New Life

Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit, that as the passages studied today sink deep into our hearts. Let your Word and wisdom be proclaimed, May you and your work be Glorified and we may hear with joy what you say to us today. Amen.

Integrity

I’ve been thinking a lot about Integrity.

“Integrity” - What is the definition of Integrity?

{Listen and repeat the responses}

Worldly Definitions of integrity

Doing what you say

The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles

The condition of being unified or sound in construction

The quality or condition of being complete or pure

The state of being just

Biblical definitions of Integrity

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word translated “integrity” means “the condition of being without blemish, completeness, perfection, sincerity, soundness, uprightness, wholeness.”

Integrity in the New Testament means “honesty and adherence to a pattern of good works.”

Adherence - Great devotion or faithfulness to something

“Integrity” in our world today implies moral incorruptibility.

Examples

Christians should be those who cannot be bribed or compromised because we serve God rather than men (Colossians 3:17, 23; Acts 5:29).

We are to be people who keep our word (Matthew 5:37; James 5:12).

We are to love those around us in both word and deed (1 John 3:17–18; James 2:17–18; Ephesians 4:29).

We are called upon to believe in God and therefore to follow Him in all our ways (John 6:19; 15:1–17).

Our lives should line up with our belief in God and exude a trust that His ways are best (Proverbs 3:5–6).

We love, because He first loved us (1 John 4:19)

In my mind - This sounds doable

But this is in truth difficult, it takes effort.

No one here is perfect and so I guess that means no one here has perfect integrity, right?

Perfect Integrity in a Man

Jesus is the perfect example of a man of integrity.

After He was baptized, He went into the wilderness too fast for forty days and nights, during which time Satan came to Him at His weakest to try to break His integrity and corrupt Him.

Jesus was wholly man and wholly God at the same time, and He was tempted in every way we are, yet He never sinned (Hebrews 4:15); (Zero Sin)

And in this, He is the perfect definition of Integrity.

Jesus is the definition of integrity to Christians.

Jesus is the only one who was ever without blemish, perfect, completely truthful, and always showing a PATTERN of good works,

never faltering.

Christians are called to be like Jesus.

In Christ, because of His work on the cross, we are new creations and can be considered without blemish before God (2 Corinthians 5:17, 21; Ephesians 1:4–8).

This happened instantly at the moment of submission and accepting His work on the Cross and His lordship in our lives.

This is called Positional Sanctification

In Christ, we also have the indwelling Holy Spirit

Who is at work in us, sanctifying us and making us more like Jesus day after day (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18).

This is called Progressive Sanctification

We are to strive to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose” (Philippians 2:12–13).

It is by God’s power that we become increasingly people of integrity.

We are called to obey God and, in so doing, to be people of uncompromised morality and integrity, this is a process, and one that can be true for us, but it is one that also takes time and devotion.

Christian Integrity

Now integrity - CHRISTIAN Integrity is achieved through sanctification. A Word I used just a few moments ago.

What is the definition of Sanctification?

Sanctification - the process of being made holy?

yes but not reallllly.

Sanctification is of the separation of the believer from evil, and it is the result of obedience to the Word of God. Progressive sanctification is what gradually separates the people of God from the world and makes them more and more like Jesus Christ.

Sanctification is not justification though these processes are related

Justification is a one-time work of God, resulting in a declaration of “not guilty” before Him because of the work of Christ on the cross.

Sanctification is a process, beginning with justification and continuing throughout life.

Justification is the starting point of the line that represents the Christian life; sanctification is the line itself.

Sanctification is a three-stage process – past, present, and future.

Positional - Past, and instant

Progressive - Present, working

Ultimate - Future, in HEAVEN!

The first stage occurs at the beginning of our Christian lives.

Thats the initial moral change, a break from the power and love of sin.

It is the point at which believers can count themselves “dead to sin but alive to God” (Romans 6:11).

Once sanctification has begun, we are no longer under sin’s dominion (Romans 6:14).

There is a reorientation of desires, and we develop a love of righteousness. Paul calls it “slavery to righteousness” (Romans 6:17-18).

