The New Life

Read carefully Ephesians 4:17-32

Introduction

More than people of God, we are Christians; even better, we are followers of Christ — disciples living with God. Maintaining a loving relationship with God in Christ Jesus teaches us how to live this life. We are different — spirit, soul, and body. We are new creatures created in Christ Jesus.

We need to live like it, discarding the old way of life and adopting the new one.

Discussion

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. 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. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely, you heard of Him and were taught in Him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. Ephesians 4:17-21 NIV.

The Former Way of Life

The Lord is in the heart business. From the heart, we turn toward the new life and away from the old.

The world and its ways should abhor us; we should draw back as if it were a roaring fire or a loaded rifle. Our appetite for the things of the world should be non-existent. We are not of this world, even though we live in it. Our heart beats for another.

Why did Lot’s wife turn to salt? She looked back.

Our former way of life should not be attractive. That life is cut off from the truth. Don’t expect them to know or understand you — they live in the futility of their minds. Their ignorance and blindness are real. The hardness of the heart is real.

Weep for them, but don’t join in.

When presented with the light, they seek solace in the dark. They do not care that their unhappiness comes from the enemy of their soul or care to know God or His Word. We have been liberated from such foolishness and folly.

Heaven forbid that we should look back with longing eyes.

Newness of Life

You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely, you heard of Him and were taught in Him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 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; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:20-24 NIV.

The new life in Christ is real. Daily, we must indeed lay aside the old self and put on the new. We must never let our guard down, for the enemy of our soul takes great pleasure in our pain.

It is painful when we return to the old way of life.

If you are truly born again, your entire nature changes daily. We rise from the bed of death to the light of presence—a life with God.

The trouble with us is not so much in the mind, but in the spirit of the mind. The governing power of the mind should not be taken lightly. Remember, our ignorance is replaced with knowledge, and with it, we choose rightly.

In the life “with God,” we are in right standing with God (righteous) and set apart for His good purposes (holy).

We decide whether to experience the newness of life or the shadow of death. Before dawn becomes daylight, we decide whether to hear the voice of God or the voice of the world.

The Word and the Teacher

The Christian who Christ has truly taught will endeavor to walk in the truth. God’s Word is the truth, and Christ (through the Holy Spirit) is the Teacher. The Holy Spirit illuminates it will renew our minds and warn our souls.

The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple… Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Psalm 19:7 & 11 NASB.

Whenever we meditate on God’s word and perfectly obey it, we are true disciples living the new life. Our Father is both gracious and good. Even our anger is measured, and we give no room for the devil. We trust that whatever we do, it is as unto the Lord.

As the word pierces our minds and transforms them with the light of His love, the words we speak are good for building up one another. The Holy Spirit is not grieved but delighted. The Word helps us to be kind and tender-hearted, forgiving others because we are actively forgiven by God in Christ Jesus.

Trust me, we don’t have to strive and strain to be good, righteous, and holy. When we choose Christ and His word, we are living the new life—rightly and set on the good and perfect path.

Unguarded Hearts and Minds

The Lord God, our Father, is faithful to guard us against Satan taking possession of our minds. The key is to immerse ourselves in the Word, illuminated by the Holy Spirit. The whole counsel of God is in His Word.

Look around you, and what do you see?

Is it not fear and anxiety and troubled souls lost in social media and voices crying that the sky is falling? It is difficult to bring peace and confidence in the Sovereign God to those whose eyes are on the world.

What, at the core of this, is the problem? Instead of resisting the devil, those who may call themselves “Christian” have not put on the new life. They’ve laid down their shields and yielded their hearts to another. Their trust shifted and left them downright vulnerable.

The remedy is simple and maybe too simple in some people’s eyes.

They need to return to their first love. Turn their eyes on Jesus — look full into His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. He, and He alone, can guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Reflection

This is how we put off the old self and renew the spirit of our minds. God creates the new self in Christ Jesus, and we’ve entered His rest. The new self has a guarded heart.

If we faithfully believe in God and walk in His Word, we will resist the devil. We will not do what is contrary to God’s nature and will. We yield wholeheartedly to His counsel.

What happens to the soul is evident in our behavior, the decisions we make, and the way we think. Anger will not get the best of us. When we speak, it will be not in slander but encouragement — giving grace in love. We will not grieve the Spirit by keeping company with bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, or slander. You are not hard-hearted or unforgiving because our broken and contrite heart has been forgiven.

Listen, this is the truth. Matters of the heart are serious business. You will not be counted among those who have departed from the faith.

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, who consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. I Timothy 4:1-2, NIV.

Respond

Christ has given you a new heart in the newness of life. You need to guard it well. Although it is new, old nature likes to creep in and can take you unaware. So guard your heart.

We put on the new life and guard the new heart in our daily fellowship with God and pay close attention to His Word. A grateful heart is a guarded heart. The Lord will give us peace, and this is what we need to walk in the newness of life with God. Such is the peace of God—like the calm in the storm.

… The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:5b-7 NIV.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Your Son to save us, the Holy Spirit to teach us, and Your Word to guide us into all truth. Guard my heart, Lord. I know that You are here — as close as my breath and as near as my beating heart. Help me live with you in righteousness and holiness. Help me to put on the new life today and every day until we meet face to face. Thank you, my gracious Heavenly Father, for You. Amen

In Conclusion

We’ve learned a good lesson here.

Our active love relationship with the Lord is key to keeping us safe in the newness of life. He’s sent the Holy Spirit to guide us, teach us, and lead us into the truth—Jesus is the Truth. Our desire for the world fades in the light of His Word and His presence.

So let us put off the old self and on the new each day.

My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to My words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to a man’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:20–24 NIV.

Have a blessed day in the newness of life!