Many times in our minds we tend to put the cart before the horse and get confused when the horse cannot pull the cart. Let me explain. The New Testament, especially the epistles, are written much differently then our modern western mindset. Our thoughts are…cut to the chase and tell me what to do! Take the letter to the Ephesians, it starts our for the first 3 chapters teaching us of all that we have in Christ and who we are as a result of the death and resurrection, then leads the rest of the letter telling us how to live out our “New Creation (2Cor 5:17) Self”. And that is why Paul starts off chapter four in this manner.
Eph 4:1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
The “therefore” refers back to all that has been said in the previous three chapters. If we don’t understand who we are then doing the rest of what Paul is instructing will either be a heavy burden, and chain us into some will powered religious routine or put us on the guilt treadmill as we don’t do the things our conscience tells are good and right to do. Either way it is not the Christian life. Understanding who we are and living out our internal nature is a free life and one filled with the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23). Our job is to abide in Christ and walk in the Spirit.
Joh 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
Joh 16:14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
The Holy Spirit is given to us to guide us into the Truth (Joh 14:6) and to share or declare Christ living in you. As we rest in Christ and look to Him and the Holy Spirit to guide us a new relationship begins to blossom. Christ is living today, just as He was when He walked the streets of Jerusalem. In fact He lives to intercede (Heb 7:25) on our behalf to His Father…what a wonderful High Priest that continuously watches over us. We can are now participants (because we are in Christ and He is in us) in that miraculous relationship between our triune God. Now our “to do” is to simply live out our nature…as Paul puts it here
Eph 4:22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,
Eph 4:23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
Eph 4:24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Now we are to put off our old self and the manner in which we lived not to grow in holiness but because that old nature was crucified with Christ (Gal 2:20) and is reckoned dead (Rom 6:11). It is not a hope that it happened or a possibility that it has taken place…it is a fact, 2000 years ago God put you into Christ and your old self was crucified there (2Cor 5:14). And now because of what has happened you are to put on the new self…and not fall back into the old fleshly patterns that you are so accustomed to. When our eyes are on Jesus and we are abiding in Him we will not fulfill those fleshly desires instead we will produce fruit. It doesn’t get anymore simple then that old hymn…
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus :
O soul are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's light for a look at the Saviour,
And life more abundant and free:
Chorus:
Turn you eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face;
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion
For more than conqu'rors we are!
Chorus
His word shall not fail you He promised;
Believe Him and all will be well.
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!
Eph 4:1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
The “therefore” refers back to all that has been said in the previous three chapters. If we don’t understand who we are then doing the rest of what Paul is instructing will either be a heavy burden, and chain us into some will powered religious routine or put us on the guilt treadmill as we don’t do the things our conscience tells are good and right to do. Either way it is not the Christian life. Understanding who we are and living out our internal nature is a free life and one filled with the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23). Our job is to abide in Christ and walk in the Spirit.
Joh 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
Joh 16:14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
The Holy Spirit is given to us to guide us into the Truth (Joh 14:6) and to share or declare Christ living in you. As we rest in Christ and look to Him and the Holy Spirit to guide us a new relationship begins to blossom. Christ is living today, just as He was when He walked the streets of Jerusalem. In fact He lives to intercede (Heb 7:25) on our behalf to His Father…what a wonderful High Priest that continuously watches over us. We can are now participants (because we are in Christ and He is in us) in that miraculous relationship between our triune God. Now our “to do” is to simply live out our nature…as Paul puts it here
Eph 4:22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,
Eph 4:23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
Eph 4:24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Now we are to put off our old self and the manner in which we lived not to grow in holiness but because that old nature was crucified with Christ (Gal 2:20) and is reckoned dead (Rom 6:11). It is not a hope that it happened or a possibility that it has taken place…it is a fact, 2000 years ago God put you into Christ and your old self was crucified there (2Cor 5:14). And now because of what has happened you are to put on the new self…and not fall back into the old fleshly patterns that you are so accustomed to. When our eyes are on Jesus and we are abiding in Him we will not fulfill those fleshly desires instead we will produce fruit. It doesn’t get anymore simple then that old hymn…
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus :
O soul are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's light for a look at the Saviour,
And life more abundant and free:
Chorus:
Turn you eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face;
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion
For more than conqu'rors we are!
Chorus
His word shall not fail you He promised;
Believe Him and all will be well.
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!
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