“Done with the Old Life”
Ephesians 4:17-24
I. Our Wealth and Worth In Christ 1-3
Paul broke out in exuberant praise in his prison cell. He had been incarcerated for preaching the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. With time on his hands, he contemplated the wonder of God’s work not only in his own life but around the known world. The outcome of that contemplation is a most amazing doxology that touches on a host of blessings.
He blessed God for blessing us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ.
Specially chosen
Purposefully adopted
Freely redeemed and forgiven
Spiritually enlightened
Surely deemed God’s inheritance
Securely sealed for the day of redemption
At this point Paul broke out in a pray asking that they fully understand the wonder of God’s blessing.
Especially…
The Hope of their calling
The glory of Christ’s inheritance in the saints
The surpassing greatness of His power demonstrated toward the saints
That power was demonstrated in…
Making us alive, raising us up, and seating us with Christ
Bringing us out of alienation through the sacrifice of Jesus into full citizenship in His kingdom, cherished sonship in God’s family, strategic placement in God’s temple
Paul expressed his deep love for the Ephesians and shared his heart for ministry.
Paul broke out in another prayer for the empowerment of the spirit to live in God’s fullness and finishes with another doxology or statement of praise to God.
The second main division in Ephesians begins with chapter 4. He exhorts the Ephesians to live a life worthy of the high and holy calling.
II. Our Worthy Walk in Christ 4-6
A. Walk in Unity 4:1-16
Walk in humility, gentleness, long-suffering forbearance and preservation of the unity.
This new community is inseparably linked and unified in one body and one Spirit, one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father energizing the whole thing.
Within that unity there is a diversity of function or gifts supplied and empowered by Jesus.
Last week we talked about the interrelationship between gifts, ministries and effects as described by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12. Paul wanted to be sure we understood clearly that as important God’s special gifting of each follower of Jesus may be; love is the essential element that makes them function properly.
1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels (speaking gifts), but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains,(speaking gifts and ministries) but do not have love, I am nothing.
3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, (serving gifts) but do not have love, it profits me nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
B. Walk in Newness of life 4:17-24
Paul transitions to a different subject in verse 17.
The new subject has connection to the previous thought as indicated by the “therefore”.
In regard to this maturing and growing up into Christ and becoming one according to the measure of the stature of Christ through the proper exercise of each member of the body…
Paul emphatically and authoritatively issues a prohibition.
Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord:
He doesn’t just “tell” them but solemnly “testifies”. The word “testify” refers to a legal testimony in a court of law or an emphatic declaration. The use of both words points to the importance of emphatic nature of what he is about to say. It is similar to his exhortation to the Thessalonians.
11 just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, 12 so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12
Even beyond that, Paul adds “in the Lord” which was intended to be sure they understood that this was not just a personal opinion on the matter but was being issued by the authority of a duly appointed spokesman for God.
What was Paul’s instruction?
Scripture approaches instruction from two directions.
Prohibition – don’t do this. Directive – do this.
Paul will approach a subject from either perspective. Paul also alternates between doctrine (teaching) and application (doing) all through this letter. The application sections are almost always tied to a teaching section. The teaching section provides the motivation or reasoning behind the behavioral application. Do this because…Don’t do this because…
Paul started with a prohibition and followed with a reason why they should comply.
The reason for obeying is not only included here but is also based on what has come before.
You should no longer walk as the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their thoughts. Ephesians 4:17
This is a definite application of the truth previously presented. On the basis of your high calling as children of God, stop walking like the pagans around you. Walk different because you ARE different. Because God has made you alive, enlightened and empowered you, you should live differently. Paul used the same word employed earlier in the chapter…walk worthy your calling”.
He used a word indicating one’s way of life. It meant to conduct one’s self, order one’s behavior, live one’s life. Paul exhorted them to “no longer live like the Gentiles continue to live.” Paul already alluded to a life change in Chapter 2 “we all formerly lived”. Now he was writing to Gentiles; so what does he mean? Interesting to note that even though they were technically still Gentiles, in reality, Paul viewed them as something different. They are children of God, citizens of God’s kingdom, stones in God’s temple. They are no longer aliens and strangers separated from God. They are members of God’s new unified community.
His point is that they are fundamentally different by reason of rebirth. They are to “no longer” live like they did. They are different. They are to be done with the past and embrace their new life in Christ. A change of the core results in a change in conduct.
1. The old life 4:17-19
From here, Paul details the difference between “Gentiles” and “Kingdom kids”.
17 Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their thoughts. 18 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. 19 They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity with a desire for more and more.
The core description of a “Gentile” or unbeliever’s life is a lifestyle based on futile thinking.
The word futile points to something that is aimless, pointless, empty, having no direction.
There is a pointlessness to life lived apart from intimate connection with the creator.
Solomon wrote extensively in Ecclesiastes on the vanity or emptiness of a life without eternal purpose and intimate connection with God. Every one of the twelve chapters details the emptiness of life apart from God. Solomon observes life under the sun. Life on earth with eternal purpose. It is empty. It is the theme of his writing; vanity of vanities says the preacher.
