Ephesians 4:17-25
By: Alexander Rico
Paul the apostle writes in this second section of the epistle to the Ephesians discussing the walk of a believer (chapter 4 verse 1). He tells them to walk worthy of the calling they had received. Here in verse 17, he exhorts them not to walk as the other Gentiles walk, he then begins to better define what he means in stating this.
Verse 17 states, “in the futility of their mind.” What does he mean? Well, have you ever noticed how mindless so many things of world are? Look at the cardinals and the Pope of the Catholic Church, who wear robes and dressy outfits. Do we honestly see Jesus separating himself in such a manner throughout the New Testament? Many things of this world simply do not make sense! Look at evolutionism, look at sciences attempts to prove that God does not exist; then, look at how foolish those things make them look. Look at man’s attempt to gain access to God, through a religion. Here is a silly and interesting fact that I did not know. Do you know that there is a federal law prohibiting people from picking up wild bird feathers and keeping they stored up in their houses? Nor did I; therefore, if you see any wild birds’ feathers lying around, do not pick them up and keep them! So many things of this world just do not make sense, and if people would simply stop to think, they would know and no longer do so many of the things that they are doing today. They do not really understand the things of God, and thus focus their attention on worthless objects and untrue teachings.
Isaiah states this about the knowledge of those who continue in their mindless understandings, “They do not know nor understand; for He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand. And no one considers in His heart, nor is there knowledge nor understanding to say, ‘I have burned half of it in the fire, yes I have also baked bread on its coals; I have roasted meat and eaten it; and shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before block wood? He feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has turned him aside; and he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, ‘Is there not a lie in my right hand?'” (Isaiah 44:18-20, NKJV)
Secondly, we notice here that Paul states, “having their understanding darkened.” In another place Paul speaks of their foolish hearts being darkened and professing themselves to be wise, they became fools for they began to worship and serve the creature more than the creator, who is blessed forevermore. I have an uncle who is like this. He believes he is an Indian, and he worships God’s creatures (birds, squirrels, fish, etc.) more than he acknowledges the creator.
Thirdly, we see here that Paul speaks of being alienated from the life to God through the ignorance that is in them. In chapter 2, he speaks of being aliens from the common wealth of Israel, though this is worse, being alienated from the life of God. They are actually living in a fallen state, a two dimensional life consisting only of the body and soul, as such, living like animals. The mind occupied by the body needs and cravings. God is spirit, and they that worship Him must do so in spirit and in truth. But the spirit of the heathen is dead because of trespasses and sins. This is the record, God has given to us life through His Son, Jesus Christ; He who has the Son has life, and he who does not, does not have life. This life of course being, “the life of God.”
Sometimes it is surprising how ignorant man is of God, who has revealed himself through His Word, and finally through His one and only Son, Jesus Christ. This ignorance is the result of the blindness of their hearts.
Again, Paul speaks of the God of this world having blinded the minds of those that believe not. The word used here, “blindnes” is translated in the Greek, “porosis”. The pornos was a stone known to be harder than marble. Jesus himself stated this type of blindness/hardness about the religious teachers, Pharisees of that time (Matthew 15:14; 23:16). Paul declares here that because they did not want to retain God in their knowledge, He gave them over to deprived minds so that they do things that ought not to be done. Paul speaking here of a hardness that comes from those who constantly reject the free gift given through Christ. We all know someone who has time and time again rejected Christ, and each time we see it becoming easier and easier to do (Mark 3:5). I think this is the case also in Pharaoh before the exodus of God’s people. He saw many signs and his heart hardened more and more until finally God allowed him to continue down that road, which cost him his first born son. Many today have also seen many signs and wonders of God, and yet, decide to continue to ignore them and say, “God does not exist, I do not wish to follow Him, or confess my sins to Him” I heard it once said, “To pity the poor atheist who feels grateful but has no one to thank.”
