INTRODUCTION
Talk about the New Creation.
Talk about dressing for occasions.
Talk about the Prodigal Son and His Robe!
The story is told of a little boy who went to the funeral of an atheist. There in the coffin was the man who professed not to believe in God, and, of course, God’s heaven. The little boy studied the well-dressed, lifeless figure for a few moments and said, “What a shame. All dressed up and no place to go.” Well, Christians are certainly not “all dressed up with no place to go.” There is a good reason why we have “put on the new self.” We are now to begin to live in a new way. Paul turns for his case from upright living to the character of upright living. Here he details the areas of restored responsibility.
He contrasts the way we used to be with the way we should be.
We are to Remove the Old Rags and put on the New Robe!
SERMON
A. ONE RAG TO REMOVE IS: LYING (25)
1. One of the old rags is lying. R.S. who lied all of the time. LAY ASIDE- STRIP OFF.
2. In the July 15, 1993 Boardroom Reports, Peter LeVine writes, "When the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey ran a help-wanted ad for electricians with expertise at using Sontag connectors, it got 170 responses even though there is no such thing as a Sontag connector. The Authority ran the ad to find out how many applicants falsify resumes." -- Leadership Magazine, Vol. 15:1, Winter, 1994, p. 47.
3. When we put on the New Robe, we put away lying, and in its place we speak truth
with his neighbor.
3. REASONS:
God cannot lie. Hebrews 6:18
We are not to lie to each other. Think about what would happen if the body lied to itself.
COL 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, WE have laid aside the old self.
B. ANOTHER RAG TO REMOVE IS: ANGER (26-27)
1. The "old man" gets angry and lets it linger, or get out of control
We can store up anger. It will boil inside of us.
Unleash our anger toward others. It will determine how we act.
2. The "new man" may get angry, but does not...
Let it linger ("do not let the sun go down on your wrath"
Allow it to prompt sinful behavior ("nor give place to the devil")
3. REASON:
Anger allows Satan a way in to your life.
Cain and Abel. READ GENESIS 4:4-8
READ ROMANS 12:17-21
C. THE OLD RAG OF: STEALING (28)
1. According to Paul Harvey, ( On September 21, 1989)CBS sent a camera crew to Ft. Worth, Texas to do a special story on big city crime. As the crew was unloading its equipment, their $30,000 camera was stolen. That sounds like a good introduction for their story.
2. The "old man" is willing to steal
The word for stealing is not the one used of a professional thief.
3. The "new man" not only stops stealing, but works so he can help others in need!
D. THE OLD RAG OF : CORRUPT COMMUNICATION (29-30)
A minister was making a wooden trellis to support a climbing vine. As he was pounding away, he noticed that a little boy was watching him. The youngster didn’t say a word, so the preacher kept on working, thinking the lad would leave. But he didn’t. Pleased at the thought that his work was being admired, the pastor finally said, "Well, son, trying to pick up some pointers on gardening?" "No," he replied. "I’m just waiting to hear what a preacher says when he hits his thumb with a hammer."
1. The "old man" doesn’t worry or care what comes out of his mouth
Unwholesome is the same word that is used to speak of rotten food.
The tongue is full of poison (James 3:6-8)
The tongue only speaks what is in the heart. Matthew 12:34
Pure water cannot come out of a dirty faucet. James 3:11
2. The "new man" not only avoids "corrupt communication", but
seeks to speak that which is uplifting to those who hear
We will try to edify people in stead of tear down EXAMPLE CHILDREN
Timing is important.
Gracious in our speech.
3. REASON:
We can grieve the Holy Spirit. We grieve the Holy Spirit when we put on our old rags.
E. THE OLD RAG OF : IMITATING TO WORLD (31-5:2)
1. Therefore, we ought to put away those things befitting the "old man" (bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, malice)
Bitterness. Spirit of irritability it keeps a person in perpetual animosity. Sour.
Wrath. Temper outbursts
Anger. Sustained pent-up animosity
Clamor. Shouting out in anger
slander. Same word as blasphemy. Speak against. On-going defamation of someone that rises from a bitter attitude toward them.
malice. Evil disposition.
2. And in it’s place we need to put on those things befitting the "new man" (being kind, tenderhearted, forgiving one another just as God forgives us in Christ)
3. The Person with the New Robe is to Imitate GOD!
CONCLUSION
Evidence of a person’s being saved is not a past experience of receiving Christ but a present life that reflects Christ.
Don’t roll in the mud with you New Robe. Don’t take off your Robe and put your old rags back on!
BOY AND THE ATHIEST IN CASKET. WE HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO. Let dress for the occasion by wearing the new robe that was given to us when we were created anew!