Empty, vapor, nothing. Chapter after chapter details the frustration and futility of thinking associated with every aspect of life without God.
The verses following lay out the path that got the Gentiles to the state of empty thinking.
Let’s look at an overview of the path and then delve into the details. This may seem a bit technical, but an understanding of the grammar enables greater understanding of the process leading to “futile thinking”. Most English translations do not translate the string of perfect passive participles.
A participle is an “ing” word adding more information to the main thought.
The perfect tense points to an action carried out at a point in time having ongoing results.
The passive indicates it was something that happened to them.
In this case, it explains the cause of a lifestyle based on futile thinking.”
The reason the Gentiles lived a life based on futile thinking is because, at some point, they became darkened in their understanding and still were.
The reason they became darkened in their understanding is because, at some point, they became cut off from God’s life and still were.
The reason they had no connection to true life is because of continuing ignorance.
The reason they were ignorant (without knowledge) is because of intentionally hardening their hearts.
Their decision to harden their hearts caused them to choose a life of unbridled passion and uncleanness.
If we work backwards from beginning to end it might look something like this.
Intentional hardening of the heart toward God led to…
Behavior based in the pursuit of fleshly passions and
Ongoing ignorance of true life which led to…
Alienation from true life (God’s life through Jesus) which led to…
Darkened understanding which led to…
Futile thinking and living.
Thinking before behaving. That works both for vices and virtues.
They key component here is the intentional hardening of the heart. The “heart” generally refers to the inner person. It includes both the thought process and the feelings and the conscience. Paul uses two words for hardening. One referred to tough skin; a callous that was insensitive to touch. The other is like a rock impenetrable. The intentional hardening of one’s core thinking to God’s truth results in an insensitivity to truth. It results in an ignorance or lack of knowledge regarding spiritual matters of eternity. This ignorance separates them from the source of life that comes from God and word.
Man shall live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
Scripture is the word of life.
The disciples recognized that Jesus brought them the “words of eternal life”.
Paul urges us to hold forth the “word of life.” Philip 2:16
John recognized Jesus as the “Word of life”. 1 John 1:1
Jesus said His words were “spirit and life”. John 6:63
Paul laid out a similar road to destruction in Romans 1.
He spoke of those who intentionally hardened themselves to God’s obvious truth and suppressed his truth leading to rejection of the Creator altogether. They refused even to acknowledge God leading to a life of corresponding godless destructive behavior.
Paul urged this community of newly transformed workers to make sure they did not continue a lifestyle based on futile reasoning.
Our culture today is a prime example of futile thinking. Once you remove God from the equation there is only one option; a life based on the fleshly passions. Once you remove spiritual consideration, life can only be pursued from a fleshly perspective. People are seeking meaning in life by satisfaction of fleshy passions. Since the inner passions are NEVER satisfied, life becomes empty, futile, meaningless. I have a feeling that why Rick Warren’s book the Purpose Driven Life hit a nerve in our county is because of people were built for purpose.
That longing can never be understood or satisfied apart from the life of God.
That failure to pursue eternal things and hardening of the heart toward God brings one to poor all of their energies into pursing sensual fulfillment. Just look at how sensually oriented our culture is. The whole appeal to consumers is how it makes me feel.
Food, sex, materialism, money, success, notoriety, power, looks, experiences (extreme sports), entertainment, carnivals, games, toys, travel.
These things become primary.
the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17
Paul reminds these new followers of Jesus that their life should be different than it used to.
Their thinking and behavior is to be different because they are different. They were to no longer live like the Gentiles live in futile reasoning. This is not the only place such an appeal was made. Titus refers to a fundamental change.
3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, captives of various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. 4 But when the goodness and love for man appeared from God our Savior, 5 He saved us— not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6 This [Spirit] He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that having been justified by His grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:3-7
1 Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For the time already past
is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. 1 Peter 4:1-3
So what changed? They changed. Paul contrasts their former life to the new life.
2. The NEW life 4:17-19
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. Ephesians 4:20-24
So many places in the New Testament discuss this new life in Christ. Most of us are familiar well acquainted with Paul’s powerful summary.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, he has become new.
The point today is clear. Stop living like the Gentiles. Stop living like unbelievers.
On what basis?
You have put off the former self which was driven by inner fleshly passions.
You are a new creation (put on the new self) which is driven by godly passions.
You have been renewed in you thinking and understanding by the truth of Jesus Christ.
You have been identified with the resurrected Christ so that you can walk not like the Gentiles but in newness of life (Rom 5).
Is there a difference?
It will start in the heart – heart that embraced God.
It will open us to a new way of thinking – knowledge.
It will connect us to the life of God in Jesus.
It will bring enlightenment and understanding.
He will result in a godly lifestyle based on purposeful thinking.
1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 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. Romans 12:1-2
Take an honest look at your life. What drives you? Has there really been a core change?
Has the old self been changed?
