This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:17-24
This instructional text we read today we find Paul giving very practical words of instruction and exhortation in how the believers newly converted perhaps, should be walking in the Lord. The Bible is first of all very practical. It won’t ever ask you to do anything beyond the help of God, and will give you very simple and basic instructions in how we ought to do things. So we are told, first of all, walk in a way that is fitting for a child of God. “Walk” expresses daily conduct and refers back to what Paul has said about the believer’s high calling in Christ Jesus (v.1). Meaning to walk worthy of this calling by God in your life, the believer must take his instruction from no where else but from God Himself. And because now you are placed in the body of Christ with other believers, it is important that we don’t revert back to our former ways of living after the flesh, but rather, rely on the indwelling Holy Spirit to help us to walk in the new life in Christ. Were told also not to walk as the Gentiles. That word is used for “heathen,” all the ungodly, unregenerate pagans who walk after the vanity of their mind or who are “empty headed,” because they have their understanding darkened, and are alienated from a life with God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart (v.v. 17-18). The unbeliever is spiritually separated from God, thus ignorant of God’s truth that is available to all mankind.
Being past feeling—Unbelievers are morally insensitive as they continue to live in their lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. Thus the outcome of their lives depicts their sexually impure acts that are results of their insensitivity of what God’s Word says about it, and their wanton lusts for more. Greed— Today the real problems of the world you can trace back to greed. The greed of man, all of the social ills come back to the greed of man. The exploitation of people come from the greed of wanting for myself.
But that is not what you have learned from Christ—As the truth is in Jesus, What did He teach? That we should love one another, even as I have loved you. He taught that love should be the motivating factor behind our lives and behind our actions. And that it should be others centered, not self centered. Too many Christians want to put self first, we talked about it in my last post, “Lord, let me first go and do such and such!”There is no individual kingdoms in the body of Christ, except God’s kingdom from which we yield, and submit to the edifying and building up of others in it, as we do it unto the Lord. Think about it. There are two motivating factors in this world today that move men. You are either motivated by love, or you are motivated by greed. The man apart from Christ is motivated by greed. He cannot ever seek to please God, when he has placed himself in the position to be like a god, with his life’s agenda is to have the most of ____ you fill in the blank. The world has suffered greatly by these kind of actions from powerful men in this life. But the man who is in Christ and is motivated by love for Him, you can see the results within the church, wherever they are who are following the truth that is in Jesus. It is definitely a glorious thing to see the body of Christ, a melting pot of all walks of life knitted together as one. One body in Christ, working together for the glory of God the Father, and for His Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and soon coming King. The truth about Jesus is the truth about salvation that leads to the fullness of truth about God, and man, about creation, and the history of life with it’s original meaning and right relationship standing with God. It also teaches about heaven, and hell, and eternal life, and eternal judgment. And anything else that is truly important for us to know as a Christian believer, and follower of Christ. All that God wants from us, is that we would become more and more dependent upon Him, and His Holy Spirit given unto us, to allow His working in our lives that will help us be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ.
Be renewed in the spirit of your mind—This is the way I am to walk now. After the new man, the new nature that is now in me, is that of Jesus Christ, in righteousness and holiness. The renewal of the mind in salvation brings not simply a renovation of character, but transformation of the old self to the new self. Which was created according to God. In Christ, the old self can now no longer exist as it had in the past, we don’t have to be bound by its former lusts, we can now walk in the newness of life that is patterned after Jesus Christ. And this is the will of God for us, that we no longer be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2).
Beloved friend—The Bible says: But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things that are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, that no flesh should glory in His presence (1 Corinthians 1:27-29).God so disdains human wisdom, pride and arrogance, by not ever allowing it as becoming a means of knowing Him, but also by choosing to save the lowly, the humble and contrite man who realizes I have no rights to insist that God save me. But come to God broken, humbled in spirit, realizing I have not kept His commandments, and indeed am a condemned sinner. He does not call many whom the world would call wise, mighty, and noble. God’s wisdom is revealed to the foolish, weak, and common man, those considered as nothing to the elite, who trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. So that God would clearly receive all the glory for His transformation of human lives, and so that we can used by Him to witness to others. This all starts after your conversion on a daily basis when you start your day. Get into His Word, pray in the power of His Spirit, and walk in the sweet fellowship with your Lord. Will you be used by the Lord today? It’s up to you.
May the Lord bless your walk with Him today!
