INTRODUCTION:
The Christian life is set before us by the Apostle Paul in Ephesian 4:17-32. So far we
have discovered some essentials to living the Christian life in verses 17-24. We have
taken particular notice of Paul’s command for us to be “Absolutely Distinct” from our
former life, and this distinction was based on some “Clear Instruction” that the
Ephesian believers received when they were being introduced to Christ. Tonight we
have come to part 3 of this message and we will consider verse 24 which tells us to
“put on the new man which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness
and holiness of the truth”
Half an hour is by no means time enough to unpack this loaded verse, so we will
perhaps take it in parts, because we have to get at it because so much of the
Christian Life depends on our understanding of it. We will go as far as we can tonight
then we will pick up next time.
We said last time that verse 23 was lodged between verses 22 and 24 rather
strategically, in that the accomplishment of 22 and 24 hinged on 23. The old man
could not be put off and the new man could not be put on until we have been
“renewed in the spirit of our minds”. This is necessary because the most devastating
effect of the fall was that the spirit of the mind went wrong.
When man listened to Satan, he put himself under his power and passed under
his dominion, cf. Acts 26:18; Colossians 1:13. So the power that controls and
directs the abilities of the mind needs constant renewal. This renewal is essential to
living the Christian life. Even though it is something that God is doing, we are
expected not to hinder or frustrate this work in our lives.
The renewal of the spirit of the mind enables us to put off the old man and put on the
new. What is this putting off and putting on?
It is the practice of believers only.
These two things happen simultaneously. They must never be attempted in
isolation of each other.
To put off the old man in isolation of putting on the new man has often led to
devastating self examination, morbid introspection and often spiritual depression; it
has led to a constant looking at the self outside of a view of the cross.
Paul’s writings display a balance, cf. 2 Corinthians 4:8-12.
Christianity means a balanced life; we must be aware of concentrating wholly on
the negative.
We must be aware of concentrating wholly on the positive as well. This has led to
what is called “antinomianism”; a life which does not consider the necessity of leaving
off with sin, a disregard to the law of God.
Attempting to put on the new man in isolation of putting off the old man cannot go
on too long, cf. 2 Corinthians 6:14.
The negative and the positive are always to be done simultaneously and this is the
activity of the man who has truly received the renewal of the spirit of the mind.
The putting off of the old man can be stated in these terms; “stop being what you
are not” i.e. the man who acts like a baby.
The chief reason for putting off the old man is because of the nature and
character of the old man:
1. First he is old i.e. The old self is the unconverted nature and it is worn out and
useless,
2. "which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit”, The old self of the
unbeliever not only is corrupt but is increasingly being corrupted (present passive),
because it is the tool for evil desire which is controlled by deceit (cf. 2:1-3). The
gospel invitation is to lay the old self aside in repentance from sin that includes not
just sorrow about sin but a turning from sin to God.
The inescapable conclusion is that salvation is a spiritual union with Jesus Christ in
His death and resurrection that can also be described as the death of the “old self”
and the resurrection of the “new self,” who now walks in “newness of life”, cf.
Colossians 3:5-10; Hebrews 12:1; James 1:21; 1 Peter 2:1. This union and new
identity clearly means that salvation is transformation. It is not the addition of a new
self to an old self. In Christ, the old self no longer exists (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:17).
That is what the Ephesians heard and were taught according to the truth in Jesus
(4:21).
So this is stage one if you will and is only one side of this Christian Life, MAY GOD
BY HIS GRACE HELP US TO GIVE APPROPRIATE ATTENTION TO THE LAYING
ASIDE OF THE OLD MAN AS WE PUT ON THE NEW.
The Christian life is set before us by the Apostle Paul in Ephesian 4:17-32. So far we
have discovered some essentials to living the Christian life in verses 17-24. We have
taken particular notice of Paul’s command for us to be “Absolutely Distinct” from our
former life, and this distinction was based on some “Clear Instruction” that the
Ephesian believers received when they were being introduced to Christ. Tonight we
have come to part 3 of this message and we will consider verse 24 which tells us to
“put on the new man which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness
and holiness of the truth”
Half an hour is by no means time enough to unpack this loaded verse, so we will
perhaps take it in parts, because we have to get at it because so much of the
Christian Life depends on our understanding of it. We will go as far as we can tonight
then we will pick up next time.
We said last time that verse 23 was lodged between verses 22 and 24 rather
strategically, in that the accomplishment of 22 and 24 hinged on 23. The old man
could not be put off and the new man could not be put on until we have been
“renewed in the spirit of our minds”. This is necessary because the most devastating
effect of the fall was that the spirit of the mind went wrong.
When man listened to Satan, he put himself under his power and passed under
his dominion, cf. Acts 26:18; Colossians 1:13. So the power that controls and
directs the abilities of the mind needs constant renewal. This renewal is essential to
living the Christian life. Even though it is something that God is doing, we are
expected not to hinder or frustrate this work in our lives.
The renewal of the spirit of the mind enables us to put off the old man and put on the
new. What is this putting off and putting on?
It is the practice of believers only.
These two things happen simultaneously. They must never be attempted in
isolation of each other.
To put off the old man in isolation of putting on the new man has often led to
devastating self examination, morbid introspection and often spiritual depression; it
has led to a constant looking at the self outside of a view of the cross.
Paul’s writings display a balance, cf. 2 Corinthians 4:8-12.
Christianity means a balanced life; we must be aware of concentrating wholly on
the negative.
We must be aware of concentrating wholly on the positive as well. This has led to
what is called “antinomianism”; a life which does not consider the necessity of leaving
off with sin, a disregard to the law of God.
Attempting to put on the new man in isolation of putting off the old man cannot go
on too long, cf. 2 Corinthians 6:14.
The negative and the positive are always to be done simultaneously and this is the
activity of the man who has truly received the renewal of the spirit of the mind.
The putting off of the old man can be stated in these terms; “stop being what you
are not” i.e. the man who acts like a baby.
The chief reason for putting off the old man is because of the nature and
character of the old man:
1. First he is old i.e. The old self is the unconverted nature and it is worn out and
useless,
2. "which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit”, The old self of the
unbeliever not only is corrupt but is increasingly being corrupted (present passive),
because it is the tool for evil desire which is controlled by deceit (cf. 2:1-3). The
gospel invitation is to lay the old self aside in repentance from sin that includes not
just sorrow about sin but a turning from sin to God.
The inescapable conclusion is that salvation is a spiritual union with Jesus Christ in
His death and resurrection that can also be described as the death of the “old self”
and the resurrection of the “new self,” who now walks in “newness of life”, cf.
Colossians 3:5-10; Hebrews 12:1; James 1:21; 1 Peter 2:1. This union and new
identity clearly means that salvation is transformation. It is not the addition of a new
self to an old self. In Christ, the old self no longer exists (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:17).
That is what the Ephesians heard and were taught according to the truth in Jesus
(4:21).
So this is stage one if you will and is only one side of this Christian Life, MAY GOD
BY HIS GRACE HELP US TO GIVE APPROPRIATE ATTENTION TO THE LAYING
ASIDE OF THE OLD MAN AS WE PUT ON THE NEW.
| Sunday Evening, May 20, 2007 Sermon Outline "The Christian Life" Series THE NEW CREATION Ephesians 4:17-24 |
New Life Fellowship Church
Ephesians 4:17-24
Ephesians 4:17-24
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