CHANGE YOUR CLOTHES | Ephesians 4:17-32 | Peter Frey

[Music] you ever just wished for a fresh start just just did kind of wipe the slate clean and get a fresh start you all have habits routines ways of life we wish we could just leave behind and new habits new fresh routines changed ways of life that we would like to see take traction in our lives I up in the era of video games I wasn't I didn't play them very often many of my friends had video games and when I went to their houses I I would play them and I was a big fan of the reset button you're losing the race reset you make a wrong turn reset my friends hated it I mean they'd be beating me reset but what did you do that for I don't know I guess we have to start over never wish there was a reset button in life I know you have we all have hey you walk into Barnes and Noble and you find a whole section called self-help books like become a better you seven steps to a better life now the power of positive thinking you are your worst enemy breaking the habit of being yourself from the list goes on here's what I'd like to suggest to us this morning so if we've put our faith in Jesus there are some changes that God wants to bring about in our lives there are there are some fresh starts that God wants for us and if we are to walk worthy of the gospel as we read last week in Ephesians chapter 4 verse 1 if we were to walk worthy of the calling we have received there's some lifestyle changes that the Spirit of God wants to bring about in us but the Bible is not a guide to self-help it's the story hope the Bible is not if some have called that basic instructions before leaving Earth you ever heard that acronym basic instructions before leaving Earth it's the revelation of the one who created the heavens and the earth the Word of God is not about becoming a better you it's about the God creating something new you see self-help will only lead to the life that you can imagine but as we've read in Ephesians God wants to do more than we can imagine self-help is about the power of the will the gospel is about the power of God self-help is about becoming who we're not the gospel is about becoming who we are in Christ Jesus and this is the message that we've seen unfold here in the book of Ephesians that God doesn't make good people better he makes dead people live and this is the reality of the good news of Jesus Christ that for all who put their faith in Jesus Minh uh 'then to the table and we don't bring this this the seven steps to becoming a christian we simply come to the table deserving nothing as simply deserving death and and we look to Jesus who who paid that death for us we experience the power of God raising us from death to life God doesn't make good people better he makes dead people live and so as we turn this morning to a passage that is in many ways a passage of do's and don'ts it's a passage of moral commands of this is the life these are the changes that God wants to bring about in our lives it's important for us to to to remember that chapter 4 of Ephesians comes on the heels of chapters 1 through three chapters one through three that will throughout the whole course of Ephesians Paul has been careful for us to understand that it's by grace we've been saved this is the work of God this is not of ourselves so no one can boast and so when it comes to the changes that God wants to bring about in our lives this isn't some pull yourself pull yourself up by what's not saying pull yourself up by the bootstraps this is about turning to the life that God created for us it's about becoming who we are and notice the the the the careful distinction there self-help is about becoming who you're not it's this vision of it this is the person I want to be and I want to and I want to be that and and in the gospel Jesus says you are redeemed you are chosen by the father you're redeemed by the son you're sealed by the Spirit you're raised with Christ you're seated in the heavenly places created to be his workmanship to do good works you're united in Christ division is a is abolished and the Spirit of God has chosen to dwell among you and he says this is who you are live like it the gospel is about becoming who we are so it's in this context that we asked this morning how then shall we live how do we live the lives that look different because the the life we've been given how do we walk worthy of our column so if you have your Bible invite you to open back up to Ephesians chapter 4 Ephesians chapter 4 verses 17 through 32 Fijians chapter 4 beginning in verse 17 the possible writes this to the church in Ephesus so I tell you this and I insist on it in the Lord that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do now let's pause there for a moment we've heard this terminology Gentiles throughout Paul's letter to the Ephesians and if you'll remember in Ephesians chapter 3 we in chapter 2 we were told that the Gentiles are brought in that God's plan of salvation that this is the mystery unfolded that it doesn't matter who you are or what your ethnic background is that you're welcome at the cross of Jesus and so Gentiles it was a term that referring to anybody outside of the Jewish people because up to this time it was it was just assumed God's saving plan was just for the Jewish people but now that the mystery has revealed that God's plan is for all people and so the Gentiles is it was a term that that referred to those who were ethnically outside of the Jewish people but here Paul uses a little differently you more refers to it ethically where he's saying those who don't live according to God's standards those who are outside of what God's doing and this is how they live it it's it's like saying you know the people out there a this is what he house it describes them and the futility of their thinking they are darkened in their understanding separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts having lost all sensitivity they they've given themselves over sensuality is of indulgent every kind of impurity and and and if that wasn't enough in the last he goes in a continual lust for more I love that little tagline in there he's like they're not just like this but but that they will even want more of it and so what is this description describing it's describing a life centered on the self whatever feels good do it whatever looks good touching and this is the way the world lives you turn on the television and that's what you see it's the way the world lives it's it's indulged myself whatever makes me feel good whatever whatever whatever makes me happy it's not defined by any moral