Putting Off The Old (2024)

SERMON OUTLINE:

(1). The Command (vs 17-19)

(2). The Explanation (vs 20-24)

(3). The Application (25-32)

SERMON BODY:

Ill:

• A friend of mine Les Hardwick once saw a homeless person,

• And decided to help him.

• He noticed he was wearing a dirty old coat.

• It was ripped and fit only for the bin.

• So, my friend offered the homeless person, his coat.

• The homeless person took it but to my friend’s surprise.

• Instead of taking off the old coat and putting on the new.

• He just put the new coat straight on top of his old coat.

• TRANSITION:

• Sadly, like that tramp two many Christians behave the same way:

• They want the new things of Christ.

• But don’t want to let go of the old things of self & sin.

• When a person becomes a Christian.

• There is a putting on and a putting off.

Ill:

• Shortly after joining the Navy,

• The new recruit asked his officer for a pass so he could attend a wedding.

• The officer gave him the pass,

• But informed the young man he would have to be back by 7 p.m. Sunday.

• “You don’t understand, sir,” said the recruit. “I’m in the wedding.”

• “No, you don’t understand,” the officer shot back. “You’re in the Navy!”

• When a person becomes a Christian.

• There is a change of lifestyle required.

(1). The command (vs 17-19)

“So, I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking”.

These verses contain a warning, a caution, an instruction to follow!

• The Christian is not to imitate the life of the non-Christians around him or her.

• The Christian is called to be different!

• Elsewhere the New Testament puts it this way:

• “We are in the world, but we are not of the world”.

• In other words, we all as people live in and interact with this world,

• But our Source, our motivation, our values are not from this worlds system,

• The Bible describes us as ‘aliens, foreigners, strangers & pilgrims’,

• “We are in the world, but we are not of the world”.

Ill:

• This afternoon in Hyde Park,

• On the Serpentine River that flows through the park,

• You will see people out on rowing & paddle boats.

• Now a boat in water is pleasurable, constructive and fulfils a purpose.

• But if too much water gets in the boat, you have got big problems!

• TRANSITION:

• Every Christian life in the world,

• But too much of the world in the Christian and you got big problems!

Christians are meant to be different!

• Notice in this warning there is a emphasises on the mind.

• Christians are to think differently from the world in which they live.

• There is a contrast between the believer and the non-believer.

• e.g. Verse 17: ‘Thinking’.

• e.g. Verse 18: ‘Understanding’.

• e.g. Verse 18: ‘Ignorance’.

• e.g. Verse 18: ‘Learned Christ’.

• e.g. Verse 20: ‘Know (learned) Christ’.

Notice:

• Then in verses 18-19,

• The apostle Paul then draws a contrast with an unconverted person:

“They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts”.

ill:

• If you were at my home Church this morning,

• You would encounter Colin.

• Now Colin could not describe to you a beautiful sunset because he is blind.

• He is therefore limited in his understanding.

• Now in many areas of life he is far more advanced than many of us.

• But in this one area he will always be behind.

• TRANSITION:

• Likewise, there are many people in the world who would leave us for dead.

• When it comes to a whole variety of things.

• But NOT when it comes to God.

• The reason being they cannot see, they are blind!

• It takes the Holy Spirit of God to bring light and life!

• And you and I are saved and kept by the Holy Spirit.

In verse 19 the contrast continues:

“Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.”

• Because they have darkened minds,

• They ignore and therefore nullify their conscience.

• And live on the principle; “If it feels good then do it!”

• This is the basis for most reality TV shows,

• From ‘Love Island’ to 'Geordie Shore' and almost all the rest.