The second stage of sanctification requires a lifetime to complete.

As we grow in grace, we are gradually – but steadily – changing to be more like Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18).

This occurs in a process of daily spiritual renewal (Colossians 3:10).

The third and final stage of sanctification occurs in the future.

When believers die, their spirits go to be with Christ (2 Corinthians 5:6-8).

Since nothing unclean can enter heaven (Revelation 21:27), we must be made perfect at that point.

The sanctification of the whole person—body, soul, and spirit—will finally be complete when the Lord Jesus returns and we receive glorified bodies (Philippians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 15:35-49).

Integrity, Sanctification and Grace

Integrity

Plumb line - application

Integrity is like a wall that is strong, purpose built and true (straight up and down)

To me this is the final version of integrity

When this wall was being built;

it had its strong points and its weak points,

but eventually this wall would be proper, strong and true.

The wall, needed work, when it was first started, The builder had, the pieces, all good,

but until it was put together in its final version it was not complete.

For me, our walk as Christian’s is about our journey towards integrity, being whole with Christ.

Listen I work on the street with some very difficult people and some extremely sweet people in extremely difficult circumstances and if I expected them to be people of integrity, standing perfect in truth, heart and deed, because they knew Christ as Lord, well frankly that stance would be improper

Legalistic frankly and without grace - it would hurt those I am called to love.

Plumb line - this is an example of a plumb line.

Any contractors here, what is the purpose of a plumb line?

A plumb line displays trueness - Yes straight up and down

but also What is right, true and centered.

To me our Christian walk isn’t just about the final TRUE position - in Christ perfected

that position of TRUE and FINAL Integrity -

but it’s about our journey to get there and whether or not we return, to Christ, after we slip.

Like, what is our guiding force, are we off balance always pushing away from center, away from Christ.

No integrity

Or are we, once off center, working to get back there -

In GRACE

back to Center, back TOWARDS Jesus.

Sanctification

That desire to get back to Jesus - that is a result of the Holy Spirit and His Sanctifying work in us.

Or more correctly - His Progressive sanctification

This is what gradually separates the people of God from the world and helps them get back to center to become more and more like Jesus Christ.

Okay and this brings me GRACE.

Grace

Why is Grace important in this?

Well without Grace, once we left the Center, once we left Jesus,

Without Grace the walk to Jesus would be returning to condemnation.

Like walking to the principles office to get detention

or walking tot he judge to get sentenced to prison

If this walk was all about the Law, we would be condemned and in trouble.

But since Grace is here, we have the ability to return to Jesus, without condemnation and start to walk forward again.

AND

Grace is important to us

as getting back to Jesus sometimes takes help,

sometimes a lot of help,

and Grace and Love are our tools to help others come back to Center.

Back towards Jesus

Judgement and condemnation - won’t draw people to Christ, it will help them see, they need Christ

But the pathway TOWARDS Christ is paved in LOVE and GRACE

Conviction is important, it highlights the need for change

But never CONDEMNATION - that position is reserved for those that are unbelievers, that have turned away from the Messiah.

Grace is for the believer and an offering for the lost.

AND people … This is the tool that we are given to help others, brothers and sisters, that slip from the Center, from Jesus, or those that need to discover Him.

Now with this background - this takes us to our study this morning.

The Reading this morning

Ephesians 4:17–32 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. 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. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. 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. 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. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Summary of the Book of Ephesians

Author: the apostle Paul.

Date of Writing: between A.D. 60-63.

From a Roman prison

The aim of this epistle is to confirm and to equip a maturing church.

Practical Application: Perhaps more than any other book of the Bible, the Book of Ephesians emphasizes the connection between sound doctrine and right practice in the Christian life.

A balance between understanding the law and the precepts of God and Grace through Jesus Christ.

Integrity - a soundness of walk

Ephesus was the capital city of a Roman province in Asia.

Ephesus was a significant center of trade, Major roads connected Ephesus to all the other significant cities in Asia Minor.

Ephesus is mentioned often in Scripture.

