Meditation

Hi there,

As Paul reveals our life in Christ, and more particularly our worthy walk, he takes us to some high ground in our text today (v. 20-24).

One of the great discoveries of the new birth is the new life it provides. Paul reminds us that the old ways are gone, dead and buried, and in Christ all things are made new.

We are new creations, hidden with Christ in God, raised to walk in newness of life. This means believers cannot live as they once did, for that is not the truth found in Jesus.

The old self, with its practices and identity, must be put away. The new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness, is to be put on.

This purified walk is not achieved by our effort. God has supplied everything through His Word and Spirit. What we have in Christ is new, gifted, and sufficient.

The call now is to live in that reality, renewed in mind and transformed in life.

Today's verses are Ephesians 4:20-24 (and are marked in black. Previous and subsequent verses are shown in grey for context).

Instructions for Christian Living

¹⁷ So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.

¹⁸ They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.

¹⁹ Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

²⁰ That, however, is not the way of life you learned ²¹ when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.

²² You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³ to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

²⁵ Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

²⁶ “In your anger do not sin” : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ and do not give the devil a foothold. ²⁸ Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Encouragement

⁴ But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.

He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Titus 3:4-7

Steve Pawley

God's word in your hand

I've attached this explanation of Ephesians from The Bible Project to accompany this season's copy work.

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