To Be Made New: What does it mean to “put off your old self” and “put on the new self?” This hopeful calling is about experiencing the whole-life transformation God envisions for you. No longer having to follow our emotions and desires alone, anyone can learn this new way of life according to the truth that is in Jesus. Recorded on Jun 23, 2024, on Ephesians 4:17-32 by Pastor David Parks.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 31:04 — 71.1MB) | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Email | RSS
Our series, Ephesians: The Gospel in Life, serves as an epilogue to Finding Life in Jesus’ Name from John’s gospel. The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians reveals much about how the life found by faith in Jesus actually works. This series will touch on themes of grace, identity, purpose, family, the church, spiritual warfare, and more. If you’re considering the life of Jesus or if you’re ready to follow him today, this series is for you.
Sermon Transcript
We’ve been working through Paul’s letter to the Ephesians in a sermon series called The Gospel in Life. And today, as we finish Chapter 4, we’re going to consider the call of the Christian life to put off the old self and “to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” I remember when our kids were little. Some of you have little ones here today. Two out of our three kids are adults now. But when they were little, I could never really picture how they would be when they were all grown up. I could only ever picture the next phase of their life. When they were in preschool, I could picture them in second or third grade but not high school. As a parent, I had certain things I hoped they’d have in their future, but I just couldn’t really envision them in that future. But then they’d go from preschool to second or third grade, and by then, I could start to picture them in fifth or sixth grade…or even in middle school. But here’s the thing: my kids were going to learn/grow/change; they were going to be transformed as they grew up, whether I could picture it or not. And it turned out to be more than ok. I love the young adults they are today and am excited about their future, whatever it’ll look like. In our passage today, I hope you’ll see that you have a Father in heaven who has a vision for your future. But unlike me, he can see the end from the beginning. And his vision for your life is a vision of transformation for every part of your life. If you have your Bible/app, please take it and open it to Eph 4:17. We’ll read through this text and unpack it as we go.
Ephesians 4:17–19 (NIV), “17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.” The first half of Ephesians is more on what the gospel is. The second half focuses more on what the gospel does or (to use his language) what it looks like to walk in a manner worthy of the calling they’ve received in Christ. Here, Paul starts by looking back at where his mostly Gentile friends in Ephesus came from before they became Christians. He says, “…you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.” Now, remember that most people in his audience are Gentiles. But Paul isn’t cutting them down here. He’s been clear that everyone, Jews and Gentiles, were on the same sinking ship, and both groups needed a savior in Jesus. What he is saying is that apart from Christ and the power of his Spirit, the life of unbelieving Gentiles flowed out of a futility or an emptiness in their ways of thinking. Again, this isn’t meant as an insult. He says they were darkened in their understanding of reality because they were separated from God. He’s not saying they’re not smart, he’s saying their hearts were hardened toward God. They weren’t looking to learn about who God is or how he might want them to live. They weren’t concerned about him at all. But, and this is so insightful of Paul, if you reject a belief in a transcendent God who provides a transcendent/objective definition of good/evil, right/wrong, you still need to come up with some way of determining how to walk through life — how to make decisions, how to establish/live out your values, and how to deal with people who may or may not share your values or ethics in life. So the worldly way loses God, along with the wisdom and direction of his word and his way, but still needs some sort of compass to direct their life. So, what’s their compass? Paul says, “Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity…” without any limit to their desires. Apart from God, the only way to determine how to walk through life would be according to the desires of your heart. What do you want/desire? Who/what are you attracted to? What do you think will make you happy? However you answer those questions will determine your values/aim/ethics. But here’s the problem: the desires/attractions of our hearts, including even the things we think will make us happy, are unreliable for at least three reasons. First of all, we’re limited in knowledge and maturity, so what are the chances we’ll be able to navigate the difficult terrain of this broken world well, based only on how we feel? Probably not good. But, second (sadly), sometimes what we desire is not just unwise, but is extremely destructive to ourselves or others. Remember the Fall in Genesis 3? “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” (Ge 3:6). Listening to Satan and eating the forbidden fruit seemed like a good idea. It seemed like it would be helpful and good — but it ruined everything. So some of our desires are destructive, but the problem is it’s not always obvious to us which desires are helpful and which are harmful. As if this wasn’t complicated enough, third, Paul mentions that sin is blinding — or, to use the language from this passage, sin is desensitizing. Apart from God, not only can people not clearly see where to walk or what dangers they should avoid in life, but they’ve lost sensitivity — they can’t accurately feel right from wrong. Now, this is almost a 2,000-year-old letter. But doesn’t this describe our world/culture today? How many people today are chasing all sorts of things based on their feelings/desires/attractions, things they think will make them happy, only to find that they fall far short of a life of love, joy, and peace? All of this agrees with what the Prophet Jeremiah wrote some 2,700 years ago, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jer 17:9). But if this is true, then we need something/someone outside ourselves to be our compass and help us know how to walk through life. We need a savior. We need Jesus!