Paul journeyed to Ephesus during his second missionary trip and stayed there for two years so everyone heard the word of the Lord” (Acts 19:10).

Ephesus was the setting for many New Testament events:

• God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, such that even handkerchiefs and aprons touched by him healed sickness and cast out demons (Acts 19:11).

• Paul wrote the epistle of 1 Corinthians.

• The seven sons of Sceva, Jewish exorcists, attempted to imitate Paul’s power and were attacked by demons because the demons did not recognize their spiritual authority (Acts 19:13–16).

• Many new believers “who had practiced magic arts brought their books and burned them in front of everyone” (Acts 19:19, BSB).

• Priscilla and Aquilla discipled Apollos (Acts 18:24–26).

• Timothy had his first pastorate (1 Timothy 1:3).

• It’s thought that the apostle John and Jesus’ mother, Mary, lived in Ephesus after Jesus returned to heaven (see John 19:26–27).

• Paul may have faced wild beasts in the amphitheater (1 Corinthians 15:32).

And

Jesus directed to Ephesus one of His seven letters in the book of Revelation (Revelation 2:1–7). While this was prophetic, pointing to the churches of today, I believe it was also a rebuke on the condition of the current churches in the area of Ephesus.

Jesus’ letter to the church at Ephesus contains Jesus’ famous rebuke:

“You have left your first love” (Revelation 2:4).

The believers at Ephesus, struggling beneath the weight of a godless and immoral culture,

had maintained the letter of the law

They had become Legalistic

but had lost the Spirit of the law (see Romans 2:29).

and forgot about Grace

Jesus commended them for their hard work, perseverance, rejection of false teaching, and hatred of sin.

Revelation 2:4–5 ESV

But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

They were no longer propelled into service by love, but by DUTY - OBLIGATION - AND LEGALISM

This violates the greatest commandment: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength” (Mark 12:30).

Now with some background out of the way, let’s jump into the Study...

Passage breakdown

Let’s focus on Verse 17

Ephesians 4:17 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.

I testify - I declare in the Lord --- no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the Futility - uselessness of their minds.

They serve nothing, nothing but pride and the flesh, which adds up to nothing.

Ephesians 4:18 ESV

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.

Darkened - residing in darkness

Alienated - Separated

Ignorance - Pointlessness or uselessness

Ephesians 4:19 ESV

They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

Callousness - a hard heart

Callouses - thick insensitive skin

Callousness - or a hardened heart can dull a person’s ability to perceive and understand.

Anyone’s heart can harden, even faithful Christians’.

Sin causes hearts to grow hard, especially pride and continual and unrepentant sin.

Now we know that “if we confess our sins, [Jesus] is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins” (1 John 1:9).

However, if we don’t confess our sins, they have a cumulative and desensitizing effect on the conscience,

making it difficult to even distinguish right from wrong.

AM I MAKING THIS UP?

Come on Church, have you experienced this?

So, what is the antidote for a heart condition such as this? First and foremost, we have to recognize the effect that this spiritual disease has on us.

Maybe you start with a prayer - “Search me O God, and know my heart…see if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23–24).

Do a heart check with God. What is my motivation, Lord, please reveal it to me.

God can heal any heart once we recognize our disobedience and repent. But true repentance is more than simply a resolute feeling of steadfast determination.

Repentance manifests itself in a changed heart and life.

After repenting of our sins, hard hearts begin to see when we understand a few things,

1) Jesus saved us, we had no part in that and without Him we would be lost.

and

2) The softness of our hearts can be cured when we prayer for the Lord to reveal the issue, study God’s Word and consider our standing against that.

Greedy to Practice

...”greedy to practice every kind of impurity.”

Scandalous!

Greedy to practice ---- eager, arrogance,

They couldn’t wait to exploit the pleasures of sin,

if only their pride didn’t have them sitting in darkness, perhaps they could have seen the road ahead and the fiery pit and destruction to which it leads.

