Day 24: Ephesians 4: 17-24: Putting Off the Old Self

Following Jesus transforms both our identity and our way of life.

Paul reminds believers that following Jesus means leaving behind an old way of living. The gospel doesn't simply change what we believe- it transforms how we think, desire, and live. In Christ, we are invited to put off the old self and put on the new, becoming more like the One who created us.

Reflection: Where have you seen God reshape the way you think or respond since following Christ?

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Hey everyone, we're back. Did you end up praying for someone yesterday and texting them? How did it go? Hopefully we can keep doing that. We'll do it for about a week and we'll circle back next week. As for today, we're in day 24 of our Ephesian study, and we're in Ephesians chapter 4, verses 17 through 24. Our topic today is putting off the old self. Let's jump right in. Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord. You should no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thoughts. They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts. They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity with a desire for more and more. But that is not how you came to know Christ. Assuming you heard about him and were taught by him as the truth is in Jesus, to take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires, to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, the one created according to God's likeness and righteousness and purity of the truth. Amen. That is the word of God. I warned you guys last week. We are picking up steam over here. And these next passages, almost daily for the next two weeks, are really going to pack a punch. Be excited. And maybe a little nervous. Following Jesus transforms both our identity and our way of life. Let's dig a little deeper into the passage today. This is the practical beginning of Paul's call to walk worthy. He tells believers, you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do. At first, that sounds strange because many people in the Ephesian church were Gentiles. But Paul wasn't speaking here about ethnicity. He's talking about a worldview, a way of life apart from Christ. He describes it with words like futility, darkened understanding, ignorance, hardness of heart. These aren't insults, they're diagnosis. Without Christ, humanity doesn't simply make bad choices. Our thinking itself has been distorted by sin. This is why the gospel always transforms the mind before it transforms behavior. Paul then says something remarkable. That is not the way you learned Christ. Notice he doesn't say learned about Christ. He says learned Christ. Christianity is not merely learning information. It's entering a relationship with a living Savior. Then Paul uses clothing imagery, put off, put on. Throughout the Roman world, clothing communicated identity. Certain garments identified citizens, soldiers, magistrates, widows, or slaves. Changing clothes could symbolize entering a new role or status. Paul says conversion is like changing wardrobes. The old self belongs to the former way of life. The new self reflects God's image. Notice that this isn't pretending, it's transformation. The old clothes no longer fit who you have become. Today, culture often tells us be true to yourself. But Paul says something deeper. Become who God is making you to be. Your deepest identity is no longer determined by your past, your failures, your achievements, or your desires. It is found in Christ. Sanctification is the lifelong process of learning to wear the new identity God has already given us. Following Jesus transforms both our identity and our way of life. Here's a reflection question as we leave today. Where have you seen God reshape the way you think or respond since following Christ? Let's hear some testimonies. Love you guys. Talk to you tomorrow. Bye.