Christlikeness

Ephesians 4:17-24 “So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being  darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the  ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old  self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”

I think that one of the biggest issues in just about anything is to clearly see and understand problems (why something is “wrong”, based upon what is “right”) and the consequences of those problems. To know what is different and why? Then the goals have value and meaning that creates the desire and drive to “buy in” intellectually, emotionally and spiritually. As the Lord Jesus said in John 8:32 - “you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 1 Peter 3:15 instructs us, “in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”  We have multiple positive goals and numerous potential benefits within small group ministry of fruitfully learning more about the Lord, maturing in faith and strengthening each other in true loving interaction, to name a few. Justification unto salvation is the beginning, but sanctification (growing as a Christian and becoming more Christ-like) is the life-long process in our improving walk, one day closer to heaven.

As we saw in verse 16, growth comes when every member of the body of Believers, Christ’s church, operates as he or she should. 1 Corinthians 12:27 “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” To do this, we need to speak the truth. “Speaking” the truth could be translated as “holing to” or “walking in” the truth of God’s Word. John 17:17 “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”  And this is to be done “in love.” - Speaking the truth in love. This is why we have these studies – so we can discover truth for ourselves and thus walk and talk accordingly. Genuine Christianity (following and obeying Jesus) sets us “free”, affects our morals and our interpersonal relationships, in the confessing and processing child of God. The very words confess and profess are the Greek word “ὁμολογέω”, “homologeō”, which translates to acknowledge, to assent, to declare, or to agree with – literally “to speak the same word” (homos = same & logos = word), aligning our thoughts, words and actions with the God’s and conveys the thought of “confessing” allegiance to Christ as one’s Master and Lord, and acknowledgement of the faithful one being His worshiper and servant, His loyal follower, leaving behind godless sensuality of the corrupt old self, and putting on the new self, with a regenerated spirit, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Our identification is in Christ, at the time of our salvation. Now we are to live and walk, breathe and talk, in the light of this change – as a new creation in Christ Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:17 professes, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” Transformed - μεταμορφόω, metamorphoō – a metamorphosis of our soul.

 

Romans 12:2 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Speak the truth in love as you walk the talk in Christlikeness.

In Christ, Brian