Paul continues

Ephesians 4:20–24 ESV

But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Assuming - I read this as a challenge

Old Self

This old self isn’t just our old sinful self, though does include this idea. But this isn’t what our old self really is.... or at least this would be an incomplete view of that idea.

Our old self is the man (or woman) that is separated from GOD.

Our “old self” is the one that is not surrendered to the Lordship of Christ Jesus and stands outside the redemptive love and sacrifice of the Savior.

Surely sin separates us from God,

As a saved Christian (it’s embarrassing that I have to put those two words together like that, because some people call themselves Christian’s and are not saved!)

and this is likely who PAUL is talking to!

Sin in a Christian’s life, is really not this OLD SELF,

Sin, of a Christian, won’t take us from Christ. It will bring correction.

isn’t going to separate us from God’s unchanging Grace for His children.

Sinning at Christians is bad and rebellion and it needs to be corrected, but understand

What is truly our old self is the PERSON that was separated from GOD, and sentenced to eternal death.

Paul is either talking to people that call themselves followers of Christ and aren’t, or he’s talking to Christian’s that AREN’t acting like followers of Christ

There is an integrity problem! Paul is saying, stop acting like your OLD SELF

and sadly - FOLKS - to the world,

THESE TWO TYPES OF PEOPLE LOOK THE SAME.

Deceitful Desires

Lying sin

deceiving

Isn’t this what our old self wanted?

Power! Money! Position! To be the Guy in Charge? The one with the Light on us? Feeding our flesh! - WAKE UP!

Be Renewed

Why would a Christian need to be renewed?

Cause we suck

We suck at following Christ. We are bad at it.

We all have this Christian Integrity problem!

Paul says in Romans 12:2

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, ...

We can become spiritually tired. We can get weak and be spiritually exhausted and need to be renewed.

And that is so important, to have uninterrupted time to be refilled by the Lord.

Whenever we begin to tire spiritually, we should seek the Lord to strengthen and renew us

My ministry is a Crisis ministry and I need renewing daily. If I could tell you what the guys at the Mission House do weekly you would be like, “WOW”

anyway

New Self

Our new self is the PERSON submitted to Christ as Savior, Lord and GOD.

Saved by the redemptive work of Christ on the Cross

and covered by Grace

and Sealed by the Holy Spirit

Not perfect, but walking towards perfection.

Ephesians 4:25–27 ESV

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.

Put away falsehood - Don’t lie, don’t speak doubt into other peoples lives.

Speak the truth - Good idea

I love this next part.

Be Angry, BUT DO NOT SIN - I love this!

LISTEN TO ME PEOPLE

There is room for Anger in the Christian life. Righteous Anger.

We know this, we have accounts of Jesus’ being angry.

But Paul says, be angry and do not sin.

So when does Anger become sin?

When you start to judge the person you are angry at.

and this puts you in danger, not them.

and LET ME GET YOUR ATTENTION HERE...

you will be in danger if you let your anger proceed to sin.

YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO JUDGE YOUR BROTHER OR SISTER

You are to correct in love and gentleness and then pray with them

and

offer it unto the Lord

and then support him or her however you can.

Anger becomes sin when you forget you are called to LOVE your Christian Family, your brother and sisters.

ahhhhh, and the lost and your enemies.

You are called to humble yourself and understand you only stand in righteousness because

OF JESUS - HE DIED FOR YOU Because you suck!

YOU HAVE NOTHING TO BRING THAT CAN CREATE RIGHTEOUSNESS IN YOU

Be angry, (If you dare), but do not sin.

Giving NO opportunity to the DEVIL!

Satan has designs to Steal, Destroy and Kill you, your family and church, your ministry, etc..

If you allow pride and anger to exist in you, you have opened the door for Satan

May God make you a mighty warrior! May he “train your hands for war and your fingers for battle” (Psalm 144:1).

Heed my warning, if you allow your anger to turn to SIN, you are creating fertile ground for the enemy to take a foothold in your life and work.

and Satan and His forces are vast and they will not miss the WELCOME of a angry, prideful, resentful heart

Let me remind you

1. Satan lies,

and is the father of lies and more then anything he desires to replace the Word of God in your heart with his lies, if you allow it, but he will say whatever he can to place doubt in you and in the body of Christ.

