STRONGER-Part 12-AFTER THE SERMON
We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or to be used for a sermon group discussion. CLICK HERE to find a discussion group. Enjoy!
Sermon Title: THE BASICS OF CHRISTIAN LIVING
Main Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-32
If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week consider taking the time to read the provided scripture to catch everyone up!
Check out this overview of the entire book, especially the first chapters of Ephesians to better understand the depth of Ephesians 1 Ephesians Overview
Summary:
With every new journey, there is the season of learning the new. When we start new in the family of God there are new patterns or ways of living, new thoughts, and a fresh perspective on life. When the light of Christ comes into your life you see this world, your life, and your daily living in a different way. With those changes comes a moment where you realize your desires become more like Christ’s and less like the world. You also discover you’re not the same, you're not the way you used to be. While you have a new identity in Christ, saved, forgiven, and holy in God’s eyes, you have some old thoughts and old habits that need to be forsaken, removed in the process. Warren Wiersbe says, “we go from grave clothes to grace clothes.” Paul the apostle likes to say in his letters, old man to new man or sinful nature to new nature. In our scripture today, Paul introduces the early stages of a new believer, a newborn, a new creation in Christ, and how we ought to live. The first thing Paul focuses on is who we are no longer like. Then Paul teaches explains we have a new nature. Lastly, Paul teaches what we are meant to actively become and actively throw away. We leave our old nature behind as we pursue our new nature...our new life in Christ. It’s key that we understand that at salvation we have a new identity, we are a child of God or a new creation in Christ. This would mean that we intentionally pursue who we are created to be and as we do we remove our old nature or “grave clothes.”
Pastor Ryan’s teaching notes:
17 With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.
The condition of these unsaved gentiles was bleak. Why would we want to go back or be like that? This is not a us versus them scripture. Paul is warning the church not to live like that any longer. We should be compassionate for people in this state and want to help pull them out.
Paul insists that the church no longer lives as the unsaved gentiles and Paul lists good reasons not to...
“Hardening” (porosis) describes a state of petrification. It is used medically to denote the callus formed when a bone has been fractured and reset. Such a callus is even harder than the bone itself. This dreadful porosis has affected the very hearts of the pagans.
No sense of shame. People like this have “lost all sensitivity (apelgekotes). They can no longer respond to moral stimuli. Their consciences are so atrophied that sin registers no stab of pain.
“Their minds are darkened so that they cannot think straight about spiritual matters.” -Wiersbe
1 Corinthians 2:10-16)
Christians are the minority and even more so depending on where you work and live.
The Christian cannot pattern himself after the unsaved person, because the Christian has experienced a miracle of being raised from the dead spiritually. The Christian’s mind is filled with the light of God’s Word and His heart with the life of Christ through the Spirit. He gives his body, his life to God as an instrument of righteousness and not to sin for the satisfaction of his own selfish lusts. That’s why Paul says, walk not like the unsaved Gentiles.
Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:15 we no longer live for ourselves but live for Christ.
We are not preoccupied with the aspirations of this world or the lust and desires of the flesh, we are preoccupied with doing the Lord’s will! That’s the sign of redeemed life that lives in the light!
20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
The words learned here have to do with what was heard from the preaching of the gospel and from being discipled.
A believer at conversion has “put off the old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires.” This change occurs through a faith identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection, as testified to in the waters of baptism (Romans 6:2-7; Colossians 3:9-10).
V. 22 Lay aside the costume of their unregenerate selves. In other words, lay aside who you once were before Christ, you’re no longer an unsaved person, so be who you truly are and quit acting like your old self!
V. 23 Instead of being subject to progressive deterioration, they were to be perpetually renovated in mind and spirit. To be made new in the attitude of your minds can only take place under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
V. 24 It is not the former nature refurbished, better or improved, but a totally new creation. “To be like God,” as mankind was at first in the beginning. It is to die and be buried in order that a whole new life can emerge. In God’s order death comes before life and crucifixion comes before the resurrection. 2 Corinthians 5:17
In the NT “righteousness” often stands for right living, especially our duty to other people. Holiness refers to observing our duty with God but here it means “free from contamination.”
25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.”Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
God is truth so the church should reflect truth and honesty.
Falsehood and lies are works of the enemy to undermine the unity of the Spirit in Christ’s body and therefore, must not be permitted in the church fellowship.
“Fellowship is built on trust, and trust is built on truth. So falsehood undermines fellowship, while truth strengthens it.” John Stott
Do not sin through anger. “Anger is neither commanded nor prohibited, but this is commanded, not to permit sin to enter into anger.” -J.A. Bengel
Under the mosaic law, all debts were to be returned and all wages paid before sunset (Deut 24:13,15).
