Sunday, July 22, 2012

Clearly Changed - 1

Lifting the Fog of Selfishness
Ephesians 4:17-24

Notes from the message at Harvest Bible Chapel Spring Lake - 7.22.12

“We are creatures of habit in a world of change.”


Because of the cross we are changed.  We are absolutely, fundamentally, to our core, changed.  We have: forgiveness of sins; right standing before God; we move from slave to adopted child of the King; lost to found; orphan to joint heir.  How did this take place?  Because God chose to make Himself known.  The most exciting thing about the cross is that we are changed before God.  He takes our sinfulness, we take His righteousness.  This is called The Great Exchange.  Because of what Christ did on the cross, we are fundamentally changed.  Our standing is different before God.  We are forgiven. Jesus died to save us, and to change us.

Philippians 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
God’s purpose is that God’s glory is brought to Himself, and we experience joy.
We are called by scripture to be all about change.
Ephesians 1-3, doctrine.  Ephesians 4-6, in light of this truth, how are we supposed to live.

In Ephesians 1 we find this phrase repeated, “In Him.”  Because of who Christ is, these are all the benefits we received when we were changed.

The theme of Ephesians is found in 1:18,19:  so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might…”

Ephesians 2:1“you were dead in your sins…”  Ephesians 2:4 “But God, being rich in mercy…”  Ephesians 3:8 tells us Paul was called to preach the unfathomable riches of Christ.

Ephesians 4:1, “Therefore…”  Because of the previous truths, walk in a manner worthy…

4:17-24:  17 So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; 19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

OUR MOTIVATION FOR CHANGE – OLD SELF
Our life before Christ -

1.     Futile thinking - v. 17 
o   All effort for happiness, no gain 
o   Seeing our goodness as not needing a Savior
2.     Darkened understanding – v. 18 
o   No unprompted thoughts about God
3.     Hard hearts – v.18
4.     Reckless behavior – v.19

OUR MANDATE TO CHANGE – PUT OFF! V. 22

·      Assumes you know Jesus as Savior -  vv. 20, 21
o   Don’t try to be changed by the gospel until you’ve been saved by the gospel
o   Repentance must be the first step in transformation
·      You cannot change unless you purpose to change
·      Name the lie, insert the truth
·      Nothing can be put off without putting something in its place

OUR PATTERN FOR CHANGE – PUT ON! V.24

·      Luke 11:24-26 - Putting off without not putting on leads to greater sin, disaster
·      Putting off without putting on creates legalism
·      Putting on without putting off first creates hypocrisy
·      Psychology will tell you what you are and why you are but it can’t tell you what you ought to be
·      Followers of Christ are to be like Christ
·      Our pattern, our aspiration, is Jesus
o   John 13:15
o   1 Corinthians 11:1
o   Ephesians 4:32
o   Philippians 2:1-8
o   1 Peter 2:21
o   1 Thessalonians 1:6
o   1 John 2:6

The amazing thing – God took on human flesh and became like us so we could know God and know what we ought to be.  By being like Christ, the end of that trail, is joy.

THE PROCESS OF CHANGE – RENEWING OUR MINDS

Ephesians 2:23and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,”

Romans 2:12 - And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
·      You cannot be something different without a renewal of your mind. 
·      Putting off is a single, past action.  You make a decision to be “done with it”, “enough.”  It is an act of your will.  It is a choice that you make.  Make the decision that that’s not going to be you any more.
·      Renewing of minds – present progressive, a process of continuing hard work
o   1 Timothy 4:7“Train yourself for godliness.”
How do I renew my mind?
1.     Study the Word
o   Not just read it
o   Take it in
o   Make it your focus
o   Memorize it
2.     Pray for renewed mind
3.     Do a better job of choosing your entertainment
4.     Choose new friends
People who really change:
o   Admit their need to change
o   Allow others to point out the specifics – Ask your spouse, a friend, “Where do you see I need change?”
o   Place themselves accountable to others for that change
o   Commit to the same group of people for a long period of time – “I’m not going to leave when times get hard.”
Jesus is able to make us what He wants us to be. 
The Great Exchange - Jesus righteousness for our sinfulness.  Jesus died to save us, and to change us.



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