Ephesians 4:17-24 “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”
This last Sunday, Pastor Kyle continued in our church’s sermon series through the Pauline Epistle to the Ephesians. The born-again Believer, upon repenting of sin with a contrite heart, believing in the grace of God which provided redemption and salvation in Jesus Christ, the regeneration of the spirit and the transformation of soul, becomes a sanctified convert (inwardly putting off the old self and putting on the new self). It is a newness of life, no longer walking alienated in sinful lust desires, but putting on the life of Christ, walking by faith and walking in the Spirit. Romans 12:2 tells us, “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” This is a renewal that cleansed our soul, but continues to cleanse daily in sanctification.
Psalm 51:10-12 prays, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.”
To be consecrated is to make or declare to be sacred; to appropriate to sacred uses; to set apart by God for the purposes of God in earth. 1 Peter 1:15-16 instructs us, as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” The word “holy is defined as: whole or perfect, in a moral sense. Hence, pure in heart, temper or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections. Mankind is more or less holy as his heart is more or less sanctified, or purified from evil dispositions. We call a man holy when his heart is conformed in some degree to the image of God, and his life is regulated by the divine precepts. Hence, holy is used as nearly synonymous with good, pious, godly. 2. Hallowed; consecrated or set apart to a sacred use, or to the service or worship of God. The calloused, hardened heart is petrified against God, but the true Christian has a self-reflecting soft heart which listens to the Holy Spirit, reads and meditates on God’s Work, fellowships with other Believers, confronts sin, and communes with God in prayer. Proverbs 4:23 declares, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” The children of God are in His likeness.
Lamentations 3:22-24 proclaims, Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”
Let's continue PAstor Kyle's message on new life in Christ on the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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