Walk As a New Person in Christ

London businessman Lindsay Clegg told the story of a warehouse property he was selling. The building had been empty for months and needed repairs. Vandals had damaged the doors, smashed the windows, and strewn trash around the interior. As he showed a prospective buyer the p … More

Renovation

The Ephesian believers were Gentiles. Paul tells them to make a clean break with their old ways of life and stop living by the standards of the unsaved people around them (v. 17). These pagan Gentiles had given themselves to a lifestyle without any personal standards. Their minds have been clouded by all types of impurity to the point that they are unable to distinguish between right and wrong (v. 18). Their conscience is not functioning, and there is no hatred of sin and no love for Christ (v. 19).

In contrast to this pagan life, Christ teaches men to renounce sin and cultivate holiness and virtue. The phrase, “But ye have not so learned Christ” (v. 20) does not say “learned about Christ.” It is possible to learn about Christ and still not be saved. To “learn Christ” means to have a personal relationship with Christ so that you get to know Him better each day. I can learn about Abraham Lincoln because I can secure many books about his life. But I can never “learn him” because he is dead.

Christ is alive so I can “learn Christ” through a personal relationship with Him. This relationship is based on Bible study (II Tim. 2:15) and prayer. The better we understand the Word of God, the better we will know the Son of God. He is the truth, and you heard about him and learned about him (v. 21). You were told that your foolish desires will destroy you and that you must give up your old way of life with all its bad habits (v. 22).

Application

My old way of life before I was saved should be completely in the past. I should put it behind me like old clothes to be thrown away. I am not to be driven by desire and impulse.

Ephesians 4:17-22 (English Standard Version)


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