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Put off your old self and put on your new self

Ephesians 4:17-5:2

Key Verse: 4:22-24 “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 attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

  We, Christians, are justified and become righteous through faith in Jesus Christ. In short, we are saved by faith in Jesus only by God’s grace. Then, how should our life be after being saved? What is the next step for reaching our spiritual goal? Our spiritual goal after salvation is to grow as mature Christians by imitating our Lord Jesus Christ. As our body grows, so our inner person should grow mature enough to please God and to be useful for God’s glory. Ephesians is known as the book of Christian ethics. Paul, the author, emphasizes the unity of Christians in 4:1-16.  Christian unity is associated with Christian’s maturity. In today’s passage Paul teaches us how to grow as mature Christians.

First, “you must no longer live as the Gentiles do.”(17-19) Look at verse 17. “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.”  Paul insisted that we must no longer live as the Gentiles. Who are the Gentiles? Literally speaking Gentiles are non-Jews, but spiritually speaking they are ungodly and godless people.  What was the Gentile way of life? Paul mentions specifically, “…in the futility of their thinking.”  The word ‘futile’ means empty, vain, and fruitless. Without God, people’s minds are empty, vain, and useless. Even though they work hard to achieve something, it perishes and vanishes with death. They realize that their life is meaningless and empty. So, they seek for something or someone from this world to fill their emptiness.

 Look at verse 18. “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.” The gentiles were separated from God, who is the source of life and wisdom. They were ignorant. In their ignorance they did many useless and heartless things. People say that we live in the era of the flood of information. But people’s hearts are darkened in their understanding not because of a lack of information but because of the absence of God. The Bible says that people cannot know God with their own wisdom. (1 Co 1:21) They say that they will believe if they understand. But faith does not come from understanding. Understanding comes from faith. When we believe, we understand.

When people do not believe in God, two things always follow their life: idolatry and immorality.  Paul said in Romans 1:21-23, “For although they knew god, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.” At Paul’s time in the city of Ephesus there was a temple of Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt and of fertility. The Ephesians worshiped this goddess. They worshiped Artemis for their security and prosperity. But God strongly forbids his people worshiping idols. (Ex 20:1-4) Spiritually speaking, when we love something or someone more than our God, we worship idols.

Idolatry accompanies immorality. Look at verse 19. “Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.” Losing all sensitivity means spiritual and moral numbness. They become numb in their conscience and spirit. Even though the evil things they do conflict with their conscience, they keep on doing them. Paul said in Roman 1:31, “they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” These days as Christians, our faith is challenged and tested by corrupted godless consensus. The government approved same-sex marriage and some liberal church leaders condone homosexuality.  When people lose their spiritual sensitivity, they give themselves over to sensuality and indulge in all kinds of impurity and immorality.

Second, put off your old self and put on your new self. (20-32) How did Paul admonish the believers in the Ephesus church? Look at verses 20-21. “You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.” What Paul meant was that Christians must live according to what Christ Jesus teaches us. Jesus taught us the kingdom of God. Jesus taught us the Father God. Jesus taught us to love God with all our hearts and souls and strength and love our neighbors as ourselves. Jesus taught us holiness, forgiveness, humbleness, gentleness, sacrifice, obedience and so on. We must live based on the truth, not on social consensus or worldly trends. There is truth in Jesus. Jesus himself is the truth. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through me…” (Jn 14:6) Paul continues. Look at verses 22-24. “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 attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”  Paul meant that we should change our clothes. We must put off our old clothes which are dirty and sin-stained, and put on new clothes, which are righteous and holy. Before we became Christians, our former way of life was corrupted by our deceitful desires. We lived like homeless people. We ate whatever we wanted. We slept wherever we desired. Our clothes easily became dirty and worn out. We thought that we enjoyed the life of freedom. But we were deceived by the devil. We were slaves of our sinful desires.  But since we accepted Jesus, we became new creations. Our identity was changed from slaves of sin to children of God. Since we are cleansed by the blood of Jesus, we start a new life with him. Our life was changed since we began to believe in Jesus. Not only our lifestyle, but also our attitude toward our lives is changed. We have clear purpose and direction for our lives. We live for the glory of God. We want to grow to be like Jesus in his righteousness and holiness.

There was a young rock musician. He did not find the meaning of his life in this world. So he beat drums until he felt good. But since he met Jesus, he was changed. He crushed his drum set into pieces and studied the Bible. He found the meaning of his life in God. He taught the Bible to many students on campus near Chicago downtown. Later, God sent him to Mongolia as a missionary.

