Ephesians, Chapter Four, Lesson Five WALKING IN TRUTH Ephesians 4:21-24 STIMULATE ** In our time together last week, we rejoiced in our privilege to be "Walking in Light" as the children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. However, we also learned, in point blank fashion, about the plight of the unsaved world around us. Do you recall how Paul described them in Ephesians 4:18? 1) "being darkened in their understanding" 2) "excluded from the life of God" 3) "ignorance that is in them" 4) "hardness of their heart" ** Realizing the tremendous need of the unsaved world, what effect has that had on your daily walk? It causes us to view our lives and especially the lives of those around us from an eternal perspective. We need to always "set [our minds] on the things above, not on the things that are on earth" (Colossians 3:2) MOTIVATE ** As we continue in this wonderful passage today the apostle Paul shows us our greatest treasure, second only to our personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Having "come to know" Him, we have been given the blessing of "Walking in Truth" everyday. What is the impact of that marvelous reality? For the answer, let's look together to what the Lord has for us in Ephesians 4:21-24. Read Passage (V.21-24) Beginning in verse 20... INVESTIGATE Walking in Truth V.21 ** What do you remember about verse 20 from last week regarding the expression "learn Christ"? This expression was an "aorist active indicative", indicating a one-time act at the moment of our salvation. "Learning" Christ was synonymous with "coming to know" Him through the miracle of regeneration and salvation by grace. cf. 1John 2:4 ** Throughout this epistle Paul has been repeatedly confirming the salvation of his readers, is he now questioning that salvation in verse 21? No, his statement is rhetorical and could be translated "since you have heard". Paul is writing to Christians (1:1 - 'to the saints...who are faithful in Christ Jesus) and is going to use the reality that they have heard to draw them into a specific pattern of walk or lifestyle. ** Notice that verse 21 says they had "heard Him" - did these Believers in Asia-minor all meet Jesus and hear Him personally? No - again, the vast majority would have never personally seen the face of our Lord, a fact that Peter refers to when discussing the value of saving faith. cf. 1Peter 1:7-9
** How then did they hear? This question needs to be answered on several levels. First of all: Romans 10:14-17 - They had "heard" through Paul's ministry of sharing the "good news" with a lost world. Acts 20:18-21 and 31 - Paul labored "with tears" for their souls to come to know the Truth. ** Ultimately though, Who does the non-christian hear and by Whom are they taught so as to be saved? God Himself! Remember your own salvation, God alone illumines the heart with His saving truth! cf John 8:47, 10:27, Acts 3:22-23, Hebrews 3:7-8 ** At the moment of our salvation, God confirms His truth in our hearts regarding the Person of His Son. Where does "the" Truth reside? "just as truth is in Jesus" ** Do you recall how our Lord described Himself relative to the truth? "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me". (John 14:6) cf. John 1:17 - Truth resides in Christ, is made manifest through Christ and is declared by Christ through the lives of those with whom He has a personal relationship. V.22 ** "Since" we have effectively heard the marvelous truth regarding salvation in Jesus Christ, what impact did coming to know Him have on our old way of life? "you lay aside the old self" ** What does that mean? Lit. - "to strip off", as in the case of removing and old filthy garment. cf. Colossians 3:8-9 This action is very much like that of verse 20, an aorist active indicative - we do this at the moment of our salvation in God granted repentance. cf. 2Timothy 2:25 ** Is that the end of the battle, do our clothes ever get dirty again? Absolutely they get dirty again, our sanctification is the process by which our Lord continually washes off the influence of the world around us. ** How does Paul describe the condition of our old self here in verse 22? It was constantly undergoing decay! Corrupted translates the word "phtheiro" which meant to destroy or spoil. cf. Ephesians 2:1 ** What was doing this? "in accordance with the lusts of deceit"
** Why would Paul be calling this sinful lust "the lust of deceit"? Fleshly lust, sinful passion only function in the area of deceit - it never appears as it truly is. cf. 2Corinthians 11:3 and Hebrews 3:13 ** Having "heard" the truth, and knowing that we now belong to the Lord Jesus Christ, should we ever enter into this kind of deceptive lifestyle, the very kind we lived in gladly before we were saved? God forbid - Romans 6:1-2, 1Peter 4:3 (last week) V.23 ** As you consider your life everyday in Christ, what part of your body controls what we say and do? Our minds! ** Is the Lord concerned about how we use our minds? Yes - that is why He has renewed "the spirit of [our] minds". See: Romans 12:2 - we are transformed by the renewing of our mind Titus 3:5 - the washing of regeneration Eph.5:25-26 - washing of water with the word 1Peter 1:13 - gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit 1Peter 4:7 - sound judgment and sober spirit 1Peter 5:8 - be of sober spirit, be on the alert Paul is saying that we have been renewed in the spirit of our mind for the purpose of using it in the process of life, committed to Christ in humble devotion; no longer corrupted or spoiled by this world. V.24 ** When we function in this fresh mindset, what drastic or radical change will become manifest to all who are around us? They will know that we have "put on the new self". ** Is that something we generate or create? NO - only God can do that. ** What will our new self resemble according to Paul? Our new self, "which in the likeness of God..." What an amazing statement, men should be able to see what Almighty God is like by looking at our new life in Christ! ** What two characteristics does Paul draw from to illustrate this portrait we are to paint with our new life before the watching world? We should manifest the "righteousness and holiness" of our Heavenly Father. That is in practice and position, we should be the same. ** Where do we find these two characteristics always residing? In "the truth".
** And from earlier today, Who is the Truth? Our beloved Lord Jesus Christ! ** Earlier in this letter (Ephesians 3:16) we saw the apostle praying for believers to be straightened by God in their inner man. When we are, we do reflect His righteousness and holiness to others around us, but what about old habits dying hard - what practical step can we take that would keep us "Walking in Truth" for the sake of Jesus' name? Please look with me for a moment at Romans 13:13-14 for the simple reality that can give us the daily victory for "Walking in Truth". 1) Behave properly - don't carouse, get drunk, get involved in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, do not enter into strife or jealousy. 2) Do "put on the Lord Jesus Christ" - wear Him as your garment of righteousness and holiness in a practical sense, as a deterrent to the temptation for feeding our sinful flesh and its deceptive lust. EXTRICATE ** Back in our passage for today, how does Paul address to position of a Christian with reference to his or her old way of life? We have (by God's grace) repented and laid it aside no longer following its deceptive demands. ** Having been renewed by the Holy Spirit, with the Word of God unto a new mindset, what likeness is our life to project? The "righteousness and holiness" of our God! DELINEATE ** For a Christian, what is bad about being a creature of habit? We can find ourselves acting in opposition to who we truly are! Our flesh is still sinful and wants us to continue in all of our old patterns of sinful habit. ** Likewise - as a Christian, what is good about being a creature of habit? We can learn and form new habits which are devoted to the glory of God and grow up into Christ. cf. Ephesians 4:15 EVALUATE ** Wanting to always be "Walking in Truth", what habits in my life do I need to eliminate? This question can only be answered as you personally examine your daily walk with the Lord. ** Given that same motive, what habits do I need to form that my life might better reflect the likeness of Him who died for my sin?
Again, this is between you the your Lord. But be sure to take the time to pray about this most important descision. ACTIVATE ** As we boldly ask our Father in heaven to keep us "Walking in Truth", we must be willing to allow Him to examine our hearts. Please prayerfully consider those two questions over this next week. Closing prayer