Renewed Minds
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Ephesians 4:17-5:2
BI: You have a renewed life, so live for Christ in speech, conduct
1. Introduction
Well I grew up wearing really really daggy, old, oversized clothes. Like I had jackets that should go to there, but I reckon my folks bought me jackets that went to there because they wanted me to grow into them. They weren’t stylish, they old oversized ugly hand me downs. I was daggy. I remember my first pair of glasses right. Started wearing these when I was 5 years old. They were solid unbreakable thick rimmed glasses. No joke, they were this big. Covered pretty much half my face. My hair cut like a bowl cut. The most efficient haircut. I was a dag and I didn’t care.
Until… my cousin changed my thinking. He opened my eyes to a new world. This cousin, we’d hang out all day, every day. But one day, I don’t know what it was or who taught him…but he started doing push ups. He started wearing those tight tank tops. He started styling his hair. He started talking to girls. Seeing him change, changed my thinking. I started thinking about my glasses. What matches, what doesn’t match. Started actually getting a proper hair cut, I had opinions about it. Started mixing and matching clothes. By the time I met joy a long time later I was wearing boat shoes. She thought I was weird. Something in my changed at that time. it changed my behaviour.
Trivial example, Here’s the point, when we follow Jesus our lives are completely changed. That’s what this passage talks about. God renews mind. This leads to a changed life. it is classic before and after. Look at verse 22 Paul says, ‘put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life” and verse 24 “put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” There’s a real change in our lives.
It starts in our thinking. Paul’s taught a lot about how to think. How are we to think? Well, we, like the Ephesians have gone from death to life in Christ. God saved us by grace. His free gift through faith in Jesus. More than that, Jews and Gentiles are one new man – Christian. By faith, Jesus has made us members of God’s household. We are citizens, united, in fact God’s children. This is all part of his great plan. It’s to unite to all things in Christ. God reconciles a people – the church to himself through Jesus.
Last week we saw that we are Christ’s body, united around the Gospel, being built up into Christ. This week Paul gets very practical. doctrine doesnt just stay in the mind. No, God renews our mind so we can live united for Christ. that’s my big idea. Renew your mind so you can live united for Christ.
1. You have a renewed mind (4:17-24)
Friends, you’ve got a renewed mind. it’s a new mind because of Christ. he talks about this as another before and before. What were Gentile unbelievers minds like before? Well, they had futile thinking. Come to verse 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.
Don’t walk like Gentile unbelievers. It’s futile. That word futile, means meaningless, the way they think it’s purposeless, going nowhere, it has no substance to it.
It’s a bit how our world is just addicted to their smart phones. I’m not anti-smart phone. In fact it was convicting me look at these stats. Did you know Aussies are on their phones on average 5.5 hours every day? They tell you your screen time now on your smart phone. A third you’re waking hours is on the phone. 17 years of your life staring at the phone. Most of it if we were to be honest, it’s time wasted. Who’s ever felt refreshed, thought it was a great idea scrolling mindlessly for an hour? Again, I’m not against phones, but so much time is wasted. It doesn’t feed the mind anything good. Gentiles walk in the futility of their minds.
And notice what else he says about their minds verse 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.
Our desire at EPC is to reach unbelievers. We want to be and make disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. We want all people to trust in Jesus, their Lord and Saviour. This is such good news. But know what you’re up against. Minds that are darkened. Minds that do not know God. Ignorant. Why? It’s because of their hard hearts. Now the heart is the seat of our will, our desire, our decisions. The Gentile unbeliever has a stubborn hard heart. It rejects God. Think about it logically. A hard heart towards God that says stuff you God leads to a darkened ignorant mind. And so God hands them over – you want to live that way go for it? That’s why Paul says they are alienated from the life of God. It’s not hard to see how this plays itself out. Look at verse 19
eph 4:19
They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.
See what Paul’s saying? Hard hearts lead to ignorant minds leads to foolish living. And the thing is, they don’t even think anything is wrong. They are calloused – numb to it all. There’s no will, no desire to turn to God. there is no ability.
I remember playing futsal up in Sydney. Played this really good team. They dominated our team. But what left a bitter taste in my mouth that night wasn’t that we lost. I remember the conversation the other team were having amongst themselves. It was a common area to get changed right. Everything you say is heard. What they talked about, absolute filth. Garbage. The way they spoke about women. The way they spoke about sex. The things they wanted to get up to that weekend. I wish I could unhear it.
Paul is right in describing the Gentiles unbelievers. Their hearts are hard, head is ignorant, hands practice all kinds of evil.
But that’s not you. You have a renewed mind! How? You’ve learnt Christ. But that is not the way you learned Christ! – isn’t that interested… learnt Christ, next just experienced, or had a vision, no no, verse 20
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,
Paul really emphasizes their understanding. You have learnt Christ. You’ve been taught in him. Someone’s sat down and taught you Christ. God has taken you to school. Like I take my daughter Andrea to school. it’s to learn. Well, they’ve learnt Christ. What have they learnt? Jesus died for their sins as a free gift by grace through faith. God has saved them. They learnt he is their saviour. He offers forgiveness from hard hearts. They learnt that he is not just Saviour, but their Lord. They are his disciples. This means they follow him now. This is the truth. It’s not made up. It’s not creative writing. It’s truth because the truth is in Jesus.
