Ephesians 4:17-24

Stop Walking That Way

"Walk worthy of the calling with which you have been called" (Eph 4:1).

Ephesians 4:17    So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,

     18   being darkened in their understanding, 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 over to sensuality 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 manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,

     23    and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

     24    and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

Restating the Command (v. 17a)

4:1) "I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received."

4:17a) "So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do...."

Characteristics of the Old Life (vv. 17b-19)

17b) in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, 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 over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.

Characteristics of the Old Life (vv. 17b-19)

17b) in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, 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 over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.

Characteristics of the Old Life (vv. 17b-19)

17b) in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, 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 over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.

Characteristics of the Old Life (vv. 17b-19)

17b) in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, 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 over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.

Characteristics of the Old Life (vv. 17b-19)

17b) in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, 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 over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.

Characteristics of the Old Life (vv. 17b-19)

17b) in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, 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 over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.

BUT YOU.... (vv. 20-24)

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,   

BUT YOU.... (vv. 20-24)

22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

BUT YOU: Be Who You Are! (vv. 20-24)

2 Cor 5: 17 - "So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come!"

Rom 6:6 – “We know that our old man was crucified with him so that the body of sin would no longer dominate us, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.”

Gal 3:27 – “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”

BUT YOU.... (vv. 20-24)

22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

BUT YOU: Be Who You Are! (vv. 20-24)

Does my life look different from the non-Christians around me?

Does my life look different from the non-Christians around me?

When the answer is no, check your thinking!

Does my life look different from the non-Christians around me?

When the answer is no, check your thinking!

Our main effort is in renewing our minds daily.

Does my life look different from the non-Christians around me?

When the answer is no, check your thinking!

Our main effort is in renewing our minds daily.

Remember, we follow "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6).