – facing plenty – he was content in God who supplied.
And so as we walk thru life – TAKE NOTE of the forks in the road
Often we’ll only realize which ROAD we CHOSE – after we’ve already made our way a good way down that road…
We need to pray that God would AWAKEN us – in the MOMENT – to be able to discern THAT WE ARE standing at a fork in the road…
Our call – is to choose THANKFULNESS!
Take inventory!!
So often we’re SO FOCUSED on what we DON’T have - that we forget what we DO have!
But let’s look at BOTH SIDES… (having PLENTY or HAVING LITTLE)
Paul is saying - ON EITHER SIDE - our CONTENTMENT should be IN THE LORD!!
If my CONTENTMENT RESTS in my POSSESSIONS - then - in ABUNDANCE (when i DO have plenty) - I will BOW DOWN at the altar of MY THINGS
And the reason that is deadly is because when those THINGS go away - what happens to my contentment?
My CONTENTMENT goes away!
My God goes away!
When my contentment RESTS in my possessions, it rests in that which is TEMPORARY!!
The GOOD NEWS about Christianity is that EVEN IF my possessions are taken from me - i HAVE ALL THAT I NEED - In Jesus!
He is enough!!
And when HE IS ENOUGH - my contentment RESTS in that which is NOT TEMPORARY - but eternal!!
And Paul then lays out the importance of WHY we should choose thankfulness (contentment) over Covetousness!
Ephesians 5:5–7 ESV
5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them;
Remember who Paul is speaking to here!
We have to remember....
He’s speaking to - BELIEVERS!!
And because of that - we need to know that he’s not preaching - BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT here!
This may - SEEM - like a warning to Christians...
That if they fall into being covetous - or sexual immorality - that they will LOSE their salvation!
That’s NOT what Paul is saying here.
back to v5
Ephesians 5:5 ESV
5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Ok, again - this may sound like committing these sins - as Christians - SEPARATES you from Christ!
No - NOTHING can separate us from the LOVE of Christ!
So what’s Paul saying?
Let’s go to our MAIN THEME verse that we looked at first today...
It will help put this verse in its proper place...
Ephesians 5:8 ESV
8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
REMEMEBER?
Paul is speaking to people who REALLY DO have a NEW IDENTITY in Jesus...
They are NOW - LIGHT...
THEY USED to be darkness - but NOW they are LIGHT...
Back to v5
Ephesians 5:5 ESV
5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
See - these people here - they are - DARKNESS
They are IMPURE to the core!
They are LOST - without Jesus
Unbelievers!
Their INNER MAN - has NOT been redeemed
next verse
Ephesians 5:6 ESV
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
Do you see - Paul here connects - God’s WRATH - with these SINS...
And these people are described as - Sons of disobedience!
next verse
Ephesians 5:7 ESV
7 Therefore do not become partners with them;
NOW - we come to a fork in the road of CHRISTIANITY!
SLIDE: Fork - DARKNESS vs LIGHT
And what’s Paul’s call to us?
SLIDE: New Identity in Christ: Pursue Walking in His Light

New Identity in Christ

NOW - I’m very aware that this sounds VERY Cliche...
Walk in the Light of Jesus
…but what does that mean?
V7 told us - do NOT become partners with them (the ones who are DARKNESS)
The ones who love and embrace sexual immorality....covetousness…THESE THINGS
Paul’s saying - Listen - God’s WRATH is poured out on THOSE SINS>..
THEREFORE - don’t EMBRACE those sins in your life!!
Don’t LIVE like the darkness!!
SLIDE: Dark ROOM - there’s a flashlight with no batteries IN THIS ROOM - where is it?
*Flashlight - how helpful is a flashlight without batteries in a room that’s completely dark...
NOT helpful at all!
Question - In THAT COMPLETELY dark room - would it be known - at ALL - that there was a flashlight in the room??
Paul is saying - YOU ARE LIGHT in this world!!
LIVE like IT!!
Do you REMEMBER the AIM that Paul is after?
Remember from a couple weeks ago?
We’re after MATURITY!
WHy?
Aiming at - The LIKENESS of God in TRUE Righteousness and Holiness!!
We’re after the GLORIFICATION of God!! - - By HOW we LIVE
by the decisions we make at the FORKS in the ROAD...
Matthew 5:16 ESV
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
And so THIS truth - this LIGHT - reaches into EVERY area of our lives!
Your relationships...
what decisions can I make in this relationship that will SHINE the light of Christ…?
Think of ALL the forks in the road! - Regarding WALKING in the LIGHT of Jesus!
Should we move in together - or should we not?
Should we hang out late tonight - ALONE by ourselves - or not hang out alone?
Should we CONTINUE making those decisions together as a couple when NO ONE is around, or CHOOSE a BETTER WAY…the way of LIGHT?
How about your job?
How many forks in the road at your job?
Should I not listen to my boss or should I listen
Should I stretch the truth on this timesheet or not stretch the truth
Should I try to take credit for someone else’s work or NOT take credit for it
How about your taxes…or your schooling
Think of all the forks in the road!
Paul is saying - Don’t WALK as though you are DARKNESS!
Walk as Children of the light!
BECAUSE you now ARE LIGHT!!
v9
Ephesians 5:9 ESV
9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),
We are called to:
Pursue Contentment in the Lord (we need to rise above the physicality of this world)
Pursue Walking in His Light
Ephesians 5:10 ESV
10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
and so if we want to WALK in the LIGHT of Jesus...
Walk as Children of LIGHT...
we DO that by PLEASING the Lord
And so the NEXT fork in the road we come to - on this path of Christianity is this...
SLIDE: Fork - Please the Flesh vs. Please the Lord
What’s the call?
SLIDE: New Identity in Christ: Pursue Pleasing the Lord