Friends, this is why we sit down, spends of time to go through Christianity explained for many weeks. If you don’t know Jesus, we want you to learn Christ. He’s the way the truth the life. We want you to be clear about the Christian faith. It’s not just a random feeling about God. A vague understanding, a great worship experience. No, we want to teach you Christ. So it might be clear who Jesus is, what he’s done, how you can be right with him. You need to learn Christ.
Now, of course, it’s not just intellectual exercise – a renewed mind leads to a changed life. verse 20 again,
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.
Look at verse 20 again, 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 (or literally, the old man), 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 (or literally, the new man), created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Put off the old man. that’s corrupt. Put on the new man. you’re created after God’s likeness. Like oil and water the old and new just doesn’t mix. The old is gone, the new has come. This is the life of someone with a renewed mind. it’s a changed life. And this word to be renewed means it’s a continually renewal over time. You and I know thinking God’s thoughts comes from a deeper knowledge of the Scriptures. As our minds continue to be renewed. Over time, we understand more that it looks like to be holy - set apart, righteous – knowing right from wrong.
Friend’s you’ve learnt Christ, you know Jesus, So, put on the new man. Live for Christ.
LINK:
I remember studying this bloke Simeon the Stylite in church history. This guy fascinated me. He lived a long time ago, 390-459 AD. Who was he? Simeon was a Syrian Christian ascetic. Ascetic, means he wanted to get closer to God by depriving himself of pleasure. That’s how ascetics thought at that time. If I’m on my own I can’t sin I’ll be closer to God. Props to the guy, he spent get this 39 years on top of a 12-18 meter pole. It’s small platform on top of a pillar near Aleppo, modern Syria. Imagine seeing a bloke living on a pole for 39 years. Seems unbelievable. here’s my point, living for Christ does not mean you’re saved to be on your own. You don’t renew you mind by living alone. No, God pushes you towards people, in family life, in work, in church. It’s in the church, Christ body. Living on your own that’s easy. Bumping up against others, all our different personalities and quirks, that’s hard. We’re called to do that. We’re called to be a church family. Live out this new man in relationship with one another. And here he gets very specific.
2. So live for Christ (4:25-5:2)
How do we live for Christ? Paul gives us 5 concrete examples of what it means like to live for Christ. 13 commands here. He speaks about Truth, anger, the way we speak, forgiveness and honesty. if you think about it, these examples will promote the unity of the church. Paul’s aim. as i go through them notice the put off, put on structure and how he wants us to renew our mind.
Well, firstly, truth – you can handle the truth verse 25
Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
Friends, speak the truth. Why? this is how he wants us to renew our mind. We are members of one another. We’re fellow believers. You can’t be united when you can’t trust others. It makes no sense. Jesus himself tells us to let your yes be yes and no be no. be truthful. The reality is, lying destroys relationships very quickly. There’s no genuine real relationship with someone if there’s no trust. We all know this. we lie because we want to weasel out of something because we are afraid, protect ourselves, prop ourselves up. No, tell the truth. we’re members one of another. Now, this doesn’t mean you can’t be a bit diplomatic. I was at friends place they cooked the chicken was significantly under. I could’ve said that’s terrible cooking. But I said, thanks heaps for cooking. Thanks for taking the time. You get the point. Be wise. But speak the truth with your neighbor.
Secondly, anger – verse 26
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.
This is important. You can tell because there are 4 commands there. Be angry. Don’t sin. Don’t let the sun go down, give no opportunity to the devil. Now, it is not wrong to get angry. Jesus got angry, John 2 Jesus made a cord of whips and cleared the temple. He was angry. Why? They were robbing God of his glory. There is a righteous anger.
But don’t the let sun go down on your anger. What does that mean? It doesn’t mean you get to be angry for an extra hour during daylight savings, or you can stay angry for 6 months if you live in Greenland. It means don’t brood on anger. Deal with it quickly. Why? It festers. Anger turns to self-righteousness but you think I’m in the right. This leads to bitterness. And this is the devil’s playground. Don’t give him an opportunity. Deal with the anger quickly. As Paul says, drop down to verse 31 I wonder if he’s speaking to you
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.
‘let all bitterness and wrath and anger – this is unrighteous anger - and clamor, and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Put that away, that’s the old self.Put on this. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you.’
Brothers and sisters we don’t need more people raging online. Put that away. It does not promote unity in the church. Talk to your brother or sister with a good dose of humility. Put on kindness, be tender hearted, imagine we were like that. forgive others. What’s Forgiveness? this is saying. You know what you’ve hurt me I have a right to hurt you back. But I won’t use that right. I won’t hurt you back. I’ll wipe the slate clean. I’ll absorb the wrong. Friends, this is what Jesus has done for us. yes He wants us verse 1 imitate God we’re his beloved children. yes He wants us 5 verse 2 walk in love..but here’s the reason for it all, here’s how you renew your mind. Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Remember, Christ He loved us and gave himself up for us. see others like God sees you. A sinner who needs forgiveness. A beggar pointing others to the source of food
Fourth stealing,
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.