Anger that lasts and is not dealt with gives an opportunity of fostering the spirit of pride and hatred, even aggression and retaliation. The devil will see this as an opportunity, like leaving a door propped open or a window open to come in and add fuel to the fire. If the devil came to steal, kill and destroy, wouldn’t he be looking for weak places at the home of our hearts to break in, stir up and fuel the flame we haven’t dealt with yet?
28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
“Christians are to work for their own living. More than that, they are to work to be able to give to those in need. The Christian motive for earning is not merely to have enough for oneself and one’s own, and then perhaps for comforts and luxuries, but to have in order to give to the needy. The Christian philosophy of labor is thus lifted far above the thought of what is right or fair in the economic field; it is lifted to the place where there is no room for selfishness or the motive of personal profit at all. Giving becomes the motive for getting.” Tyndale NT Commentaries, pg. 142, Ephesians.
Paul is referring to those who have chosen not to earn their wages and steal them instead. Paul is speaking to those capable of working. The purpose to be generous so this counters greed.
V. 29 Do not let foul or unwholesome language (sapros) means rotten and worthless. It is a talk that is rotten that spreads rottenness like bad fruit in a basket. It’s ultimately worthless and is not edible. Words that are edifying, nurturing, or wholesome for building up the body. Superficial talk brings no life, it’s just talk. Unwholesome talk is rotten and hurts. Wholesome, life-giving words are what we are called to speak to one another.
30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
All of the sinful actions above that we have read grieve the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
How and when do we grieve the Holy Spirit? “When his work is obstructed, when sin is trifled with, when Deity is treated carelessly, when place is given to the devil, when the spirit of the world is cherished...To grieve the Spirit is to help to obliterate the seal, and thus weaken the evidence of our redemption.” -Pulpit Commentary
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Bitterness is a resentful spirit that refuses reconciliation. Slander is abusive speech that seeks to defame and destroy the reputation of another.
Instead, be to others what God has been to us: Kind, tender, and forgiving.
Get rid of your grave clothes and live in your grace clothes.
How do we get rid of our grave clothes and live in our grace clothes?
Ephesians 4:20-24 20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
Don’t look back (17-19).
There’s nothing in our old sinful lives that deserve our attention and adoration. Don’t give it value with your focus. Repentance can create a crisis in your life depending on how entangled you are in sin or how dependent you are of that thing or person you are repenting of. Repentance is one of the hardest things you will do because turning away from something that is evil or sinful can leave a hole in your life. It’s hard to turn away and it creates a hole because you love it, or have grown comfortable with it in your life but now you are giving it up for God. Not to mention the spiritual warfare you will face and the community of people who will come to discourage you. But Jesus is there to fill that hole and so is our church.
Look toward Jesus and learn more from Him (20-21).
Have the mind of Christ
Follow the Holy Spirit as He convicts and guides you through the Word (23).
Live the new life of Christ because you are new through Christ (24).
You can put on the new nature, you can live who you are in Christ because you have the Spirit and mind of Christ to produce Christlike behavior.
You can live like Jesus, a lover of God, and love others.
You are new so live new.
Takeaways:
“Their minds are darkened so that they cannot think straight about spiritual matters.” -Wiersbe
Lay aside the costume of their unregenerate selves. In other words, lay aside who you once were before Christ, you’re no longer an unsaved person, so be who you truly are and quit acting like your old self!
To be made new in the attitude of your minds can only take place under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
It is not the former nature refurbished, better or improved, but a totally new creation. “To be like God,” as mankind was at first in the beginning.
“Fellowship is built on trust, and trust is built on truth. So falsehood undermines fellowship, while truth strengthens it.” John Stott
Get rid of your grave clothes and live in your grace clothes.
Discussion:
What was one big takeaway for you from today’s message?
What something new you learned, today?
What scripture verse stuck out to you and why?
What did you sense the Holy Spirit was saying to you during this message?
Do you remember your first year as a saved child of God? What were some old ways of living that you quit doing?
How do we put on our new nature? What happens to your old nature when you put on the new nature?
What does our new nature look like? How can we tell we are living in grace clothes instead of grave clothes?
The most important decision you will ever make!
Are you ready to experience salvation and be transformed we encourage you to say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I see my sin and how wrong it is. I see how without Jesus I’m lost. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Thank you for saving me from my sin, my past, this world, and your judgment. I repent, I turn away from that life and I put my faith and life in Jesus! Amen!
We would love to know if you made the decision to accept this wonderful gift from God. Let us know!
Pray Together
We hoped you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!