Make New The Attitude Of My Mind

I. EXORDIUM:

Are you like CHRIST?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To be like CHRIST.

IV. TEXT:

Ephesians 4:22-24 (Amplified Bible)

Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion;

And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude],

And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.

V. THESIS:

We are like CHRIST in this world.

VI. TITLE:

Make new the attitude of my mind

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: Apostle Paul

B. Date written: 60 A.D. to 64 A.D.

C. Purpose: To show believers their position in CHRIST and encourage them to walk accordingly

D. To whom written: church at Ephesus

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. Put off old self

"Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self]"

Old self of sin as mentioned in the Bible is described as or summarized as corrupted by it's deceitful desires

1. Body of sin made effective and active for evil, as slaves of sin

Romans 6:6 (Amplified Bible)

We know that our old (unrenewed) self was nailed to the cross with Him in order that [our] body [which is the instrument] of sin might be made ineffective and inactive for evil, that we might no longer be the slaves of sin.

2. It lies to one another, with it's evil practices

Colossians 3:9 (Amplified Bible)

Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old (unregenerate) self with its evil practices,

3. Living in shameless, insolent wantonness, in lustful desires, drunkenness, reveling, drinking bouts and abominable, lawless idolatries

1 Peter 4:3 (Amplified Bible)

For the time that is past already suffices for doing what the Gentiles like to do—living [as you have done] in shameless, insolent wantonness, in lustful desires, drunkenness, reveling, drinking bouts and abominable, lawless idolatries.

4. Blind, shortsighted and oblivious

2 Peter 1:9 (Amplified Bible)

For whoever lacks these qualities is blind, [spiritually] shortsighted, seeing only what is near to him, and has become oblivious [to the fact] that he was cleansed from his old sins.

B. Made new in the attitude of my mind

"And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude],"

Psalms 51:10 (Amplified Bible)

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me.

Romans 12:2 (Amplified Bible)

Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

2 Corinthians 4:16 (Amplified Bible)

Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day.

Colossians 3:10 (Amplified Bible)

And have clothed yourselves with the new [spiritual self], which is [ever in the process of being] renewed and remolded into [fuller and more perfect knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it.

Titus 3:5 (Amplified Bible)

He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but because of His own pity and mercy, by [the] cleansing [bath] of the new birth (regeneration) and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

We can pray and ask GOD for a clean heart, a right spirit within us, desire it by prayer. Our attitude should be like that of CHRIST, obedient even unto death, even death on the cross relying on GOD's strength for us by means of our new birth and the HOLY SPIRIT.

C. Put on new self

"And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness"

1. Created to be like GOD in true righteousness and holiness

To be CHRIST-like -- "because in this world we are like him" What is to be CHRIST-like, is just to be like HIM while here on earth, full of love, righteousness, peace, truth.

1 John 4:17 (New International Version)

In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.

Romans 8:29 (Amplified Bible)

For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren.