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 2:23 – “and
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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