Welcome to Timeless Truth with Pastor Jim Thomas. In season 1, Pastor Jim is leading us in a study of Ephesians. Today’s passage is Ephesians 4:17-24.
Paul artfully weaves together more indicatives and imperatives to teach us about walking and growing in Christian faith.
V17-19: Repentance is a change of heart/mind in which we make a two-fold turn. We stop walking in one direction and start walking in a new direction.
V20-21: “But you did not learn Christ in this way, if you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus.” Metaphor shifts from “walking” to “wardrobe.”
V22-24: Lay aside the old self – put on the new self
Notice the contrasts between the old self and new self:
- Futility (Gr: mataiotes = meaninglessness/useless/emptiness) vs truth
- Darkened/ignorance/hardened vs learn/heard/taught in Christ
- Excluded from life of God vs renewed in the spirit of your mind
- Corrupted vs new creation in likeness of God
- Deceived vs of the truth
- Sensuality/impurity/greediness vs righteousness/holiness/truth
Martin Luther’s definition of sin: Homo incurvatus in se = a human being curved in upon the self
“Jesus is a teacher who doesn’t just inform our intellect but forms our very loves. He isn’t content to simply deposit new ideas into your mind; he is after nothing less than your wants, your loves, your longings.”
– James K. A. Smith, You Are What You Love p. 2
Perhaps V23 is the secret: “that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind” Here is a total exchange of our thoughts and ideas for those of Christ; a total exchange of our attitudes for those of Christ.
Years of cultural influence from various entertainment industries and social media have numbed our minds, reshaped our hearts, and redirected our affections. We need to be reawakened and renewed by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
“We all want progress. But progress means getting nearer to the place where you want to be. And if you have taken a wrong turning, then to go forward does not get you any mirror. If you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; and in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.”
– C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
- Repent (lay aside)
- Believe (put on)
- Receive (be renewed)
- (Repeat)
