†ough חesed - Holy Living Pragmatics

Ephesians 4:17-24/Romans 6:11-14(?)

When it comes to following Jesus, it doesn’t get more practical than what Jesus tells us to do:

Blank card, no music Repent and believe. *wait and then show *Mark 1:15*

*Dumb and dumber, alright see ya later*

I’m sure it didn’t take long after you became a Christian for you to hear how now you need to read your Bible, make sure you go to church, don’t forget to pray, all of which are absolutely essential to what being a Christian is, but what I think is often overlooked is why those aspects of the Christian life are so essential. What role are they actually playing in your life as a Christian?

In Ephesians 4:17-19, the Apostle Paul talks about how Christians are not to walk out their new life in Christ in a way that resembles those who don’t know and don’t want to know God.

In v. 20, he clarifies that such a lifestyle is not how Christ taught His disciples to follow Him.

In Christ, we are to have nothing to do with the old ways of sinful living, it’s all to be laid aside and then in vv. 23-24 he says,

We are to be renewed in the spirit of our mind and are to put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

When Paul is addressing how the conduct is to be with God’s people, what you’ll find is that he often points at the source of godly behavior being linked to a renewed mind and a putting on of the new self.

*pfft whaat*

But wait man, I thought it said in 2 Corinthians 5:17, if anyone is in Christ, they’re a new creation! How do you put on something that you already are?! *ooo burn*

A very solid observation. This concept of putting on the new self is not new in the Scriptures.

It’s also understood as putting on Christ

Romans 13:14

Galatians 3:27

Colossians 3:10

This idea of putting on the new self is all about living into this identity you have in Christ. You are partaking in the good works God made you for and growing in your understanding of what that looks like *Colossians 3:10*.

In Romans 6:11-14, Paul says

This call to putting on the new self is twofold. We are first to internally register our identity in Christ and we then next to externally apply it.

Some final thoughts:

Trust the process (sanctification passages, being perfected) You’re not the only one in this.

Learn how to pray *study Mt 6:5-15*

Read your Bible *and memorize it* *and listen to it* *and meditate on it* *and study it* *and pray through it* *and apply it* (put at the same time)

Find and go to a Church where the Word of God is preached expositionally *define*

Live life with other believers *especially over tacos*

Listen to music that edifies you *Shai Linne* *Timothy Brindle* *Stephen the Levite* *Beautiful Eulogy* *etc*

Stop sleeping with your girlfriend *or boyfriend*

And read good books from solid dead theologians *or some living too*

On that note, if there’s anything you think I missed *read your Bible*, go ahead and mention it in the comment section below, but otherwise, as always

Stay on the alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous and strong, and let everything you do be done in love.

*†ough חesed out*