EphesiansLesson 8

Ephesians 4:17-24• “Walk no longer just as the Gentiles”• They had a changed life• They COULD no longer live like they had before• Former life:• Futility of mind 4:17• Understanding darkened 4:18• Ignorance which excluded/alienates them from life• Hard heart• Callousness leading to sensuality 4:19• Practicing impurity and greed 4:19

Ephesians 4:20-24• But you DID NOT LEARN CHRIST IN THIS

WAY• If one is STILL in ignorance, not understanding,

having a futile mind, then that one is NOT saved• Warning in 4:14 Be careful about the teaching you

listen to. Some of it is trickery/cunning of men leading to deception

• Learn Christ: Truth is in Him 4:21• Truth is in His Word

Old Self New Self• Old Self: being corrupted in accordance with the

lusts of deceit 4:22• Eph. 2:1-3 The sons of disobedience. They live

according to the lusts of their flesh• LAY THAT OLD SELF ASIDE 4:22• Put ON the New Self 4:24• Created in righteousness and holiness of truth• Col. 3:9-10 We don’t lie to one another• We lay aside the old self WITH its evil practices• New Self: according to the image of the Creator

Old Self New Self• Romans 6:1-11 Christians are raised with Christ to

walk in newness of life: not continue in the former lifestyle

• We are no longer slaves to sin• Consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God• Eph. 4:25-32 Therefore: because you lay aside the

old and put on the new…..• Eph. 4:15 and 25 Speak Truth in love. Why? It

grows up the body• Eph. 4:26 Be angry, and yet do not sin• Doesn’t say, “Don’t be angry”• Do not give the devil an opportunity

Old Self New Self• Don’t Steal 4:28• Work, so you have something to share • Eph. 4:29 talks about words• Nothing unwholesome/corrupting• Unwholesome: rotten, worthless• ONLY words of edification (building up)• Words of grace to those that hear• Eph. 4:30 How believers are to live and speak• Disobedience to these instructions grieves the Holy

Spirit

Contrasts• Vs. 30 Put away:• Bitterness• Wrath• Anger• Clamor – an outcry….of tumult or controversy• Slander• Malice – wickedness as an evil habit of the mind• Vs. 31• Be: Kind• Tender-hearted• Forgiving..just as God in Christ has forgiven you

Forgive• Charizomenoi – to show favor, give freely. Used of

God giving His grace to pardon. This is freely done and therefore not based on any merit of the one receiving forgiveness.

• Luke 23:33-35 “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”

• Aphes: to send away, leave alone, permit to depart, release. To let go from obligation toward oneself, to remit a debt or offense

• Matt. 6:12-15; 18:21-35 If we forgive others for their transgressions, our heavenly Father will forgive us.

Ephesians 5:1-14• Therefore: be imitators of God, as beloved children• Walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave

Himself up for us• Contrast:• BUT: Immorality, impurity and greed • Must not be named among true believers• These do not belong to a believer and his

inheritance (1:11-18)• Eph. 2:1-3 This is what we WERE

I Cor. 6:9-11• Fornicators, adulterers• Idolaters• Effeminate, homosexuals• Thieves• Covetous• Drunkards• Revilers• Swindlers• They are not saved and therefore have no

inheritance• Therefore: don’t partake/associate with them

Ephesians 5:7-14• Worthy Walk Described:• Walk in the Light – you ARE Light in the Lord• Goodness• Righteousness• Truth• Pleasing to the Lord• Exposing deeds of darkness• Former Walk:• Darkness• Unfruitful• Disgraceful/shameful

Cross References• John 1:1-8 Jesus brought light into the world of

darkness• John 3:19-21 Unbelievers hate the Light, believers

come to the Light• Col. 1:12-14 God the Father rescued believers from

the domain of darkness and gave them an inheritance

• I John 1:5-7 God is light and in Him is no darkness at all

• 2 Cor. 6:14 Believers and unbelievers have no fellowship

• I Thess. 5:4-11 Be alert and sober as those who walk in light when darkness is all around