Walking True In 2022 - Part Two

Ephesians 4:20–24 KJV 1900

But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Introduction

Paul is speaking to the Old Man and expressing the necessity of the believer walking in Christ.

The believer is not to walk as men walk.

The Ephesian believers did not learn such a sinful life from Christ.

Christ did not live a sinful a life, and He has not taught us to live a sinful life as other men live.

If we have heard Christ and been taught by Christ, then we have heard and been taught the truth.

Note: The Teacher is Christ, not the preacher.

The Holy Spirit/Christ uses the body of believers/Church and voice of the preacher to teach us how we are to live.

If a believer/we really hear Christ speaking to our hearts, then what we hear is not the kind of life lived by unbelievers.

The true walk is a walk in Christ, and a walk in Christ involves three things.

We as believers are to put off the old man

Ephesians 4:22 KJV 1900

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

We as believer are to be renewed in the spirit of our minds

Ephesians 4:23 KJV 1900

And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

We as believers are to put on the new man

Ephesians 4:24 KJV 1900

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Let’s talk about who our Old Man is...

The “old man” refers to what we were before we accepted Christ. It is the very nature of man, the natural, corruptible seed which is passed on from generation to generation and leads to death. It is what is called the nature of Adam. (See note, Natural Man—1 Co. 2:14 for a much more detailed discussion.)

Three things are taught about our old man in the Scriptures.

As believers our old man has already been put to death.

It was crucified with Christ.

Romans 6:6 KJV 1900

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

When we received Christ, God immediately began to count us buried with Christ and united with Christ in the very likeness of His death. This is what our Baptism symbolized. Don’t discount symbols they are very important.

An example of this think about the swastika when you see it you immediately think of hate, fear, and death.

But the symbol was hijacked... it was first seen in carvings dating back 12,000 years, and was a symbol of well-being, good fortune and prosperity to Buddhists and Hindus. But the Nazis stole it and made it their own.

The deeds of the old man have been put off from the believer.

Colossians 3:9 KJV 1900

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

The power of evil deeds of the old man has been broken and as believer we are no longer in bondage to them.

We as believers are exhorted (admonish/beg) to put off the old man.

We are told to exercise our own will in putting off the old man.We do that by acknowledging and acting upon three truths.

First, our old man, as far as God is concerned, is dead.

Therefore, we as believers must count our old man as already dead.

Romans 6:11 KJV 1900

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Second, our old man is still, as far as we are concerned, understood to be very much alive.

Our old man is still tempted to look, taste, feel, think and to experience sin.

But as believer we are to reject these temptations. We should refuse to participate in sin. We are to put off the old man as we walk day by day.

Romans 6:12–13 KJV 1900

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Thirdly, our old man (along with all of creation) is seen to be aging and dying day by day.

As believers we realize that this world and all that is contained within it, which includes our old man, is constantly and continuously dying.

We know that everything is dying because the evil desires of our nature/natural man are deceitful, and deceit disrupts and destroys every relationship—the very nature of things is disturbed and destroyed by our deceitful lusts.

Ephesians 4:22 KJV 1900

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

This type of destruction deteriorates and corrupts; it eats away at life and at the balance of things until everything decays into nothing.

Therefore we as believer put off the old man and put on the new man—by faith in the love of God.

When we trust in the love of God, we realize that God loves us so much that He gives us eternal life/being. He makes us a new man who will live eternally and become a citizen of the new heavens and earth.

Romans 6:6 KJV 1900

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

1 Peter 4:3–5 KJV 1900

For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

2 Peter 1:9 KJV 1900

But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

Let’s talk about having a Renewed Mind.

Ephesians 4:23 KJV 1900

And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

The believers mind is to be renewed or made new by uncovering or removing the veil, , readjusted, changed, turned around, and regenerated.

The mind of man (our mind before we believed) has been affected by sin.

It desperately needs to be renewed. The mind is far from perfect. It is basically worldly, that is …

• selfish

• self-centered

• self-seeking

• centered on this world

• centered on the flesh

• centered on this life

Scripture is clear about the corruption of man’s mind.

The human mind has just been tragically corrupted by man’s selfishness and sin.

Man’s mind …

• has become vain, empty, and futile in its imaginations

Romans 1:21 KJV 1900

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

• has become reprobate

Having no discernment, not acceptable.

Romans 1:28 KJV 1900

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

• has become carnal and full of enmity against God.

Over thinking and carefully planning every step to preserve or please your flesh.