‘Putting off our old self’ means repentance. Repentance is leaving our sinful life and turning to God. What must we do to become mature Christians?  First, we must put off falsehood and speak truthfully. In other words, we must not lie to our brothers, those in the church. Look at verse 25. “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.” Lying destroys relationships between God and men and between men and men. Lying harms the unity of the church. So God said in the Ten Commandments, “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” (Ex 20:16)  We must put off all deceitfulness and put on truthfulness and honesty. A mature Christian is an honest Christian. His honesty encourages others to come to God. Honest confession and honest testimonies build up strong Christian unity.

Second, we must control our anger. Look at verse 26,27. “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.” Paul did not say, “Do not become angry”, but “do not sin in your anger.” When we become angry, we are in danger of falling into sin. When we add only one letter ‘d’ to ‘anger’, it becomes ‘danger.’ God warned the angry Cain, “Why are you angry? …If you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” (Ge 4:6,7)   But Cain did not control his anger and killed his younger brother Abel. A mature Christian learns how to control his emotion, especially his anger. One church leader didn’t control his anger during a staff meeting. So, his anger caused one of his members to fall to sin. One hot-tempered, hen-pecked husband disputed with his wife. After a little while, he left home. He was struggling to control his anger. A mature Christian is gentle, humble, and self-controlled. He knows how to consider others as better than himself. He makes every effort to make peace with anyone in any situation.

Third, we must not steal. Look at verse 28. “He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.”  It is surprising that some believers in the church in Ephesus still hadn’t overcome bad habits of stealing. Paul meant here that stealing is not only taking other’s goods or properties without permission, but also expecting something without work. People steal because they don’t want to work. Paul urges them to work hard and to share what they earn with others—with those who are in need.  A mature Christian is not a lazy bum, but a hard-working man. He is appreciative toward God for all the things he provided for him: money, time, family, church, and so on. If we waste time by doing useless things, we steal God’s time. The Bible teaches us that if we do not offer our tithe, we are stealing from God. (Mal 3:8) God said, “You shall not steal.” (Ex 20:15)

Fourth, we must speak to build up others according to their needs. Look at verse 28. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” When we become Christians, our way of talking and speech should be changed. Here, unwholesome talk indicates unhealthy conversation, gossiping, slander, filthy jokes, complaining, and whatever discourages and tears down others. People like to talk about others. In this world people blame and hurt each other with many harmful words. They don’t care what others say or feel. But a mature Christian knows how to control his tongue. He thinks and rethinks before he speaks. He examines whether his words encourage others or not. He is a man of encouragement because he always speaks proper words according others’ needs. Proverbs 10:12 says, “The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.” In the Bible Jonathan encouraged David when David was in deep despair. Because of Jonathan’s encouraging words David restored his spirit. (1 Sa 20)  Elizabeth counseled the Virgin Mary with blessing when Mary visited her. Because of Elizabeth’s counseling Mary could have conviction that her pregnancy was God’s will for world salvation.(Lk 1:42) What you say is very important. It may build up others or tear them down. It could be fatal. The Bible says, “the tongue has the power of life and death,…” (Pr 18:21)  He who guards his lips guards his life but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin. (Pr 13:3)

What is the best way to encourage others? It is to read the Bible. The Bible is God’s word which is filled with wisdom and life. There are treasures of wisdom in his words. 2 Tim 3:16,17 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Amen.

Look at verse 30. “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” When we encourage others, we’ll have the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. When we teach the word of God, the Holy Spirit works. The Holy Spirit, the spirit of truth, will lead us to truth, who is Jesus Christ. On the contrary, all kinds of complaining, gossip, and unhealthy words grieve the Holy Spirit which dwells in us and others.

Look at verses 31-32. “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Paul urges the believers to get rid of all evil and dirty spirit from our hearts. Those who have bitterness must repent and forgive others. It is not easy to forgive our enemies. It is difficult to be kind and compassionate to those who are harmful to us. But it is possible when we remember our Lord Jesus. Jesus forgave all our sins when we were his enemies. He had compassion on us when we were suffering from our sins. He sacrificed his own life in order to save us from our eternal condemnation. Once Peter his disciples asked Jesus, “Lord, how many times we must forgive our brothers when they sin against us? Seven times?” the Lord Jesus said, “Not seven times, but seventy seven times.”  Peter had great difficulty accepting Jesus’ teaching. He thought it is impossible for him to forgive his enemies.. So he cried out inwardly, “Increase our faith!”  Jesus answered, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” (Mt 18:22, Lk 10:27)

It is impossible for us to obey all teachings of Paul in today’s passage. But it is possible when we learn from Jesus and obey him. So Paul said in 5:1-2. “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” As a conclusion, Paul encouraged the believers in the church to follow Jesus’ example. Let us pray for each other to become imitators of God. Let us say to each other with people next to you, “Be imitators of God” “Follow Jesus’ example.” May God richly bless you when you do so. Amen.

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• Be Imitators of God-2013-edited.doc