“When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).

The first time Satan appears in the Bible in Genesis 3, the first words on his lips are suspicious of the truth (“Did God say, You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?”).

2. He blinds the minds of unbelievers.

“The god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:4).

So he not only speaks what is false. He hides what is true. He keeps us from seeing the treasure of the gospel. He lets us see facts, even proofs, but not preciousness.

3. He masquerades in costumes of light and righteousness.

And his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.

In other words, Satan has servants who profess enough truth to join the church, and from inside teach what Paul calls “doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1). Jesus says they will be like wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15). Acts 20:30 says they will not spare the flock, but will draw people away to destruction.

Without God’s gift of discernment (Philippians 1:9), our love will be suckered into stupidity.

These servants are usually ones point their fingers at the leaders, instead of the people trying to help or support them.

4. Satan does signs and wonders.

In 2 Thessalonians 2:9, the last days are described like this: “The coming of the lawless one by the activity of Satan will be with all power, and with false signs and wonders"

The Lord gives us the ability and the book to help us test every spirit and if you allow your heart to store resentment against another you are ripe for his collection and he will fake you out and distract you.

5. Satan tempts people to sin.

If Christ’s love isn’t well seated in your heart, and you allow anger to reside there, you are going to be easy pickings.

Satan was cunning enough to talk millions of angels out of heaven, if you aren’t focused on Christ and His Word and work, you are easy work for the Devil.

6. Satan plucks the word of God out of people’s hearts and chokes faith.

Jesus told the parable of the four soils in Mark 4:1–9. In it, the seed of the word of God is sown, and some falls on the path and birds quickly take it away. He explains in verse 15, “Satan immediately comes and takes away the word which was sown in them.”

Satan snatches the word because he hates faith which the word produces (Romans 10:17).

7. Satan causes some sickness and disease.

Jesus healed a woman once who was bent over and could not straighten herself. When some criticized him for doing that on the Sabbath, he said, “Ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” (Luke 13:16). Jesus saw Satan as the one who had caused this disease.

Raise your hand if your anger and self-rightousness is more important than your health?

8. Satan is a murderer.

Jesus said to those who were planning to kill him, “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth” (John 8:44).

To put it in a word, Satan is blood-thirsty. Christ came into the world that we might have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10).

Satan comes that he might destroy life wherever he can and in the end make it eternally miserable.

And what did Jesus say hate was?

9. Satan fights against the plans of missionaries.

Paul tells of how his missionary plans were frustrated in 1 Thessalonians 2:17–18: “We endeavored the more eagerly, and with great desire, to see you face to face; because we wanted to come to you . . . but Satan hindered us.”

Satan hates evangelism and discipleship, and he will throw every obstacle he can in the way of missionaries and people with a zeal for evangelism.

10. Satan accuses Christians before God.

Revelation 12:10 says, “I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, ‘Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.’” Satan’s defeat is sure. But his accusations haven’t ceased.

So hate - that creates division in brothers - do you want to be in this camp?

Are you so sure your anger is justified now?

Ephesians 4:28–29 ESV

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. 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.

Let the thief no longer steal

Interesting - This verse, at first glance seems misplaced to me,

There are so many different characteristics laid out in these passages,

why now highlight the thief?

I think this is the secret sub-theme of these set of passages -

Surely thieving is wrong, all should work as the Lord commands, in order to be a good member of society.

But this directive for the thief in this set of passages I think really is meant to drive us to a specific thought

Thieves are selfish, they steal what others have worked for

And clearly that is wrong

But if we distill this a bit more...

But this directive - that says … stop being selfish, help out and care for others.

Make sense?

Let no corrupting talk

“corrupting” translated - Rotten or worthless

Only such is good for building up

Building up - Construction

Not destruction

Edify - Strange how some feel so justified to beat someone with the Bible.

as fits the occasion

Not flattery - Not to win favor - but for the purpose of building up.

