The New Life in Christ
Ephesians 4:17-32
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
We are not to do the things that unbelievers and sinners do, because as the Preacher, King Solomon said in Ecclesiastes..."Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. Apart from Christ thier lives are nothing more than vain attempts to satisfy the flesh , and fulfill their own lustful desires.
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
Their understanding is dark because the light of Christ is not in them, they are separated from God because they choose to ignore him. They are blind, unable to see beyobd their own selfishness.
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
They've lost all sensibility and conscience.They plot and scheme to commit all forms of immorality, and are filled with greed.
20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
You did not learn these things from the example of the life of Christ. We know better.
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
If its true that you have listened intently to his message, and have been taught by him, then you know that Jesus is the truth.
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Bartiameus was a blind beggar. He wore a beggars cape that identified him as a beggar. When he cried out to Jesus he got the Lord's attention. Jesus asked him to come but first Bartimaeus removed his cape. This is an act of faith because literally he was saying that he was no longer going to be the same blind beggar. This is a referance to the old sin nature which must be laid to rest.
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Romans 12:2; And be not conformed to this world: but be ye TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. We can't know what the will of God is unless our minds have been transformed. The reading and sudy of the Word of God combined with prayer is how we achieve this.
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
The new man is the Spiritual man which has been born-again by acceptance of Jesus Christ. Although salvation comes as a result of repentance and the forgiveness of sins we have the responsibility of maintaining our Spiritual lives, and allow the Holy spirit to further cleanse us and mold us into the image of Christ.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Jesus stated clearly that those that lie are children of the devil. 1 John 3:9; Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. Whoever continues to commit sin deliberately has not been born again.
27 Neither give place to the devil.
We should not be ignorant of satan's devices. He is the accuser and if we do the right thing we have nothing to worry about. When there are issues that need our immediate attention we need to take it to the Lord asap so that the enemy doesn't have a foothold. Most of the time we procrastinate though and then when things get out of hand we want God to handle it right away. We can't expect God to always get us out of the messes we get ourselves into.
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
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