Notice here that Paul states, “being past feeling”. Paul is referring here to those who have committed sins and yet feel no remorse for them. We see this in today’s society. Men and women murdering people and showing no sign of remorse, no statements of, “I am truly sorry and I know I now must suffer the consequences of my actions.” I have a little cousin, who loves to watch a scene from a film in which a man gets hit by a bus. When she would see it she’d simply laugh and want to see it again. Her mind, like many out there today has become numb having seen so much violence and brutality in other shows and movies. She sees it as all fun and games.
There is a word used in the Bible, this word is, “wanton” which means, “no shame.” When a person can sin without feeling shame they have become “wanton”. They have given themselves over to the absence of restraint, an insatiable desire for pleasure, or sin. We all have known someone like this, who thought it was simply a small sin that they could handle on their own, and soon we watched as it devoured them completely. A willful choice to commit sin over doing what is right, according to the Bible (Romans 1:24-32).
Paul saw that the heathen men whose hearts had become so hardened that they could sin without feeling; without any shooting pain of conscience. They are controlled by that sin so much that they don’t care who sees them, nor do they attempt to hide their shameful desires.
As Christians, we need to know that we do not live, nor are we called to be like the world. Why? Well in chapter two we see that the world is under Satan’s power and he directs its course. We see this in the day to day actions of this world. Divorce rates skyrocket and just similarities of Sodom and Gomorra. See, unlike this world, we are not dominated by the lusts of our flesh, the lusts of our minds. We are dominated by the spirit of God! The worldly person on the other hand is a child of wrath, or destined for the wrath of God; dead in their trespasses and sins, without hope and without God. In Chapter 4, we see that Paul tells us the worldly person is empty headed. They have no understanding of spiritual things, they have no feelings of conscience for their evil, that they are given over to sexual impurities, and their lives are marked by filth and greed. Then, he boldly declares you have not so learned Christ! What is he saying? Well, if you are claiming to be a Christian, and continue to do these things, your claim has no truth, for you are not!
Paul tells us straight out that, “you have heard Him and been taught by Him.” He taught us that we are to deny ourselves, this being the lusts of our flesh. See, the truth is in Jesus! The world is lying to you when it tells us that we can find true happiness by giving ourselves over to those desires and lusts. The truth is that happiness, true happiness can only come from one person. Jesus Christ! All we have to do is take up our crosses, daily, and follow Him! We have been taught that we are to put off our old manner of living (a life that is corrupt and deceitful) and become renewed in the spirit of your mind.
Paul exhorts us to put on the new man who is created in God’s righteousness and true holiness. It is not just stopping the old things I did, but rather living in righteousness and holiness. I no longer live like the Devil desires me to be, but I live by what God wants me to be (Colossians 3:5-15). It’s like a change of clothes. When you get home after a hard day of work, you never take off your dirty clothes, set them aside, and in the morning place them back on and head out the door. If we did, we would stink! This is what he means when he tells us to put on this new man. The old man is the old life after the flesh, the new man is the new life after the spirit.
Are you here today sitting in the new man through Christ? Or, are you sitting here today in the old man, the ways of the world, free from guilt and shame though you are in heavy sin and you know it to be sin because of what you have read in the Bible? Let me ask you another quick question, do you know that if you were to die today, that you would go to heaven and not spend an eternity separated from the Father, God? If you answered no to that question; then, please do not close out this study without first making that commitment to Him. If you would like to accept the gift of life that God gave to us through His one and only Son, Jesus Christ; then, please make that decision today to follow Him for the rest of your life it will not be one that you will regret. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13, NKJV) Sure, I am not going to lie, the road ahead will be bumpy; however, it will be a great blessing that you nor anyone else could ever experience on this world. If you’d like to accept Christ today; then, by all means please join me in this simple prayer asking Jesus into your heart, mind, and soul.
“Lord Jesus, please forgive me of my sins. I thank-you for giving me the gift of life through your death on that cross. Thank-you that you loved me enough to even think of me as your child and still give me this gift of life despite my sinful life. I accept your sacrifice and give my entire life over to you. Thank-you. In your precious name I pray, amen.”
If you prayed that prayer along with me, I’d like to announce that today, the moment you accepted Christ into your life the Bible says, “…there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner represents.” (Luke 15:10)
Just like that, you are a new creation, and a changed person.
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