Christ Didn't teach you that
Book of Ephesians • Sermon • Submitted
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· 12 viewsOur Conduct should be distinct from the world
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Introduction:
Introduction:
17 “Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you.
Paul in this text tells the Corinthian believers to “Come out from their midst and be separate” this is a quote from an OT passage in Isaiah.
12 “For you will go out with joy And be led forth with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
11 Depart, depart, go out from there, Touch nothing unclean; Go out of the midst of her, purify yourselves, You who carry the vessels of the Lord.
Isaiah 55
-Isaiah is saying this in response to the Babylonian conquest of Judah. Some of the Israelites also went into captivity in Egypt. Jeremiah the prophet was one of them in captivity. Isaiah is calling the Israelites to come from Egypt Physically and Spiritually. Look at what he says:
a. Depart, Depart, go out from there(physical departure from Egypt)
b. Touch nothing unclean; Go out of the midst of her, purify yourselves(Spiritual departure from Egypt)
-When Paul quotes this text to the Corinthian Believers he is not calling for a Physical Departure from Corinth. You remember the pentecost was reversal of the OT principle of remaining in the city of Jerusalem. At Pentecost he says you will be my witnesses to the uttermost parts of the world. The physical call in the OT is “come back home” The physical call in the NT is Go. But the one thing that hasn’t changed is the spiritual call to “Come out from among the and be clean” this is Spiritual seperation from the world.
-In the NT there seems to be a running theme and that is “Be you Holy and Separate”
-Review:
We are to grow up!! no longer toss to and fro by every wind of doctrine.
We are to speak the truth to people in love. We should not create and environment at the church where folks cannot hear the truth about themselves in a loving manner.
3. Truth and Maturity lead to a growing and flourishing body of Christ.
Always—A mature Christian will live a life that is physically present in the world but spiritually distinct
I. You know better than that
I. You know better than that
eph 4:
17 So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,
(v.17) “So this I say” NASB “Now this I say and testify in the Lord” ESV The ESV has the best rendering of this phrase. This conjunction and subsequent phrase is a public declaration of vast importance. In our current vernacular we would say “Put this on record please” Paul is so confident in this next statement that he included “and affirm together with the Lord” This was Paul way of saying with emphasis that me & the Lord are on one accord and equally passionate about this issue.
Now this I say and dtestify in the Lord
(v.17) “that you walk”
Peripateo- Walk; Live; This word could be used to describe actually walking. Or it could be used metaphorically to describe daily living. The context determines that right definition. Example
35 So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes.
(v.35) You will notice in this text that Jesus is clearly not talking about actually walking around in physical darkness. He is using the light and dark metaphor to describe spiritual darkness and spiritual light. He is describing who live in a perpetual state of darkness don’t know where they are going.
17 So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,
(v.17) “So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk” This sounds like a rebuke. Clearly Paul was has had an update from the churches in Ephesus; maybe Timothy gave Paul a status report and Paul heard that the individuals in the church are in some ways behaving just like the world. So Paul gives a stern rebuke “no longer” The Ole saints might say it this way “you better than that” This is a command for us to not conduct business like the world. Paul is calling for Spiritual seperation from the world, not physical seperation. John the disciple picked up on this same principle:
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15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
-all of these rich scripture call us too walk in the world, but not allow the world system to conform us to itself. We are to swim against the current of the world system. Back in
Paul then goes on to describe the thinking of Gentiles:
17 So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,
(v.17) “So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind”
What does Paul mean in the futility of their mind?
a. Futility-Emptiness; nonsense; worthlessness
(v.17) Paul says that the Gentiles(Nations) chase after or pursue worthless & empty things. They are so blind that they cannot tell that what they chase has not eternal value. The look good to the world. In America our idols are: Safety, Security, and Success. We spend our lives chasing things that if we where too give our life to Jesus he would give us anyway.
Have you meet the young person that had life all figured out, but you tried to warn them of some decision that they are about to make, but they look at you and say “I know it was like that in your day, but now it is different”
-We often leave these conversation exhausted and say “A hard head makes us soft behind” Sometime folks have to learn on their own.
-But who often have we had conversation with unbelievers and they just will not accept your message unable to see the darkness that they are walking in. The leave that conversation confident that they know more about their life than their creator. Look at how God deals with the Spiritually Rebellious.
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1 Why are the nations in an uproar And the peoples devising a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers take counsel together Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us tear their fetters apart And cast away their cords from us!” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them.
(v.1) The Psalmist starts this Psalm by asking a question; Why are the nations troubled, which has caused them to start to devise a worthless plan?
(v.2) All of the world leaders get together and formulate a plan to come against the rule of “The Lord and against his Anointed” that is against God and his Son Jesus!
(v.3) Look what they say “Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us” Fetters are handcuffs. The Kings and Leaders of the world get together to say we know longer need God for his protection, guidance, or love. We are gods, we are the master of our own fate. Then look what God does in (v.4)
-This is one of three times; , , that the scripture says God laughs. In Each case he is laughing at those who try and defy him by making decision devoid of him.
