Paul’s Plea

PAUL’S PLEA Ephesians 4:17-20 Review • Paul has been describing Christian stability. • His focus has been collective – teachers equip all the saints for the good of the body. • Now Paul turns the focus to the individual Christian. But even more narrowly, to the way every Christian thinks. Paul’s Admonition • New Direction: “Now” gives a new direction of focus (not a whole change of topic). • Present-ness: “I am saying … I am begging … that you no longer be walking …” • Pleading: Saying and testifying has a different tone than “commanding” • Departure: Gentile thinking is a default setting and a life-long struggle The Gentile Walk • • - Walk – life characterized by a way of thought Futility – empty/vain (22 OT categories) Wealth (Proverbs 13:11; Ecclesiastes 2:26) Idolatry (Psalm 31:6; Isaiah 57:13; many others) Lies (Proverbs 21:6) Physical Beauty (Proverbs 31:30) Hedonism (Ecclesiastes 2:1) Scholarship (Ecclesiastes 2:15) Successful Business (Ecclesiastes 2:11) Many Words (Ecclesiastes 5:7; 6:11) The Gentile Walk • • - Results: darkened, alienation, ignorance (all present effects; all disastrous – see Romans 1:21 and Ephesians 2:12) Root – Hardness of Heart Pharaoh Refusal – Exodus 7:13-14 Israel’s Complaining – Psalm 95:8 Pharisaical Self-Righteousness – Mark 3:5 Christians in Persecution – Hebrews 3:8, 15; 4:7 Refusing to Honor the Creator – Romans 1:21 The Gentile Walk • • • Calloused – NIV probably gives the best sense, “having lost all sensitivity.” Sensual – any sin that becomes excessive and flagrant – drunken debauchery, promiscuity, organized violence, etc. Covetous – all the sins that Paul has in mind are, at their core, idolatrous. The Christ Walk • • • Major Shift – the rest of the book of Ephesians is a description of the Christ walk Christ – Paul deliberately uses the word “Messiah” rather than other titles/names Learn – “Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29) A Personal Example • Gentile-Thinking: My biggest problems are outside of me. • Christ-Learning: “For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts … all these evil things come from within and they defile a person” (Mark 7:21-23)