4. ENTRUSTED WITH GREAT RESEMBLANCES (Ephesians 4:17 - 6:9)

We are to resemble Christ in this world. In this section of our study of Ephesians we look at specific resemblances that are emphasised.

Christ the Lord requires that we walk the different walk.

Ephesians 4:17 "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, ..."

The insistence here is that what is required is expected of you by the Lord. This is not the thought of Paul, it is the mind of Christ. To call Jesus Lord means in practical terms, I do what He says, and walk the different way which is His walk. The Lord commands that we do not live like the unbeliever (Ephesians 4:17 ). Our living must not resemble in any way the walk of the ungodly (Romans 12:2; Psalm 1:1 ). The ways in which we are to walk the different walk:

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Their Lives Are As Confused As The Futility Of Their Minds (Ephesians 4:17)

Having no fixed, settled truth they have no aim or purpose directing them. Everything is speculation regarding their past, present and future. They occupy themselves chasing shadows just to pass the time.

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Their Lives Are Meaningless Because They Are Living In The Dark (Ephesians 4:18)

Having their understanding darkened. All the guidance they have is darkened and defective, doomed. That is the Lord's picture of the ungodly intellectual humanist without the light of God.

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Their Lives Are Godless Because Of Ignorance Due To Hardening Of Their Hearts (Ephesians 4:18)

Ephesians 4:18 "Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:"

The ultimate cause of being without the life of God is through a wilful hardening of the heart that prefers ignorance and blindness.

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Their Lives Are Without Reverence For God (Ephesians 4:19)

Ephesians 4:19 "who, being past feeling, ..."

Having no fear of God they have no shame in sinful deeds. They have no spiritual conscience to affect them. What conscience they do have is as changeable as their self-made standards. This results in their working hard in pursuing sensuality and indulging in,

Ephesians 4:19 "... have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness."

What a commentary of the times in which we are living. Don't let the lewdness, lust, laxity around you lower your standards of life in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 4:20 "But you have not so learned Christ,"

"But you" is emphatic. The description in Ephesians 4:17-20 cannot be "you" that have learned Christ. Notice, it is not having heard or been taught - it is having learned Christ. He said come and "learn of Me" (Matthew 11:29 KJV). Now you have "learned" Christ the old walk is abhorrent to you, and your Christ walk is in absolute contrast to the old. The process by which you have "learned", you heard Him (Ephesians 4:21; John 10:27 ). You have been taught by Him (Ephesians 4:21; 1 John 2:27 ). "as the truth is in Jesus" (Ephesians 4:21; (KJV) John 8:31-32; John 14:6 ). That truth is to be lived out in you so that others looking at your life see Jesus.

Ephesians 4:22 "that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,"

Ephesians 4:24 "and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. "

The old person you used to be through corrupt conduct, that resulted from deceitful desires, must be rejected. The source of the old conduct, the mind, must be controlled by being "renewed in the spirit of your mind" (Ephesians 4:23 - KJV; Romans 12:2 ), so that the new self, created to be like God, walks "in righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4:24 KJV ) You became the new creation in Christ Jesus when you were born again. You put on the new way of life positionally when you were saved. (Read Colossians 3:9-10 and notice the past tense). What you are being urged to do in Ephesians 4:24 is to "put on" experientially, doing that which is right before God and doing all unto God. Proving in practical living that you are truly "his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:10 KJV), living out the good works pre-arranged by Him.

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. Do you find the old life abhorrent now that you know the Christ life and its power? (Ephesians 4:17-20 ).
2. How do you understand the putting off of the old self, and the putting on of the new? (Ephesians 4:22-24 ).