The Walk Of The Believer In Jesus Alone (Part 3) Series

Crossway Christian Fellowship

Hagerstown, MD

www.mycrossway.org

View this sermon at: https://mycrossway.churchcenter.com/episodes/130882

We have come to the end of the fourth chapter of Ephesians. Over the last several weeks we’ve taken a deep look into the distinctiveness of the believer’s walk in Jesus. The Apostle Paul is writing to the Ephesian Church that the life of citizens of Christ’s Kingdom is unlike anything present in our world’s system.

It is important to remind you that this world is not our home (Hebrews 13:14). It is important that we be reminded that this world is governed unrighteously with Satan as its current ruler (2 Corinthians 4:4). And no matter how noble or good we perceive current human efforts, the believer must stand firm under the banner of the Lord Jesus and do his work (1 Corinthians 15:58).

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18)

There is distinctiveness in the life of the believer that should be evident inwardly, outwardly, and spiritually. These are the instructions to the Ephesian Church from the Apostle Paul.

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. 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. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 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. 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. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:17–32 ESV)

There seems to be a lot of confusion in the world today, and certainly in our culture. A [Dallas] Texas gay bar hosted a "Drag the Kids to Pride" event where drag queen dancers provocatively gyrated in front of children as young as toddlers. A poster for the "Drag the Kids to Pride" event claims it is the "ultimate family-friendly pride experience." (The Blaze News, June 4, 2022) What is even more concerning than this event being held, is that parents took their children where the kids handed the queens money and were invited to dance on stage with dancers. This is satanic. In Idaho, a “Pride in the Park” event is sponsored by the Satanic Temple and is being billed as a “family-friendly event.” (Idaho Tribune, June 7, 2022). This world is confused because they are worshipping the god of confusion.

Remember when I shared with you the article that outlined an alarming statistic that two-thirds of Evangelical Senior Pastors have a biblical worldview? A person’s worldview is formed in many ways, mainly through: culture, education, religious upbringing, & emotional development. The Bible, however, is not subject to these developments in our life. So in order to have a biblical worldview, we must allow God’s Word to shape or reshape our understanding of the world around us through the power of the Holy Spirit.

SIX IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW

1. God is the Creator of the world and rules this universe. (Genesis 1:1). This includes the definition of family and marriage, the sanctity of life, and God’s sovereignty over all of creation.

2. The Bible is God’s Word for mankind and is completely accurate including matters of life and its origin. (2 Timothy 3:16).