standards is simply defined by what I think is right it's it's self-centered it's it's a life centered on self the Spirit of God says to us if you have put your faith in Jesus you don't live like that anymore don't walk as the Gentiles they don't walk it's the world walk we walk them differently so what the Apostle Paul does for us is he he gives us a little bit of a dress code he gives us a some some guideline and this is supposed to define your style as the Church of Jesus Christ and this is what he says verse 20 says you however he didn't come to know Christ that way being centered on self he didn't came to know Christ centered on him remember to remember that repeated phrases that we've seen throughout the book of Ephesians in Christ in him in him never one a good exercise sometime print out the text of Ephesians and just circle every time that it says in him in Christ you will realize that this is the central reality the changes who we are as Christians in Christ we are a new creation and he says you didn't come to know Christ that way is surely you heard of him you heard about Christ and for many of us and this is our story we heard about Jesus we were taught about the truth that is in him and then we ourselves were adopted as children we were brought in he says you were taught with regard to your former way of life verse 22 to put off your old self which is being corrupted by its deceitful natures hey here's the message of this passage change your clothes I never thought I never thought I'd talk about buying underwear in a sermon I was I was purchasing underwear and I noticed on the tag it said for best results changed daily I said I didn't know I was looking for results with my underwear but it's a pretty good idea and that's the message of Ephesians chapter 4 verse 17 to 13 for to be who you are in Christ Jesus change your clothes this voice says take off the old self this is the way you used to live with it was centered on yourself whatever felt good and do it whatever whatever feels good whatever makes you happy and dull just he says take it off think about it you you're out working in the yard and you mow the lawn you're raking leaves get dirty clothes clothes dirty you kind of smell bad come in the house what you do you take off your shoes take off your clothes hop in the shower that's what he says look at look at verse verse 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds first take off your old self with this deceitful nature and be renewed take a shower be made new and you know what I love is if this is a this is a verb that that's not an active verb it's a passive verb and it's helpful for us to observe this kind of grammar as we read read through the Gospels and through through the New Testament it to be made new is not something we can do of ourselves we need God to do that for us and this is this is the reality of the gospel as it as God's it is the Apostle Paul says and change your clothes take off your old self put on your new self you need to be renewed an attitude of your mind because if you and I are honest we vote we've all tried to break habits or maybe try to start habits maybe we try to work out more and in so we get a gym membership we buy some workout gear we get some new kicks and if you get the pieces in order but unless we get the attitude of our minds in the right place we're still not going to go to the gym and this is the reality of the gospel is that the Paul says you you've been changed you've been given new life you've been raised from death to life but it's about time you've started to wear the clothes you've been given take off the old self be renewed in the attitude of your mind he says in verse 14 and to put on the new self you're probably wondering why I had my coat hanging up here the whole time put on the new self created to be like God in righteousness and holiness you if you've put your faith in Jesus you've been given a new wardrobe and let me tell you it's a whole lot better than what you were wearing that old battered out self-centered kind of wardrobe if you've been raised with Christ put off the old clothes change your clothes be renewed in the attitude of your mind and put on the new self and so this is the this is the reality of this passage this is the the message that the Spirit of God wants for us this morning is that in Christ the old style the old style was was centered on yourself but the new style is centered on Christ you see the dress code for the church isn't it it is not to become a better you it's a calling to be the new you to be who you were created to be in Christ Jesus so change your clothes and I would suggest that this is the reason and Paul uses this this imagery of changing your clothes he uses it uses in Colossians 3 he uses it in Corinthians he he uses this metaphor and here's why I think that he uses it is because it's it's habitual it's daily it's even more than daily then we change our clothes the Apostle Paul wants us to realize that this is this is a this is a routine that we must live in that we must embrace us believers in Jesus of putting off the old ways and putting on the new ways yes you're redeemed your chosen you're sealed you're saved by grace by saying it's a daily continual process of living in that reality where we change our close and so the old style was centered on yourself the new style centered on Christ and as the passage goes on he gives us a picture of what this looks like so look with me at verse 25 therefore each of you must put off false whole falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor for we are all members of one body the first the first place Paul goes with this is it in your relationships put on the new self and what does the new self look like it doesn't look like falsehood because what is falsehood about bustle is about keeping our face fossa is about hiding but behind false pretenses because we're more concerned about ourselves that our neighbor where we're more concerned about us looking good than being honest and this is this is the reality that in order to to put on the new self we have to put off falsehood and to put on [Music] truthfulness to be truthful it's easy to tell a little white lie save face a little bit that's your old civil elseís take it off renew that attitude hereby put on the new self why because we're members of one body because it's not about you anymore it's about Christ that's the reality of this this whole passage is not about you anymore it's about Christ this is what he continues it he says in your anger do not sin don't let the Sun go down while you're angry do not