Ephesians 4:20-24 (NIV), “20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” So Paul compares the ways of the world to the way of Jesus. He compares their life BC (before Christ) with the life they learned when they “heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.” And remember, we’re not Christians because we’re better/smarter/more deserving than other people. We’re Christians by the grace of God and through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Our life BC was just as darkened as any unbeliever. It was only when we accepted the light of the world, when we saw/believed that Jesus is the only way and the truth and the life, that we’re now able to see what is real/true, that we’re no longer separated from God, that we’re able to grow in the sensitivity/discernment of our hearts, and we can learn to live a life worthy of the calling we have received. Paul uses an analogy of clothing to describe this change. “…to put off your old self,” like you’d take off a dirty old smelly coat with holes worn in the elbows and seems coming apart, “which,” he says, “is being corrupted [spoiled/ruined] by its deceitful desires.” And “to put on the new self,” like you’d put on a brand-new coat, “created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” This is who you were created to be: righteous and holy. Of course, it’s true that God loves us just how we are today. But God loves us too much to leave us as we are today. So many of us (maybe all of us) have far too small a vision for our own lives. We hope to be made a little better or we hope things will be a little easier for us in the future. But our Father in heaven has a vision for us and for our lives that is as high as the courts of heaven. His original vision for humanity is that we would be made in the image and likeness of God. This, of course, has been corrupted by sin, but he still has this vision for his children, not just that we or our lives might be a bit better. But that we would become fully righteous as he is righteous and perfectly holy as he is holy. But…how? How does this whole-life transformation happen? Look back at v. 23. “…to be made new in the attitude of your minds.” This is how we put on the new self. This is the same thought as Romans 12:2 (NIV), “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” The transformation that is possible in the Christian life comes first from the outside in and then from the inside out. It comes first from the outside in by hearing and believing the truth of the gospel — of who God is, what he has done and is doing through his Son and Spirit, and everything God has promised for our future in Christ. It comes from the outside in by being “taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.” He becomes our compass and our way. But then, it comes from the inside out as our minds are renewed (made new). As more and more of our thoughts no longer conform to the pattern of this broken world but are transformed by God’s word and his way, then more and more of our decisions, values, ethics, and the aim of our lives come into alignment with the truth. As this happens, we not only grow in our ability to test/approve, to understand/discern what God’s will is in every part of life, but to be able to live out God’s will in every part of life. This inner renewal of the gospel leads to a dramatically new direction in life. But what does this actually look like? What would it look like to put off the old self and put on the new self? What would it look like for this cosmic gospel and the grace of God and our union with Christ to shape/transform everything? I’m glad you asked. This is really what Paul spends the rest of his letter explaining.
Ephesians 4:25-28 (NIV), “25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.” The gospel changes how we treat other people. Jesus changes how we treat other people. How? Paul gives five examples with the first three here. Let’s briefly consider these examples. First, we must be honest and truthful with other people. “…each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor.” It’s so tempting to twist/exaggerate the truth so that it makes ourselves, our work, or our kids look better. But this is not right. It can even be tempting to hold on to thoughts we know are false. But this never helps anyone. As we saw last week, the truth must always be tempered with love. But we must never think we’re loving people by withholding the truth from our neighbor. The way of Jesus is the way of truth. Second, Paul quotes Psalm 4, saying, “In your anger do not sin.” Our God is slow to anger, but he does get angry. So it’s possible to be angry and not sin. But given the old self, given our flesh, and given this broken world we live in, it’s incredibly difficult to be angry and keep from sinning. When we’re hungry, tired, discouraged, and yes, when we’re angry, we’re more vulnerable to temptation to sin. So, we must not let anger, even righteous anger, go unaddressed or ignored for long. This is what “Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” means. If we let anger linger or if we let it spiral with no self-control, it gives the devil a foothold; it can give the devil space in our lives to tempt us to resolve our anger through worldly means. Paul comes back to the theme of spiritual warfare in Chapter 6, so for now, we’ll keep moving. The way of Jesus is the way of finding healthy ways of dealing with all our negative emotions, including our anger. Third, Paul writes, “Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.” Passages like this make me wonder if Paul had anyone in particular in mind when he wrote this. Anyone who has been stealing (Karl) must steal no longer. I guess he doesn’t call anyone out here. But this speaks not only to the kind of people God is transforming us to be: hardworking so as not to be reliant on others if possible (of course this is not always possible). To be generous people willing to share with people in need. But also, to the kind of people who are in the church — former thieves/criminals. Isn’t that amazing? Isn’t that a hopeful vision for change? There’s hope for anyone in Jesus! The way of Jesus is the way of being productive and generous. Let’s continue.
Ephesians 4:29-30 (NIV), “29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” So, first, tell the truth; second, be careful with your anger; third, work hard and be willing to share with those in need. Fourth (I love this one), watch your mouth. As a preacher, I’ve been preaching this one to myself all week. We should only share “what is helpful for building others up according to their needs.” Unwholesome talk, including gossip, slander, and swearing, might make you popular, but it’s not beneficial/helpful for anyone. Jesus said, “But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.” (Mt 12:36). The way of Jesus is the way of building others up in how we speak to them. Finally, fifth, “…do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Christians have been filled with the Holy Spirit, the personal power, and the presence of God. God will not withdraw his Spirit from his children. But we should be careful not to grieve the Spirit within us through thoughtlessly or carelessly running after the things of this world or rejecting God’s word over our lives. I know there were times in my life when I just wanted to do what I wanted to do, regardless of what I knew to be true in God’s word. I think I was still a Christian during those times, but I also think I caused the Spirit much grief. Of course, it’s not like my life was awesome when I lived in that foolish and selfish way. But the way of Jesus is the way of being sensitive to the Spirit and being willing to follow his leading in our lives.
Ephesians 4:31–32 (NIV), “31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” This is God’s word. Paul ends with a great summary of old self and the new self. But this calling to renewal, to transformation, is really what the vision for our church is all about — that the gospel of Jesus Christ will transform the people of the city in every way. This is the vision that your Father in heaven has for you and for your future. This is the work that he is doing in your life. But also, we are graciously invited to join him in his work. To put off the old self and put on the new self day by day. The self that is slowly but surely being transformed into the likeness of Christ. May we be people who never lose sight of what he is doing or where he is leading. And may we be a church that never tires of helping people find and follow the way of Jesus for his glory and for our joy.