Have you ever just imagine what it must be like to hear God bust out laughing?
4 He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them.
-Not only does God laugh he also “scoffs” this word means: jeer or talks about.
-Most of us never think of God laughing at people and talking about them. I am thinking that his audience is the Angels as he watches people make plans without acknowledging him.
Not only do Gentiles walk in the futility of their mind, it leads too:
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016. Print.
18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;
(v.18) “being darkened” this is present passive participle. That tells us that this darkening is a continual event, that is the natural result of intentionally walking away from God. Let me summarize; “the further people walk away from God, the stupider they become!” This is process that you cannot resist now matter how much you fight it. You may grow intellectually, you may grow relationally, you may grow socially, but you are still growing stupider everyday you turn your back on God, and do things your way.
18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;
(v.18) “being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;”
-Paul tells us what part of the psyche is darkened. The Gentile being darkened in their understanding.
Understanding “the mind as the faculty of understanding, feeling, desiring.”
Wuest, Kenneth S. Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader. Vol. 4. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997. Print.
-The mind is where a person is able to make wise, measured, and logical decision. Paul says that those who reject God’s counsel will begin to lack the ability, to make wise, measured, and logical decisions.
-This “darkening process” is something that you cannot resist no matter how much you fight it. You may grow intellectually, you may grow relationally, you may grow socially, but you are still growing stupider everyday in your understanding. Do you realize that Satan can know that you are growing Stupider everyday while at the same time reward you with worldly success.
18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;
(v.18) “ being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;”
-Paul says the Gentile is totally void of the life of God outside of the grace of God, only a recipient of God’s common grace.
(v.18) 18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;
(v.18) that word ignorance means:lack of knowledge. Let’s listen to Hosea on this one.
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6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
(v.6) This lack of knowledge is an intentional rejection of sound advice. This ignorance is an intentional attitude of bull headedness. Look at the outcome of this lack of knowledge “My people are destroyed”
eph 4:1
18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;
18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;
(v.18) hardness or dulness of their heart. This backs up Hosea verse in that this an intentional rebellion. Whereby which a person is ignorant and remains ignorant based on the “hardness and dulness” of their own heart. Now watch what Paul says about what happens to their heart
19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.
19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.
a. Callous-perfect, active, particle; this is the only usage of this greek word in the NT. A perfect verb conveys a past completed act that his present implication. “having been punched in the mouth, my jaw hurts” the punching was completed in the past, but my the implication of that punch resonate in the present. This tells us that the understanding has been so darkened that it has become callous, which is a finished process that has present implication. Listen to Kenneth Wuest on this verb:
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Wuest’s Word Studies in the Greek New Testament Chapter Four
The word means, “to cease to feel pain or grief, to become callous, insensible to pain, apathetic.” Expositors says: “It expresses the condition, not of despair merely, but of moral insensibility, ‘the deadness that supervenes when the heart has ceased to be sensible to the stimuli of the conscience’ (Ellicott).”
- Summary: “He Gone” Now a word of warning. This can happen to a Christian and this is when God just takes folks on home. It is rare, but it still happens.
eph 4:1
19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.
The word means, “to cease to feel pain or grief, to become callous, insensible to pain, apathetic.” Expositors says: “It expresses the condition, not of despair merely, but of moral insensibility, ‘the deadness that supervenes when the heart has ceased to be sensible to the stimuli of the conscience’ (Ellicott).”
Wuest, Kenneth S. Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader. Vol. 4. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997. Print.
19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.
(v.19) “have given” is an active verb meaning that this is not something that just happens to them, but something they actively pursue. The word given is paradidmi; which means to give oneself over to someone else; to hand over. it is used in
22 And while they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men;
-Notice that Jesus says “the son of man is going to be delivered into the hands of men”
This text tell us that “the Gentile” actively gives themselves over “to sensuality” or licentiousness. This is an interesting word it means: absence of restraint, insatiable desire for pleasure. Sexual excess & brutality. This word describes person that sin to fullest extent of satisfaction. They don’t dip in it they dive in head first. Like a pig in mud.
This text tell us that “the Gentile” actively gives themselves over “to sensuality” or licentiousness.
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19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.
19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.
(v.19) “For the Practice” I am glad Paul put this in the text. Because as a Christian I am capable of falling into the grossest of sins, but the key is that as a Christian under the power of the HS won’t stay in the slop. But those in the world “Practice” this behavior’s. So yes as Christians we are capable of losing our temper, stealing, adultery, arrogance, and greed. The key difference is that we don’t stay in that stuff.
(v.19) The Gentile will make up all kinds of impurity. There will not be any thing that they won’t engage in....Even know they will make up sins. Sex robots, Nuclear Weapons that can destroy millions of people in an instant.
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10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. 11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!
