Ephesians 4:17-24 Divorcing Your Old Self

Ephesians 4:17-24

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ! — 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Background

Paul speaks the truth by highlighting the sinful patterns that hinder the church from fulfilling her calling. Truths are not abstract, but they are concrete and sharp in exposing the secrets and sins of the heart. Paul in this passage surfaces the prevalent sins of the church that must be put off. Every individual must divorce his old self and put on the new self that is created like Christ. The church is in urgent need to confront her darkness so that she may progress towards the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Observation

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

Paul teaches four sinful patterns that are hindering the church from becoming united as a family towards the calling of Christ.

1. Futility of their minds – this refers to a life that is self-centered, indulged in living off the goodness of the land and the cares of life without passion for God’s work. His daily toil is mainly to sustain his life of earthly pleasures and to provide for his eventual retirement. His relationship with God is mostly centered on solving his personal problems. Futility denotes a life devoid of the higher purposes of God.
2. Darkened in their understanding – this describes a mind that is incapable of understanding the deeper things of God. Hence, apart from God’s desire to save and to provide, he does not understand the signs of the times and what God is doing in this world. He is also not able to understand the solid food of God’s word and the wisdom contained therein.
3. Alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart – this describes a life whose values system and purpose is far from God. Even though they attend worship services, their hearts and passions are self-centered and earthly. Jesus says,

“This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” Matthew 15:8

Hence, they could not hear God’s voice nor connect with Him because their values system, their passions and life goals are hardened and far from God’s.

Paul continues to describe such persons as being in complete bondage: They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality … For such could not extract themselves from the vicious cycle of addictions to sensuality and greed. Sensuality involves the pleasures of the physical that includes sexual addiction, alcohol and wild parties. Greed involves the fleshly pleasures of the soul: love for money, and a hunger for power fueled by pride.

Assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Paul emphasizes the way to learn Christ (or Christ-likeness), that is to know the principles that are at work in Christ’s life: as the truth is in Jesus. Believers have to make a decision to divorce themselves from their old lifestyle: put off your old self,… and to put on the new self, that is to live the life that Christ lives. Therefore, putting on the new self involves the following,

1. Putting off the futility of their minds and deceitful desires, and put on the purposes of God and a renewed spirit: be renewed in the spirit of your minds. This refers to a complete regeneration of life purpose and the way one derives pleasure: from doing God’s will and not from the pleasures of the flesh.
2. Putting off the their darkened understanding of life and alienation from God by making a daily decision to live a Christ-principled life: the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Truth

1. In speaking the truth in love, believers must first be concrete in identifying sinful patterns that plague fellow believers. Do not shame them, but empathize and walk with them in their struggles while holding them accountable. Paul is very precise in surfacing the sins that plague the church and urges believers to put off their sinful habits. If sins are not named, they cannot be dealt with and the believer remains stagnant in his growth.
2. When one gives in to the pleasures of sin, he goes deeper into that bondage. The next round of temptation will require a larger doze of pleasure in order to satisfy him, thus bringing him even deeper into bondage. The only way to put off this vicious cycle of bondage sin is a moral determination to cut them off. And through the filling of the Holy Spirit the evil spirit of bondage is cast out.

Application

1. Are you frequently being tempted by a specific sin? Consider how this weakness has held you back and cost you precious time and opportunities. Make a decision now to reject and cast out the root of darkness from your life.
2. If the lure of temptation remains irresistible, approach a pastor who is gifted in the area of deliverance for help.

Dear Lord, I have made a decision to cut off all earthly pleasures and the grey areas of sin. I long to live a life fully surrendered to You. Fill me with Your Spirit and restore to me the joy of salvation. Use me for Your Kingdom’s work. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.