Ephesians 4:17-24 New American Standard Bible
The Christian’s Walk
17 So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, that you are to no longer walk just as the [a]Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their minds, 18 being darkened in their understanding, [b]excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; 19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves up to indecent behavior [c]for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid yourselves of the old [d]self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you are to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new [e]self, which [f]in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
There comes a time when carrying the luggage of our old life just weighs too much.
I remember more than just a few seasons where I kept rehearsing past failures, clinging to shame like a heavy coat in summer. I knew God was calling me to move forward, but it felt safer to stay in the familiar—even if it was painful.
Ephesians 4:22-24 hits a grand slam here. Paul reminds us that the old self—the habits, thought patterns, and lies we’ve believed—must be put off.
Like clothing that doesn’t fit anymore, or has a multitude of holes in the back and front, we are meant to take it off so we can live in the freedom God offers.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6 New American Standard Bible
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage battle according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but [a]divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 6 and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.
Letting go is not always a dramatic or hallelujah moment. Sometimes it’s just quiet and deliberate. It includes choosing not to respond the way we used to.
It means surrendering a mindset that has held us captive.
It involves refusing to let guilt define us when grace is freely offered.
We can’t fully embrace the new if we are still clinging to the old.
What is God inviting you to release today? Whatever it is, trust that his grace is enough to carry you forward.
As a believer in Christ we are to kiss our old selves good bye and say hello to a new life. It is important to see that the structure of these verses goes like this:
Say goodbye to the old self, RENEWAL IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MINDS, then put on the new self.
The new self is covered and full of God, which also includes living out His righteousness and holiness.
However, it is important that we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior so that we can have a renewal of our minds in order for the new self to be lived.
Paul said that to walk as the Gentiles walk is to walk after the old ways of the flesh (self) instead of the new way of the spirit.
It’s living in response to the natural world (what we see, hear, and touch). The futility of their mind ruled them. (Futility (mataiotes) means vain, empty, and devoid of truth.) It is a disillusioned and disconnected way of thinking and living.
The natural life is devoid of the truth of God.
The natural mind can only process what is in the natural world- feelings, experiences, self-will, etc.
It is like trying to make a meal in a dark room; the utensils, food, and oven are there, but all you have are instincts and self-will, but no direction because of the darkness.
You drop the knife on the floor, but it slipped under a cabinet; the oven is gas and requires a match but you don’t know where the matches are stored.
While you search for the matches, you realize the room is beginning to have a sick-sweet smell.
The gas had been left on too long, and the room was a ticking bomb; one light of the match and all would be lost.
This is what it is like to live in the futility and darkness of the mind.
When one lives based on feelings and self-will, all they have is their own smarts to get them by.
Some may do better than others based on intelligence and family background, but “self” will always deceive them.
Paul said to live in the futility of the mind is to be excluded from the life of God.
Excluded in the original word (apallotrioo) means to be “shut out from fellowship and intimacy” or a “non-participant.”
To be included in Christ is like trying to make a meal with all lights turned on.
Not only is the room brightly lit, but it is even better than that.
Grace is like Jesus coming into the kitchen, telling you to sit down while He makes the meal for you and cleans up!
People are fumbling around in the dark because they don’t know the kitchen is wired for light- they are ignorant of reality.
All can experience the light, but they have to be aware of the truth and receive it.
Stubborn unbelief keeps people in the dark; they either have never heard that there is some good news (the kitchen has been wired for light), or they all just want to keep fumbling around doing it their way.
The old way is destined for failure.
Paul said, “Lay aside the old self.”
When someone has received Christ, their old self was crucified with Christ. So why are we exhorted to lay the old self aside?
It is because many Christians, unaware that they died with Christ, are trying to reform their old selves.
It’s a lost cause.
Our flesh cannot be improved. What we need and what Christ offers is a brand new life-His life.
The supernatural and abundant life we’re called to live can only be received by faith and experienced by walking in the spirit.
We don’t put off and put on to become spiritual; we do this because we are spiritual.
Everyone born again is born of the spirit.
Since we are already in the spirit, let us walk after the spirit.
“and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,” Ephesians 4:23
To be renewed means that we are completely changed.
We go from making choices based on “self” to making choices based on what the Spirit spoke to us.
We start making wise decisions, and our lives go from hard to restful.
This doesn’t happen just by chance.
We have some work to do; this “work” is to change how we think.
On the day you were born again, a lot of things changed, but your way of thinking probably did not change.
If you liked vanilla cake and drove recklessly before you were saved, then you probably liked vanilla cake and drove recklessly after you were saved.
This is why the scriptures exhort us to put off the old and put on the new and be renewed in the spirit of our minds.
What you do follows what you think, what you think follows what you believe.
Renew your thinking so that your thoughts align with what God says about you.
You are what you believe.
“and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” Ephesians 4:24
You are righteous and holy, so act like it.
See yourself as God sees you.
Be who you truly are.
To put on the new man is choosing to walk in the new way of the spirit instead of the old ways of the flesh.
We don’t put off and put on to become spiritual; we do this because we are spiritual.
You are Created in righteousness.
You have been made into a new person, as righteous and holy as Jesus.
You are not being made righteous or righteous by your behavior- that is what is called man-made religion.
Manmade religion defines righteousness as morally good behavior or holy and right living according to God’s standard.
These are poor definitions for they suggest we can become righteous through proper performance.
Provided we live according to God’s standard or laws, God will judge us righteous.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Righteousness in the new covenant is the state of being right with God.
It is being able to say, “In Christ, I am holy, just, and right with God. I am loved by God, and God is for me.”
Jesus was made to be sin on our behalf so that we might become the righteousness of God in him (2 Cor 5:21).
Jesus was not made sin because he was a sinner, and you were not made righteous because you acted righteously.
God did it all.
You were stamped righteous for all eternity when you put your faith in Jesus.
At one time, you were unrighteous, but you were washed, sanctified, and declared righteous in the name of the Lord.
To be made righteous means you have had a complete renovation.
Righteousness means you are no longer the crooked person you used to be. While in Adam, you had inclinations that led you towards sin, no matter how hard you tried to avoid it.
In Christ, you are inclined to walk straight and true.
You desire to please the Lord.
It’s not that you are incapable of sinning.
It is just that sinning no longer appeals.
When you sin, it bothers you—“I wish I hadn’t done that”—testifying that this behavior is contrary to your new nature.
God wants us to discard our old lifestyles as we begin a new life with Him.
Every day, we get fresh mercy from above that gives us the chance to do better.
As long as we live, we’ll struggle with our sinful nature.
The Lord knows our trials and tribulations and gives us the Holy Spirit to help us renew our minds, put on the new self with true righteousness and holiness.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit
Praying …..
Psalm 93 New American Standard Bible
The Majesty of the Lord.
93 The Lord [a]reigns, He is clothed with majesty;
The Lord has clothed and encircled Himself with strength.
Indeed, the world is firmly established; it will not be moved.
2 Your throne is established from of old;
You are from eternity.
3 The floods have lifted up, Lord,
The floods have lifted up their voice,
The floods lift up their pounding waves.
4 More than the sounds of many waters,
Than the mighty breakers of the sea,
The Lord on high is mighty.
5 Your testimonies are fully confirmed;
Holiness is pleasing to Your house,
Lord, [b]forevermore.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 