Romans 8:7 KJV 1900

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

• has become blinded by Satan lest it believe the glorious gospel of Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:4 KJV 1900

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

• has become full of vanity, futility, emptiness.

Ephesians 4:17 KJV 1900

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

• has become focused upon earthly things.

Philippians 3:18–19 KJV 1900

(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

• has become alienated from God and an enemy to God.

Colossians 1:21 KJV 1900

And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

• has become fleshy.

Colossians 2:18 KJV 1900

Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

• has become defiled.

Morally corrupt

Titus 1:15 KJV 1900

Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

The mind is renewed by the presence of Christ in the life of the believer.

When a person receives the Lord Jesus Christ as His Lord, the man is spiritually …

• born again

John 3:3–8 KJV 1900

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

1 Peter 1:23 KJV 1900

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

• made into a new man

Ephesians 4:24 KJV 1900

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Colossians 3:10 KJV 1900

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

• made into a new creature

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV 1900

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

• given the mind of Christ

1 Corinthians 2:9–16 KJV 1900

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

What this means is a most wonderful truth, and it is easily seen. When a person receives Jesus Christ into his life, he receives the mind of Christ as well. Christ places His mind into the believer’s mind; that is,

Christ changes the believer’s mind to focus upon God.

Whereas the believer’s mind used to be centered upon the world, it is now centered upon spiritual matters.

The believer’s mind is renewed, changed, turned around, and regenerated to focus upon God.

However, it is critical to remember that only Christ can renew the human mind. Only Christ can implant the mind of Christ within a person.

Only Christ can give a person His thoughts and the spirit to live out His thoughts.

We as believer are to live a transformed life; that is, we are to walk day by day renewing our mind more and more.

We are to allow the Spirit of Christ (the Holy Spirit) to focus our mind more and more upon God and spiritual things.

We as believer are to love the Lord with all our mind.

Matthew 22:37 KJV 1900

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

We as believer are to keep our mind upon spiritual things, not carnal things.

Romans 8:5–6 KJV 1900

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

We as believer are to cast down imaginations and every thought that interrupts our knowledge of God and to captivate every thought for Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 KJV 1900

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

We as believer are not to let our mind be corrupted.

2 Corinthians 11:3 KJV 1900

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

We as believer are not to fulfill the desires of the flesh and of the mind.

Ephesians 2:3 KJV 1900

Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

We as believer are not to walk as the world walks, in the vanity of their mind.

Ephesians 4:17 KJV 1900

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

We as believer are to be renewed in the spirit of our mind.

Ephesians 4:23 KJV 1900

And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

We as believer are to let the mind of Christ be in us by walking humbly before God and men.

Philippians 2:5 KJV 1900

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

We as believer are to think only upon the things of praise and virtue.

Philippians 4:8 KJV 1900

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

We as believer are to live by the laws of God which God has put into our mind.

Hebrews 8:10 KJV 1900

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

We as believer are to arm ourselves with the same mind as Christ in bearing suffering.

1 Peter 4:1 KJV 1900

Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

Let’s talk about the New Man

Ephesians 4:24 KJV 1900

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

When we are born again, regenerated, and renewed we become spiritually minded.

We are a new man created by and in Christ.

We have been given a holy nature and an incorruptible life.

Our new nature is opposed to the old man with the corrupt nature.

We are a new man who is …

first and foremost in fellowship with God

over and above selfish desire we are obedient to God’s will

no matter what the cost we are devoted to serving God

The word new is defined as something that has just been made... something just made and there is nothing like it in existence.

In this case there is nothing like it in us prior to this.

Jesus Christ makes us new entirely—a creation unlike any other creation existing.

The Gentile believers are not made into Jews; neither areJewish believers made into Gentiles, but

Through the Lord Jesus Christ we are made a new man/woman in God.

We all begin life all over again; every one of us has a new beginning, a new life because we have come to Jesus Christ.

How is this possible? By the power of God. When we believe in God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ—really believe and entrust our life into the hands of Jesus Christ—

God creates at the moment of faith our spirit in righteousness and true holiness.

God takes our faith and credits it as the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

God actually credits our faith as the perfect righteousness and holiness of Jesus Christ.

Therefore, we stand before God in the righteousness and holiness of Jesus Christ.

That is not all that God does.

He does many more marvelous things for us—all having to do with creating us as believers into a new person.

God quickens our spirit and makes our spirit alive.

Once our spirit was dead to God, God creates it and makes it alive to God.

God causes us to be born again spiritually.

God actually places His divine nature into our heart.

God actually creates a new man out of us.

God renews us by the Holy Spirit.