2 Peter 3:10-12
-I can’t say for sure what’s going to happen but this text surely sounds like a nuclear holocaust where the world as we know it will melt away from intense heat. This is result of giving “Callous, hearted mankind this kind of power” at some point the leaders of the world will decide that the only way to solve the worlds problem is to start firing nuclear weapons. Right now as we speak foreign diplomats are trying to keep the world stage from erupting. China is slowly becoming a world power(They are nuclear), and Russia the sleeping Bear is solidifying their relationship to China(They are also nuclear), The power alliance between the US and the UK is weakening. You can see the world stage going to a National Standoff between nations with enough firepower to destroy the Earth and it’s atmosphere. All because Man has said God we don’t need you!! But our Lord laughs as these nations align themselves against him.
Conclusion-Listen to Isaiah write very sarcastically about those who try do life without God
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6 “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me. 7 ‘Who is like Me? Let him proclaim and declare it; Yes, let him recount it to Me in order, From the time that I established the ancient nation. And let them declare to them the things that are coming And the events that are going to take place. 8 ‘Do not tremble and do not be afraid; Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it? And you are My witnesses. Is there any God besides Me, Or is there any other Rock? I know of none.’ ” 9 Those who fashion a graven image are all of them futile, and their precious things are of no profit; even their own witnesses fail to see or know, so that they will be put to shame. 10 Who has fashioned a god or cast an idol to no profit? 11 Behold, all his companions will be put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are mere men. Let them all assemble themselves, let them stand up, let them tremble, let them together be put to shame. 12 The man shapes iron into a cutting tool and does his work over the coals, fashioning it with hammers and working it with his strong arm. He also gets hungry and his strength fails; he drinks no water and becomes weary. 13 Another shapes wood, he extends a measuring line; he outlines it with red chalk. He works it with planes and outlines it with a compass, and makes it like the form of a man, like the beauty of man, so that it may sit in a house. 14 Surely he cuts cedars for himself, and takes a cypress or an oak and raises it for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a fir, and the rain makes it grow. 15 Then it becomes something for a man to burn, so he takes one of them and warms himself; he also makes a fire to bake bread. He also makes a god and worships it; he makes it a graven image and falls down before it. 16 Half of it he burns in the fire; over this half he eats meat as he roasts a roast and is satisfied. He also warms himself and says, “Aha! I am warm, I have seen the fire.” 17 But the rest of it he makes into a god, his graven image. He falls down before it and worships; he also prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god.” 18 They do not know, nor do they understand, for He has smeared over their eyes so that they cannot see and their hearts so that they cannot comprehend. 19 No one recalls, nor is there knowledge or understanding to say, “I have burned half of it in the fire and also have baked bread over its coals. I roast meat and eat it. Then I make the rest of it into an abomination, I fall down before a block of wood!” 20 He feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has turned him aside. And he cannot deliver himself, nor say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”
9 Those who fashion a graven image are all of them futile, and their precious things are of no profit; even their own witnesses fail to see or know, so that they will be put to shame. 10 Who has fashioned a god or cast an idol to no profit? 11 Behold, all his companions will be put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are mere men. Let them all assemble themselves, let them stand up, let them tremble, let them together be put to shame. 12 The man shapes iron into a cutting tool and does his work over the coals, fashioning it with hammers and working it with his strong arm. He also gets hungry and his strength fails; he drinks no water and becomes weary. 13 Another shapes wood, he extends a measuring line; he outlines it with red chalk. He works it with planes and outlines it with a compass, and makes it like the form of a man, like the beauty of man, so that it may sit in a house. 14 Surely he cuts cedars for himself, and takes a cypress or an oak and raises it for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a fir, and the rain makes it grow. 15 Then it becomes something for a man to burn, so he takes one of them and warms himself; he also makes a fire to bake bread. He also makes a god and worships it; he makes it a graven image and falls down before it. 16 Half of it he burns in the fire; over this half he eats meat as he roasts a roast and is satisfied. He also warms himself and says, “Aha! I am warm, I have seen the fire.” 17 But the rest of it he makes into a god, his graven image. He falls down before it and worships; he also prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god.” 18 They do not know, nor do they understand, for He has smeared over their eyes so that they cannot see and their hearts so that they cannot comprehend. 19 No one recalls, nor is there knowledge or understanding to say, “I have burned half of it in the fire and also have baked bread over its coals. I roast meat and eat it. Then I make the rest of it into an abomination, I fall down before a block of wood!” 20 He feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has turned him aside. And he cannot deliver himself, nor say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”
Isaiah 44:
6 “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me. 7 ‘Who is like Me? Let him proclaim and declare it; Yes, let him recount it to Me in order, From the time that I established the ancient nation. And let them declare to them the things that are coming And the events that are going to take place. 8 ‘Do not tremble and do not be afraid; Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it? And you are My witnesses. Is there any God besides Me, Or is there any other Rock? I know of none.’ ”
-Don’t be like those in the world chasing metal & wood idols “You know better than that”
Open up the doors of the Church