Truth, Judgment and Eternity Ephesians 4:17-24

Overview of Chapter 4:17-24 God’s Image Bearers vv – v17 Not to live like the heathen – v18 The heathen are separated from God – v19 They indulge in evil – v20 We are set apart – v21 We were taught in Christ – v22 Put off your old self – v23 Put on a new Attitude – v24 Put on the New Self – in His image

Avoid Heathenism Ephesians 4:17 “So this I say and solemnly testify in [the name of] the Lord [as in His presence], that you must no longer live as the heathen (the Gentiles) do in their perverseness [in the folly, vanity, and emptiness of their souls and the futility] of their minds.” (AMP) Paul was facing a pretty serious issue in the Church when he wrote these words to the Ephesians. He was seeing an increase of heathenism and paganism in the Church, actually many of the churches of which the apostles wrote to were exhorted to give up these pagan ways. How much more today do we need to give them up?

Separate From God Ephesians 4:18 “Their moral understanding is darkened and their reasoning is beclouded. [They are] alienated (estranged, self-banished) from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the ignorance (the want of knowledge and perception, the willful blindness) that is deep-seated in them, due to their hardness of heart [to the insensitiveness of their moral nature].” (AMP) This Scripture tells us so much about the heathen unbelievers in this world. 1) Morally darkened, 2) Reason beclouded, 3) Alienated from God (self banished) with no share in it, 4) deep seated ignorant (agnostic - willful blindness), 5) hard hearts to their moral nature.

Heathen Depravity Paul’s expose upon the heathen nature continues: Ephesians 4:19 “In their spiritual apathy they have become callous and past feeling and reckless and have abandoned themselves [a prey] to unbridled sensuality, eager and greedy to indulge in every form of impurity [that their depraved desires may suggest and demand].” (AMP) 6) Spiritually apathetic, 7) Callous and without feeling, 8) Abandoned to unbridled sensuality 9) Desiring every form of depravity and impurity.

Called to Holiness Ephesians 4:20 “But you however did not come to know Christ that way.” (NIV) We do not have a license to sin just because Jesus died for our sins. We are free from sin not free to sin. So what does Christ demand from us? 1Peter 1:15-16 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” The disciples of Christ came to know Christ as the Holy One whom they were to imitate and reproduce in their followers.

If - Assumption Ephesians 4:21 “Assuming that you have really heard Him and been taught by Him, as [all] Truth is in Jesus [embodied and personified in Him],” (AMP) It’s interesting to note that the amplified and the ESV derive the word “assuming” from the Greek Word εἴ which means “if”. The NIV translate it “surely” and NLT “since” both of these are errors. The NAS and KJV are both correct in translating it to “if”. εἴ (followed by any verb) expresses "a condition, thought of as real, or to denote assumptions" (i.e. viewed as factual. for the sake of argument)

If - Assumption Ephesians 4:20-21 “But you however did not come to know Christ that way, assuming that you have really heard Him and been taught by Him as [all] Truth is in Jesus [embodied and personified in Him],” Paul assumed that the Ephesians had really been taught by Him, but the truth of that assumption would be only evident after judgment. We must make sure that we come to know Christ the right way according to the truth that is in Jesus, who is the embodiment of all truth.

Put Off Your Old Self Ephesians 4:22 “Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion;” (AMP) Time and again in Scripture the apostles exhort believers to resist sin and the lusts and pulls of the flesh, this is vitally important to understand because there is a strong teaching in the Church that if we encourage believers to walk in holiness using the warnings given in Scripture that we are advocating a works based salvation.

Consecrate Yourself Daily Ephesians 4:23 “And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude],” AMP Paul is telling us clearly to renew ourselves constantly. Consecration in Christ is not a one time event, it is a daily renewing in the “spirit of our mind”. Paul said, “I die daily”, what he means is that he dies to the lusts and pulls of the flesh and consecrates his all to God daily. This is not a work to receive our redemption it is part of the fruit we should bear as believers in Christ. “Without holiness no-one will see the Lord.” Heb 12:14

Put on the New Nature Ephesians 4:24 “And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness. (AMP) The Ephesian Christians are told to put on the new nature, the regenerated nature, which is the nature God gives us when we walk in the Spirit; that is the nature which is created in God’s image, and this image is truly righteous and truly holy.

In Conclusion Over and over the Scriptures exhort the believers to walk in holiness and to turn away from sin, yet over and over we hear the doctrine that we advocate a works salvation by preaching on these Scriptures which clearly reference this. But I’m here to tell you that Jesus commands obedience, He commands His people to walk in the Spirit, He demands holiness of His Bride. Jesus died to save us and to make His people holy, Peter tells us to “be holy because He is holy.” The true Christian should wake daily and be filled with the Spirit and walk in the Spirit and let the Spirit guide them into holiness and obedience to the will of God, this should be the all encompassing goal of their life.