New Identity in Christ

As Christians we need to know that with this new identity comes - NEW AFFECTIONS for Jesus!
We spoke on this LAST WEEK -
The Christian life is more than Behavior Management...
Last week Paul said - LOVE with - REAL LOVE....genuine love
How?
Hate what is evil…Abhor what is evil
EMBRACE what is good!!
This is DEEPER than just - choosing (making choices)
The LORD is pleased - WHEN - in our PURSUIT to PLEASE Him - we stand at the fork in the road...
And we see out in front of us - that which we HATE (evil) - and that which we LOVE (good)
and in THAT MOMENT - standing there with THAT HEART posture - the LORD is PLEASED!!
Jesus KNOWS - that IF our AFFECTIONS have TRULY been changed - and we TRULY HATE that which is EVIL…and we TRULY LOVE that which is good...
God KNOWS that those NEW AFFECTIONS will LEAD us INTO WAR - as we walk thru this FALLEN WORLD!!
YES - we WILL fall at times - and choose the path of DARKNESS...
BUT BECAUSE we now HATE EVIL - we will find ourselves CONFESSING that sin - and the LORD.WILL.BE.PLEASED!
Jesus is PLEASED - in our - FIGHTING
When we have NEW AFFECTIONS for Jesus - WHEN we DO fall and choose the path of darkness in our lives...
Our hearts will CRY out ROMANS 7 to the LORD!!
I DO the very thing that i HATE! (Paul said)
And i HATE it!! (Paul said)
YES - PURSUE the PATH of LIGHT...
The LORD will be PLEASED!!
But if we stumble...
He WILL BE PLEASED IN YOUR FIGHT!!!
AS YOU CONFESS and EXPOSE that evil in your life!!
Which brings us to our last point!!
Ephesians 5:10–13 ESV
10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,
And here we see a point that can be viewed in many ways I believe...
Paul says - Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness - but instead - EXPOSE THEM!
CALL them out for what they truly are!
From a HIGH LEVEL - I think this is Paul’s way of saying -
Don’t LIVE OUT the darkness - and therefore become UNSEEN in the dark room!
Remember the DARK ROOM we looked at?
We couldn’t SEE the LIGHT - the FLASHLIGHT didn’t EXPOSE anything in that room did it?
Paul is saying here - BE THE LIGHT - in the dark places!
And so - he’s basically SUMMARIZING all he had just talked about!
The call for us today - BE THE LIGHT - in the dark places!!
At ALL the forks in the roads we walk on - Choose to walk as Children of Light
Because when we DO THAT - we will EXPOSE the darkness for what it is!
SUMMARY
New Identity in Christ
Pursue Contentment in the Lord
Pursue Walking in His Light
Pursue Pleasing the Lord
Pursue Contentment in the Lord (covetousness vs contentment)
Pursue Walking in His Light (Darkness vs Light)
Pursue Pleasing the Lord (Pleasing the Flesh vs Pleasing the Lord)
We had our baptisms Friday evening - and so there were many people who Stood at the Fork in the Road...
on the one side (pleasing the flesh)
On the other side (pleasing the Lord)
and when we heard the FIGHT that Doug was in - I had asked Nate if he wanted Doug to baptize him and he said that would be awesome...
Well - then it came time to ASK DOUG...
And that question to Doug - BROUGHT Doug to a fork in the road!
Do i please the flesh - because the flesh is screaming out -
No man - you’re gonna have to get in the water
You’re gonna have to say something
You’re gonna make a fool of yourself
Don’t DO THAT!
OR
Do I please the Lord
Doug stood at the fork in the road - and he chose - LIGHT
And after the baptisms - He stood on the other side LOOKING back at that FORK IN THE ROAD...
AND he said -
why did I even DOUBT it
why did I even CONSIDER the path of darkness?
And so as we talked about that after the baptisms - I decided - I’m gonna bring you to another fork in the road...
- I said to him -
That was awesome - It was awesome to hear about that struggle...
AND SO - Ok, now when are you gonna preach?
And that question goes out to all men here....
Let me bring you to a fork in the road...
May we all help each other choose the path of LIGHT...
Let’s pray!!
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