Put Some Clean Clothes On!

Ephesians 4:17-24 (17) This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,  (18)  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:  (19)  Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.  (20)  But ye have not so learned Christ;  (21)  If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:  (22)  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;  (23)  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;  (24)  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Everyone who is a Christian has received a change of nature. We are literally brand new creations. Take special note of this passage. – 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Our new life is not a matter of adding something new to our old nature. We are literally transformed and have been made something new! - Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

We must however be constantly reminded that our new nature is wearing what Dr. John MacArthur calls, “my humanness--the smelly coat that my new nature has to endure until it goes to be with the Lord.” What God calls you and I to do is take off that coat. - Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 

Not only are we to take off the old sinful clothing, but we are to put on the clothing of Christ-likeness. - Ephesians 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Perhaps this verse should be the driving force in a new direction for our lives… Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

In Ephesians 4:17 until the end of the Epistle, the Apostle Paul focuses on how you and I are to take off the clothing of sin, and live our lives clothed in newness after the image of Christ.

The Ephesians’ world was appealing to the clothing of sinful humanity…

1. They had the largest bank in the world, and one of the wealthiest cities in the world.
2. Ephesus housed a giant museum in the temple erected to the Greek goddess Diana which housed all types of art, including a multi-breasted beast representing Diana which became the trademark symbol of the wicked culture.
3. The temple to Diana was filled with prostitutes calling themselves priestesses, and the religious practice was that of sexual depravity and drunken parties.
4. The Christians there had a difficult time living separate from the wickedness of the city.

I think we can now clearly see that the culture of Ephesian living was not so much unlike our culture today. We still worship at the altar of humanism. We still pursue our gross sexual lust at all costs. We openly embrace every type of materialism as if success is measured only by wealth and power. We are a culture that refuses God, and accepts hedonism. 

Before we meet Christ, we are no different from the world system mentioned above. We are saturated in lives of selfishness and sinfulness as the scripture clearly states. - 1 Peter 4:3  For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

Yet, now we are clearly commanded to abstain from these types of wickedness. We are commanded to remove the old coat of sin and self. - 1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.

What we must remember as we look at this text that this is not the opinion of men, but the command of God! - Ephesians 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord,

Now we want to contrast and examine the old life and the new life, the old coat and the new coat. In verses 17-24 Paul does this with four contrasting characteristics. We have to understand that this is a matter of the heart and mind. It’s not a matter of reforming our actions, but a matter of changing our hearts. It’s a matter of genuine repentance. - Ephesians 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Ephesians 4:23  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

THE OLD WALK

SELF CENTEREDNESS - (17) This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, - This speaks of vanity! Self-centeredness! Solomon had everything and concluded that all was vain unless you served God! Oh that we might have the wisdom of Solomon. What does it profit us if we gain the whole world and lose our very own soul?

IGNORANCE - (18) Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: - No matter how educated a man may be, apart from Christ he is blind and unlearned. Apart from knowing Christ, he knows nothing of eternal value. What a pitiful condition Christians are in today. It seems we are pursuing all forms of knowledge, but lacking a deep knowledge of fellowship with Christ.

SHAMELESSNESS - (19) Who being past feeling – This speaks of the inability to have concern over the consequences of one’s actions. This is totally shameless behavior with no thought, care, or concern with how it affects anyone else.

PERVERSION - (19) Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. – Let’s examine this perverse living…

• Lasciviousness means, “Shameless wantonness and unblushing obscenity.” It was used to speak of sexual and violent obscenity. What drives our culture today?
• To work with greediness means they literally make their living from evil, violence, and sexual misconduct. What drives our evil commercial marketing today?
• The entire culture of Ephesus was built around making merchandise of and marketing everything sinful and wicked that appealed to the pleasures of men. Does this not sound like our culture today?

So now let’s consider what we are to do with those things?

1. We are not like that anymore! (20)  But ye have not so learned Christ
2. We are to make every exhaustive effort to abstain from wickedness. (22)  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man,

This passage stands as a strong reminder that we are to be different from the world. The sinful habits, perverse lusts, commitments to self and materialism, and indifference to serving Christ are to be a part of our past and not prevailing in the present. While the temptations to worldliness loom over head, we are to put on the new clothing of righteousness as we face each new day. Everything needed to in order to be suited with new attire has been provided: the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit, a new nature, the sacred scriptures, the local church, and the blessing of communion with God through prayer. To neglect dependency on any of these is to leave a portion of our lives unclothed and subject to be covered by the old attire of sin.

Prayer – Thank God today for making you a new creation in Christ. Praise Him for the great gift of salvation, and the gifts mentioned above which equip you for faithful living and committed service. Ask Him to examine your life and reveal any and every area in which repentance is needed. Plead on the behalf of other believers, and earnestly pray that He would do the same for them.