Friends, stealing is very personal isn’t it? Ever been robbed. I remember coming back to my folks place in year 9, the house was trashed. They stole money, my brand new school bag, ps2, it was awful. felt violated. Don’t steal, do honest work. More than that, share with anyone in need! Give. ever have someone give generosity to you. that’s costly. that actively promotes the unity of the church. Imagine everyone working and sharing what they have. no one ever inneed. Isn’t it a great sign of God’s Spirit when we are generous?
Fifthly, lastly, it’s the way we speak. Verse 29
eph 4:29
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.
Do you know when you leave your old ham and cheese sandwich in the school bag over the summer holidays, take it out and it’s just rotten, yep I’ve done that quite a bit in my time. It’s disgusting. that’s what the word corrupting means. It’s rotten. Let no putrid, corrupting talk come out of your mouths. There are those who are just good at slagging people off. No, God says, speak only only what’s good for building people up. Speak words that help, encourage, cheer, comfort, build up that your brother and sister might be strengthened in their walk with Jesus.
A renewed mind puts on the new man. It’s very intensely practical, isn’t it? But why’s all this matter? Truth, anger, forgiveness, stealing, the way we speak? Well, the Holy Spirit is grieved when we live out our old ways. come to verse 30 God is intensely involved in all this
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
God’s Spirit, He lives in us. When we mistreat one another, when there’s disunity, we grieve him. It’s a bit like when my children hurt it each other, it really grieves me. It really does. I try to teach them to share, love, be kind, be patient. I want them to care for one another. I want them to say it doesn’t matter if I go first, and the other child to think you know what I am faster bigger stronger, but I’ll let you go first. How much more would it grieve God’s Spirit if we lie, rage, steals, speak corruptly, don’t forgive. We have God’s spirit! In fact, we are marked, sealed for the day of redemption. He’s got a hold of us for the day when Jesus returns. Why would we want to grieve him? Friends llet’s renew our minds, liive for Christ - put on the new man. Walk in love, in the way of the Spirit.
So what should we do in response to this passage? If we trust in Jesus
First application
Implications
1. Embrace your new life. Show your new identity by how you live. Embrace only what builds up. We know what kind damage we can do when we’re liars, known as the angry person. It doesn’t fit you anymore because you are God’s child. You are in Christ. So let’s look briefly again over list and ask ourselves these questions
Firstly, do you always look to speak the truth? Are you tempted to lie? Just bend the truth a little? It’s so easy isn’t it? We want to smooth over things, short cut the process to get what you want. But we are with members of Christ’s very own body. We’re a church family. Lets share openly and honestly.
What about anger? Are you dealing with it a righteous holy person? the thing with Anger is it calls for an immediate response. So when your emotions run hot do you let them run wild? Do you lose self-control? As a parent of young kids I really get this, right. I get it. 2am wake ups because a child is just being so difficult. Can I say I often get this wrong. It’s my prayer to be godly and defuse a situation rather than get white hot in anger. it just leads to more sin. In anger can I suggest, pray, slow down, get to the truth in the Scriptures, let the dust settle a little, humble yourself, then speak to the situation.
When it comes to stealing, most of us won’t become professional thieves. But are you working hard? Even when the boss is not watching? Are you putting your best foot forward to please Jesus. More than that, God wants us to be generous with what we earn. He wants us to share with those in need. If you’re in need, let us know – I’m always thankful for the many at Epping who desire to share with those in need.
Finally, does unwholesome talk come too easily to your lips? Rude jokes. Put downs. Gossip. Work at building others up. but be genuine about it. Point others to Christ, speak about his great love his mercy, his kindness, pray for others together. Let’s build each other up as we live for Christ together.
Imagine if we embraced this new life. I’ve been reminiscing this week. What kind of church would we be? Can you imagine? We build each other up with our words. We show righteous anger but we deal with it in a godly way. We forgive quickly because Christ forgave us. We provide for each other, no one ever lacks anything. Wouldn’t that be wonderful? a church united by the Gospel living it out. continually maturing in Christ.
2. Trust that God will change you
Friend’s put on the new self. This is who you are. Now hear me clearly. I’m not asking you reject sin because it’s the right thing to do. Of course it is. Or it’ll make you a nicer person, of course it does. No, this is who you are. You’re God’s child, Jesus died to forgive your sins. You know Christ. He is your Lord and Saviour. His Spirit dwells in you. You’ve undergone a complete renewal. It’s a real change. You are holy and righteous because of Jesus. Often I think to myself, man they won’t change. Their so stuck in their ways. No. All the questions I asked I ask with confidence. God will change you by his Spirit as you work hard at it. We can ask those questions, we can be confident because in Christ our whole person is renewed.
Conclusion: Friends what a privlege it is to know Christ. He has given a new mind in Christ. So let’s keep renewing it, living for Christ in speaking the truth, not sinning in our anger, sharing with those in need, build each other up and forgiving other as Christ has forgiven us. Let’s pray.