God confronts
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.
Ephesians 4:17-24
God commands you that you MUST no longer walk as the gentiles (Adam). God describes the gentiles as having futile minds, darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God, hard hearted, calloused, sensual, greedy, and impure.
He then emphatically declares this to be antithetical to person of Jesus and the way of Jesus!
We are commanded to put off the old man (Adam) and put on the new man (Jesus) in true righteousness and holiness.
Church confesses
Together, this morning, let us cry out to God to help us put off the Adamic like heart and deeds put on Christ in newness of life!
-falsehood ~speak to truth to your neighbor v.25
-steal ~work and give to the needy v.28
-corrupting talk ~grace giving speech v.29
-bitterness/malice ~Be kind and tenderhearted v.31
FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER. v. 32
God’s covenant
In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us!
Ephesians 1:7-8
God’s covenant
God’s covenant love is incomprehensible. Who can explore the depths of this redemption, or this salvation. It will take all the days of eternity to search and experience it’s fullness! And you can experience and search this out now. God declares to you that your sins are forgiven through Jesus Christ!
Congregation: Praise be to God!