As we have studied, Paul's letter to the Ephesians is divided into two sections of three chapters. Chapters 1-3 give us the doctrine / the wealth / the information the Church needs to become this living, breathing entity known as the body of Christ, the Bride awaiting the appearing of her beloved Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ. Chapters 4-6 give us the duty / the work / the application of the doctrine of the first three chapters. V.1-8 explain who we are in Christ – the body of Christ V.11-16 explain what we do as the body – build up and strengthen the body of Christ V. 17-32 explain how we are to be who we should be as individuals within the body Today, we started unpacking chapter Four – v.22-24 which describes the constant battle between the old man, our Adamic nature we were born with, known as “the flesh,” and our new man we created at salvation. 2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Ephesians 2:1-3: And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. As we saw in V. 1, Paul pleads with us to “walk worthy” of the lifestyle to which we have been called. Then, in V.17-19, he commands us to “walk not” like the rest of the Gentile world, that we were saved out of. This section of “How to be” in v.20-24, is where we take a good long look in the mirror of God's Word. As you can see in the video of today's Bible study, on our website, there is a brief list all that we were before we were saved, and how our “flesh,” our old man, is still corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. The right side of the board gives us an understanding of all that we are in Christ. We are holy and without blame. 1 John 3:1-3, 9: Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself (practical purity - daily sanctification), even as he is pure (positional purity - justified and righteous before God). Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. John is very clear that everyone “in Christ” is a child of God, because of God's love toward us. This is the blessed hope of glory to come! V.9 helps us to understand the great truth of concerning being this new creation in Christ – the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, regenerating us from spiritually dead to spiritually alive, sealing us at the moment of salvation, and remaining in us, empowers our new man to not sin, and even stronger words – we “cannot sin” in our new man. Colossians 1:27: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Titus 2:13-14: Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Our “old man” is a different story. We will dig into his attitudes, activities, and actions next Sunday. Please read Galatians 5 this week, and see the contrast between our new man “walking in the Spirit” and the “works of the flesh” that our old man lusts after. Since our old man is unregenerate, he cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Only our new man, born of the Spirit, inherits the kingdom of God!
