Studies In Ephesians: The Old And New Life Series

Note: This is a study through the book of Ephesians as done in 1995. One of the main sources I used at the time was Beacon Bible Commentary vol. 9.

Title: The Old and New Life

Text: Eph 4:17-32

Last Sunday Night we talked of Unity in the Spirit. How that God wants his church to be unified. To work together. Understanding there are no big "I's" or little "You's" in the church. All have a part we must find what it is and do it.

Paul in the next verses change the subject a little although it still deals with the church but less from a ministry and gift standpoint and more from a life standpoint. Now I believe that the gifts in the church is very important but they can be useless if the life is not lived. When Paul speaks of a Bishop to be one of good reputation he understood that without this people will not listen. He breaks it down into two areas. The Old Life and the New Life.

I believe that most of here today are not focused on the Old Life. We have already crossed that area now we are working on the New Life. A life that is beyond. So I want to briefly skim over the Old Life and look at the New.

17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, (a meaningless life)

18 Having the understanding darkened, (they don't have the illuminating of the Holy Spirit)

being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: {blindness: or, hardness}

19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

20 But ye have not so learned Christ;

21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: (They don't know Christ because if they did they they would have been taught by him and lived the life. The importance is to know Christ)

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (Philippians 3:9-10 AV)

I. Put off the Old Man

22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

We are told first of all to put off the old man. This is the way of the world. This is the old way. "former converstaion" is manner of life. All the past must be changed.

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. (Romans 6:6 AV)

So the old man is crucified with Christ. It should be dead.

II. Put on the New man

24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness (right conduct in relation to man) and true holiness (conduct distinctivly relating to God). {true...: or, holiness of truth}

New man is the Christian life with a divine life. Full of Christ.

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. (Romans 13:14 AV)

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: (Colossians 3:10 AV)

This happens because of a renewed mind as we read in verse 23

Notice that the new man begins in the spirit and in the mind.

23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

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. (Romans 12:2 AV)

All as a result of the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer.

III. Put Away all unreality

A) Lying

25 (1) Wherefore putting away lying,(falsehood) speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

We are to put off deceptive lying. This is lying straight up or just putting on a falsehood before others. Not just what we say but what we don't say. Being deceptive in all ways.

Notice the motivation for it is not to look good for the world but in love of the church and fellow believers. This is our motivation to do right.