Tag: Ephesians 4
Off with the old! On with the new!
Scripture reading for August 28: Ephesians 4
“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. 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. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!–assuming that you have heard about Him and were taught in Him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:17-24
Paul wrote plainly to the Ephesian converts about the process of transformation from pagan Gentile to righteous ‘new creation’ in Christ. It can be summed up by “off with the old and on with the new.” In their former lives as Gentiles, the church members were living in darkness because of ignorance and hard hearts that mark those outside of God’s family. Their lives were ‘futile’, that is without meaning or real purpose. Their hearts were callous and hardened to God and others because of selfishness and greed that marked their thinking and actions. Impurity was a way of life that alienated them from the life of God and set them up for judgment. This way of living must be put off like an old set of dirty clothes.
Believers who repent and put off the old man must now choose to clothe themselves with the ‘new man’. We renew our minds by gathering with God’s people to study His Word and learn from others how to live victoriously by faith. This new creation self is hungry for righteousness and holiness, reflecting the Holy Spirit from God Who is now leading us. As we consistently renew our minds and allow God’s grace to transform us, we reflect the likeness of God in ever-increasing measure.
How have you experienced this process of transformation from living in futility to a life of hope and joy? How do you seek to renew your mind each day? Do you feel that you have successfully taken off your old set of spiritual ‘clothes?’ What might you take off today in response to God’s Word?
Prayer: Father God, lead me daily by the Holy Spirit to remove any clinging ‘old clothes’ and to become fully ‘clothed’ with the Spirit of God. Use me to help others in the renewing of their minds through teaching and preaching Your Word. Amen.
Putting on Christ!
Scripture reading for August 29th: Ephesians 4
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Ephesians 4:22-27 “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires to be made new in the attitudes of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”
Disciples are teachable and must be instructed by mature believers how to walk in step with the Holy Spirit. Those who are born again of the Spirit no longer live like they did before. Changes must be made by decisive and willing actions. We repent of lying and deceit and choose to speak the truth in love. Even in situations where we may be angry, we deal honestly with our feelings in accordance with the truth of Scriptures. In doing so, we over-come our enemy who is a liar and murderer and preserve the unity of Christ’s body, the Church.
Observations for over-comers: True over-comers learn the discipline of choosing to put off our old self and put on the new self. Truthfulness and honest dealing with others are character traits that overcome our enemy, the devil. “Surely You desire truth in the inner parts; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.” (Psalm 51:6)
Growing up in Christ!
Scripture reading for August 28th: Ephesians 4
“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3) Paul was a prisoner in jail but under the Lord’s direct commission. As a pastor, he wanted the church at Ephesus to live out their faith in Christ’s love and character. Patience and humility with great love would be required to produce and sustain the unity of the Holy Spirit in the congregation.
“It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, and some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-13) God poured out gifts upon His Church. These gift people would prepare God’s people for the works they had been assigned and assist them to grow to maturity in the fullness of Christ. All these contributed to the unity of the faith that we must work to maintain.
“Then, we will no longer be infants, . . .Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (Ephesians 4:14-16) God wants His kids to grow up and each person must do their assigned part to see Christ reflected through His church.