Ephesians 4:17-24 The Christian Life

Living a new identity

“Who was the best business woman in the Bible?”

Pharaoh’s daughter because she went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a prophet.

“Which Bible character had no parents?”

Joshua, son of Nun (Joshua 1:1).

We are faced with a challenge - in our life, we are trying to pursue God but in our pursuit we are often confused, lost, overwhelmed.

Ephesians 4:17–19 CSB

Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thoughts. They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts. They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity with a desire for more and more.

Man has over history pursued the knowledge and beauty of God

(Classism, Renaissance, Enlightenment, Romanticism, Realism) Pursuit of knowledge and art man is frustrated because none of these pursuits bring what they were seeking

Man Pursues Knowledge only to be frustrated by it giving up and pursing pleasure

(Hedonism) Pursuit of Pleasure

(these all failed because they were man-centered)

We then try to preach the word to them, but we feel they fall on deaf ears, rather they fall on dead ears.

1 Corinthians 1:18 CSB

For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved.

Ephesians 4:20 CSB

But that is not how you came to know Christ,

The prophet Ezekiel a younger contemporary of the prophet Jeremiah

Ezekiel 36:26 CSB

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

Jeremiah 31:33 said the same thing

It is God who changes man’s heart! - The term for this is Justification

Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms Justification, Justification by Faith

A forensic (legal) term related to the idea of acquittal, justification refers to the divine act whereby God makes humans, who are sinful and therefore worthy of condemnation, acceptable before a God who is holy and righteous.

It is impossible for man in any of his own seeking to find God in anything of man without the saving power of faith, by the word of God, through Jesus Christ, and the grace of God for his Glory. (Repeat)

Take Off - Put On

Paul is teaching us that we do have a responsibility once we are justified, we are to be sanctified

There is a theological term here… Sanctification - the process to become holy

Sanctification. From the Hebrew and Greek, “to be set apart” from common use, “to be made holy.” The nature of sanctification is twofold in that Christians have been made holy through Christ and are called to continue to grow into and strive for holiness by cooperating with the indwelling Holy Spirit until they enjoy complete conformity to Christ (glorification).

We participate in this sanctification- Paul teaches this in the terms of taking of and putting on

We are take off the old-self and put on the new-self

Take Off Old Self

Corrupted by deceitful desires (to possess the knowledge and pleasure of the world)

Put on New Self

Renewed in the Spirit of your mind -

Created in the Likeness of God (imago dei) Gen1:26

Righteousness

Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms Righteousness

An attribute of God’s being; God’s right and just character, actions and judgments. God’s

Purity of Truth

Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms Truth

That which reflects factual and/or spiritual reality.

Application

Our new life then is put in a new way of seeing things, a process of Sanctification. This is not a behavioral change - It is a heart change, a transformation, that is seen in changed behavior.

There is not a specific method to this - Although John and Charles Wesley - Methodist movement (Root of the Methodist Church)

Take off - Put On

Ken Lundeen - Retired Chaplain-

3 things God will not do for you

Crucify the Flesh

Renew the Mind

Feed the Spirit