Ephesians 4:20-24 says,...
Today's verses are Ephesians 4:20-24, which read,
But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
Paul spoke to us previously about the way we were. The list was given of the actions we were taking as we followed the wide road of Satan rather than the narrow path of God. Now Paul gives us the contrast because of the transformation that is happening within the life of the believer.
Three things have happened in this conversion. We have learned of Christ through a witness of Him; we have heard from Christ through His calling upon us; and we have been taught in Christ through His word. Because of these three things we lay aside the old self. The old self has been exposed as we have learned of and heard from and been taught in Christ. We see that the old self is corrupted in deceit.
God provides a new self to put on which reflects not deceit but the likeness of God. Us being able to obtain this or display this is the result of God creating righteousness and holiness through His Son on the cross, Jesus Christ. It is not of our doing but again of His.
Many speak of this conversion as being a heart decision. There is a tug at the heart, an emotion is stirred when you learn and hear and are taught of Christ. I have heard many say that some have "mind knowledge but not heart knowledge" about Jesus. I would like to say that it needs to go back the other way also. Our heart gets tugged at but our minds need to be dealt with on a daily basis. Our minds need to be renewed of the facts that have been given to us of the truth. Our minds need to be submitting to the Spirit's leading and not to the old sinful nature of the old man. As much as there needs to be a deep decision of the heart to see Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, there also needs to be a constant and continual mind transformation of that deep decision of the heart. Let's make sure that our heart and mind are connected on this so that they actually feed each other to display that likeness of God.
"Lord, what do I need to lay aside today that doesn't reflect You? What in my life still promotes the old self rather than the new self? What do I need to be reminded of today in my mind that my heart was pulled to when I learned of You and heard from You and was taught in You? May my mind and my heart both be focused and acting on You today. Amen."
Pastor Adam
But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
Paul spoke to us previously about the way we were. The list was given of the actions we were taking as we followed the wide road of Satan rather than the narrow path of God. Now Paul gives us the contrast because of the transformation that is happening within the life of the believer.
Three things have happened in this conversion. We have learned of Christ through a witness of Him; we have heard from Christ through His calling upon us; and we have been taught in Christ through His word. Because of these three things we lay aside the old self. The old self has been exposed as we have learned of and heard from and been taught in Christ. We see that the old self is corrupted in deceit.
God provides a new self to put on which reflects not deceit but the likeness of God. Us being able to obtain this or display this is the result of God creating righteousness and holiness through His Son on the cross, Jesus Christ. It is not of our doing but again of His.
Many speak of this conversion as being a heart decision. There is a tug at the heart, an emotion is stirred when you learn and hear and are taught of Christ. I have heard many say that some have "mind knowledge but not heart knowledge" about Jesus. I would like to say that it needs to go back the other way also. Our heart gets tugged at but our minds need to be dealt with on a daily basis. Our minds need to be renewed of the facts that have been given to us of the truth. Our minds need to be submitting to the Spirit's leading and not to the old sinful nature of the old man. As much as there needs to be a deep decision of the heart to see Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, there also needs to be a constant and continual mind transformation of that deep decision of the heart. Let's make sure that our heart and mind are connected on this so that they actually feed each other to display that likeness of God.
"Lord, what do I need to lay aside today that doesn't reflect You? What in my life still promotes the old self rather than the new self? What do I need to be reminded of today in my mind that my heart was pulled to when I learned of You and heard from You and was taught in You? May my mind and my heart both be focused and acting on You today. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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