Ephesians 4:30 ESV

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

We grieve the Spirit by

living like unbelievers (4:17-19),

by lying (4:25),

by being angry (4:26-27),

by stealing (4:28),

by cursing (4:29),

by being bitter (4:31),

by being unforgiving (4:32),

To grieve the Spirit is to act out in a sinful manner, whether it is in thought only or in both thought and deed.

Ephesians 4:31 ESV

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

Bitterness - lack of sweetness, sharpness - TONE

Wrath - Extreme anger, the desire or will to punish, the act of punishing another

Clamor - loud talk, almost yelling, shouting - Making noise

Slander - The action or crime of making a false statement against another,

Malice - Intention to harm in a immoral way, having an indifference to suffering

BUT IT IS.... WAKE UP CHRISTIAN!

Ephesians 4:32 ESV

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Kind - considerate, appreciative

Tender hearted - compassionate, sympathy, considering others.

Forgiving - to overlook another’s offensives or faults

Remembering

THAT CHRIST FORGAVE YOU

and YOU DID NOT DESERVE IT.

YOU DIDN’T, RIGHT?

Final Thoughts

We are called to live differently.

The theme - old self - new self

These passages do a masterful job of drawing out the differences in attitude and action

around the old self -

that walks in sin and is so condemned by it

and the new self that is driven to be more like Christ.

Do this

Don’t do that

That’s helpful!

Dos and Don’ts are so helpful.

BUT>>>> There is more to this new self - and this new life

THAN WHAT YOU BECOME

OR WHAT YOU HAVE BECOME

OR WHAT YOU ARE DOING FOR CHRIST

Listen to me.... if you read these passages and consider them,

something subtle appears

There is a directionality to these attitudes and actions that these verses draw out

The old self is (that we act like SO OFTEN)

useless,

alienated from God,

immoral,

ignorant,

callous,

impure,

deceitful,

angry,

slanderous,

bitter,

full or wrath

and malice, .

.... selfish

direction >>>> AWAY FROM CHRIST

The new self is

created in the likeness of God,

righteous

and Holy,

truthful,

members of one another,

caring for others,

edifying,

building up others,

grace filled,

kind,

tender hearted,

and forgiving - because Christ forgave us.

Direction >>>>>> TOWARDS CHRIST

and there is much more in this directionality

I also notice this old self - it wants to feed itself at the cost of others.

This new self wants to feed others for the sake of Christ

old self - about self, uses others, for self

new self - uses self, for Christ, to uplift others

INTEGRITY CLOSE

And this brings me back around to Integrity

CLEARLY THERE ARE TRIATS MENTIONED IN THESE PASSAGES

THAT WE WANT AND MANY THAT WE DON’T

And as brothers and sisters in Christ, as family in Christ

As members of the same body

There are clearly traits that hurt us and others

and traits that help us and help others

There is clearly a condemning pathway - that leads away from Christ

and a pathway that leads toward Him

and here is why this all got me thinking about Integrity and why I want to suggest

perhaps there is an additional definition for integrity,

reserved for those in the Christian walk.

I say, like the plumb line here.

The Christian that has integrity, is not the one that is always perfectly centered,

Because that is and was only Christ.

The Christian that has integrity, is the one that is always trying to return to Christ

after slipping off center

and that return to center journey - is one that is enabled by

GRACE - Not highlighting of each others failures

This is it journey we all need to take together.

Realizing the walk from old self to new self is a walk

that Christ intended us to take with Him

and with our Church family

Listen it would be so easy for me

to look the people I minister to daily and condemn them for HOW THEY LIVE

they are doing lots of stuff that is wrong, sinful

even evil.

but our walk to integrity, our walk towards Christ is about FOLLOWING HIM

and His love and grace.

and these are the tools of the Christian to walk together as true followers of Christ.

In Christian Integrity, towards CHRIST

Amen?

Okay, so, let’s pray about our integrity journey

and let’s pray for Christ’s help in the walk towards Him

and let’s pray we can all walk together in it,

being kind, tender hearted, uplifting, and forgiving

Let’s pray...

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