give the devil a foothold now anger is something that all of us face it's a it's a reality of being human and this passage suggests that that there is anger that does not lead to sin I get angry when I see injustice in the world I get angry when when I see people taking advantage of but it's it's pretty hard to be angry and not lead to sin and that's why that's why that's why Paul describes this as a foothold for the devil anger is an easy way to let us fall into our old wardrobe because when we let anger rule in our hearts in our minds where our thinking is now governed by our anger so that we lash out in in fear when we lash out in harsh words and Paul's gonna was gonna address that here in just a minute and the way we talk but when anger when we let anger rule in our hearts and our minds and that's why he says you know don't let the Sun go down while you're still angry I remember hearing a story of a married couple who said their marriage day I mean when they got married they said they made it a valid that they wouldn't hold true to this passage that way they would not go to bed while they were still angry so we haven't slept in three weeks and I I think that that that principle of not going to bed while you're angry is the principle of don't let anger overtake your heart and mind because you are new you are made new in Christ Jesus you're in new creation where it's no longer about about about ourselves it's a it's about Christ it's about it's about his church and what he's doing in this world and then so anger he says in your anger don't sin don't let it become about you don't let it rule in your heart and mind it he says look the Peace of Christ rule in your hearts and minds so don't don't in your anger do not sin changing your clothes is a good picture for us to guard against that if we make a regular routine of putting off our old self and putting on our new self we will make a regular routine of laying down our anger we will make a regular routine of forgiving those who have hurt us we will make a regular routine of looking to the Lord of justice say lord I don't understand this world I don't understand the unjustice I see in this world but I trust that you rain on the throne and so I'm not gonna let anger reign in my life put off the old self be renewed in the attitude of your mind put on the new self this is what he says in verse 28 he who has been stealing must steal no longer he's giving these contrast of what the old self does and what the new self does the old self steal it cuts corners and and you might I mean I remember I read this this week and I said well I mean we're not thieves we're not we're not breaking in the grocery store stealing stealing our dinner but it's easy to cut cut some corners here and there ever done that at work you know just cut the corner check out a few few minutes early taxes they were stolen from the government I'm just getting real with what Paul's talking about here he says the old self is this one centered on get getting for me but the new self is about about giving and that's what he says he says doing something useful with his own hands that that what what's the purpose that he may share with those in need the alternative to stealing that he gives here the alternative to stealing this is why he gives these two alternatives stealing's about me but he gives a this is a beautiful theology of work work isn't about me it's about so that it to enable me to be generous to others what a beautiful picture of what we in the church stand upon as the new self as it as a new creation is we put away the old stuff that's centered on me and we put on the new self that's centered on Christ so that even my work is affected by this my work what I do with my hands is affected by the gospel so that I worked so that I can bless others not so that I can build up a good retirement not so that I can have a nice cushion in my savings account so that I can give to those in need I pray that we would put on our new self in this regard for best results change your clothes daily I think I think even when it comes to our work and our finances we need to change our clothes daily says in verse 29 do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths but only what is helpful for building up others it this is this is he's going beyond the anger and the and the stealing the way you talk put off the old self the old self was was corrupt it new self it builds up others there have been in in one of those situations where you're with a group of friends maybe it's at a work a family gathering wherever it is and there's a conversation that's happening you're not too comfortable with it and you know that this doesn't measure up to to walk worthy of the calling you've received but you you take part in the conversation just to say face you know you don't want to but you just want you just want to get through it that's the old self because the old self is centered on myself but the new self it's centered on building up the body and if this is the case if we truly put this on you will say no to corrupting talk put off the old self put on the new self he says don't grieve the Holy Spirit what does that mean it means don't do all these things that we talked about that the old self does the Holy Spirit has been given to you as a seal of the guarantee of the redemption you have received in Christ Jesus and in he says don't don't walk out on that by putting on your own clothes you've been given a whole new wardrobe so don't grieve the Holy Spirit and put on your old clothes don't put on the old ways of life the old style was centered on yourself the new style is centered on Christ and this way said in verse 31 get rid of all bitterness rage and anger brawling and slander every form of malice mr. Boies says in verse 32 be kind and compassionate to one another forgiving each other and this is important just as in Christ God forgave you you see Christ is not only the pattern for our new wardrobe he's the power behind it Christ is not only the the the the standard by which we are called to live he's the very one who enables us to do it Christ if we have put our faith in Christ he has extended his hand of forgiveness and this is the message of Ephesians chapter four this is a message of Ephesians if you have been forgiven lived if you have been raised with Christ live as those who have been raised if you have put your faith in Jesus the old has gone the new has come change your clothes you [Music]

Channel: Peter Frey

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Length: 29min 34sec (1774 seconds)

Published: Mon Nov 21 2016