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Be Renewed (Ephesians 4:17-24)

Scott Kercheville
04/17/16 - Sun AM

Series: Ephesians (Your Identity in Christ)

We were dead from following the sons of disobedience, but in Christ we have been made alive and joined to the family of God. Therefore, Paul is instructing us to walk worthy of our calling. After instructing us on the goals of our unity, Paul now turns in Ephesians 4:17-24 to begin addressing how the walk of the world is contrary to the worthy walk. Notice how Paul begins this section in verse 17. “Now this I testify and say in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do…” Feel the impact of these words. Paul is telling Gentiles to not walk like Gentiles. This is like telling Americans to not walk like Americans. We have been set apart and forgiven, but Paul tells us to not walk like Gentiles because we were Gentiles to the core and the Gentile-living we followed still surrounds us. How easy can it be to mindlessly return to thinking and walking like a Gentile or an American? But, “we must no longer walk as the Gentiles do…” In Ephesians 4:17-24 Paul describes the mindset and walk of Gentiles before reminding us of how, when we learned Christ, we were taught a very simple path to be re-created after the likeness of God.

• No Longer Walk As the Gentiles Do (4:17-19)

  • ​This walk is directed by a futile mindset, darkened understanding, and ignorance (17-18).

  • … ignorance comes from a hardened rejection of God’s ways (18).

  • … hard hearts come from giving ourselves up to sin and ignoring the pain it brings (19).

• Remember the Way You Learned Christ (4:20-24)

  • ​Put off the old self which is corrupt through deceitful desires (22).

  • Be renewed in the spirit of our minds (23).

  • Put on the new self, created after the righteousness of God (24)