[Then, In Ephesians chapter four Paul declares, in essence,
as a result of these marvelous things here is what you should be.
He first declares to us that we should be a unified, caring and maturing
body of Christ. And now he declares
that we should live purified lives in Christ.
So, Just what does Paul say about a purified Christian life?]
A. You can be
Alienated From Life (vs 17-19)
1.
The Multitudes (vs 17; Matt 7.13-14)
["Walk not as other gentiles walk, in the
vanity of their minds,"]
[a. The other
gentiles.]
[b. Vanity -
mataiotes mat-ah-yot'-ace (gk) - 1) what is devoid of truth and appropriateness
2) perverseness, depravity 3) frailty, want of vigour]
[Matthew 7:13-14
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide
is the gate, and broad
is the way, that leadeth to
destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14Because
strait is the gate, and narrow
is the way, which leadeth unto
life, and few there be that find it. ]
2.
Their Mindset (vs 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:”
- Notice that these vain Gentiles
have:]
[a.
Darkened understanding - Lacking
light.]
[1) The Blind
leading the blind (Luke 6.39).]
[Luke 6:39
39
And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind?
shall they not both fall into the ditch? ]
[b.
Alienated lives - They are shut out
from life.]
[c.
Callused hearts - The Blindness of
their heart.]
[1)
Blindness - porosis po'-ro-sis (gk) -
1) the
covering with a callus 2) obtrusiveness of mental discernment, dulled
perception 3) the mind of one has been blunted]
3.
Their Malady (vs 19) [-
Who being past feeling have given
themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
- The cancer of their lives.]
[a. They are
calloused to spiritual conviction. - Past Feeling -
Their hearts are hardened.]
[1) Past
feeling - apalgeo ap-alg-eh'-o (gk) - 1) to cease to feel pain or grief
1a) to bear troubles with greater equanimity, cease to feel pain at 1b)
to become callous,
insensible to pain, apathetic]
[b. They are
consumed by their desires.]
[1)
Lasciviousness - aselgeia as-elg'-i-a (gk) -
1) unbridled lust,
excess, licentiousness, lasciviousness, wantonness, outrageousness,
shamelessness, insolence]
[c. They are
reckless in their works - work all uncleanness with greediness.]
B. You must
be Aligned by His presence (vs 20-24)
1.
The Sanctum of his presence (vs
20-21; John 14.16-17; 26)
["ye have heard Him, and have been taught
by Him"]
"Not to learn of Christ,
but to learn Christ."
[a. To hear the
living Savior (John 14.16-17).]
[John 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter,
that he may abide with you for ever;
17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive,
because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him;
for he dwelleth with
you, and shall be in you. ]
[b. To be taught
by God (John 14.26).]
[John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is
the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name,
he shall teach you all
things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said
unto you. ]
2.
Leads to the Surrender your life (vs
22; Rom 12.1) [-
"Put off concerning the former
conversation"]
[Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye
present your bodies a
living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,
which is your
reasonable service.
]
3.
Brings the Sanctification of your
mind (vs 23; Romans 12.2) [- “And be
renewed in the spirit of your mind;”]
[a. Renewed -
ananeoo an-an-neh-o'-o (gk)
Pres, Pass, Infinitive
- to renew]
[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. ]
4.
Results in the Similitude of your
Father (vs 24; Rom 12.2; 1 Pet 1.15-16) [-
"Put on . . . after God"]
[a. Like father,
like son.]
[b. In
righteousness]
[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. ]
[c. Holiness (1
Pet 1.15-16).]
[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. ]
[1 Peter 1:15-16 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of
conversation; 16Because
it is written, Be ye
holy; for I am holy. ]
C. You will
be Alive by His Spirit (vs 30, 25-32) [Seven things will mark a Spiritual
Christian. You will be:]
1.
Distinct in your integrity (vs 25) [- “Wherefore
putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members
one of another.” - Integrity speaks of wholeness]
[a. His honesty
- He will speak the truth. He will
be trustworthy.]
[b. His
fellowship - He is a part of the whole.]
2.
Disciplined in your emotions (vs 26) [–
“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:”]
[a. He will have
his emotions - be ye angry.]
[b. He will
control his emotions - and sin not.]
[c. He will care
for his emotion - Let not the sun go down upon your wrath.]
3.
Discerning in your spirit (vs 27; 1 John 4.1) –
“Neither give place to the devil.”
[1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are
of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. ]
4.
Discrete in your sufficiency (vs 28; 2 Thess 3.10,12) [-
“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.” - providing
for himself and others.]
[2 Thes. 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you,
that if any would not
work, neither should he eat. ]
[2 Thes. 3:12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ,
that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. ]
[2 Thes. 3:13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.]
5.
Determined in your conversation (vs 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.
- Christian communication.]
[a. Edifying.]
[b. Minister
grace to the hearers.]
6.
Directed in your heart (vs 30; Gal 5.25,16) [-
“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God,
whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” - grieve not the Holy
Spirit.]
[Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ]
[Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk
in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. ]
["A Christian who refuses to be
submissive to the Holy Spirit risks becoming calloused to His
direction."]
7.
Diligent in your relationships (vs 32) –
“And be ye kind one to another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath
forgiven you.”
[a. Kind]
[b.
Tenderhearted]
[c. Forgiving]
CrossRoads Baptist
Church, 19 August 2007
