15.13 WALK – You should no longer walk in the old man
The verse below tells us that we should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles (unbelievers) walk, in the futility of their mind.
(Eph 4:17-24)
17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should NO LONGER WALK as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you PUT OFF, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you PUT ON THE NEW MAN which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
The law-based Christian will read this verse and say, “We must behave as Christians. We should not be lewd, unclean and greedy. This is what God expects of a Christian. We must be righteous and holy. If you obey God, you will be blessed.”
Can you identify with that? That would be like trying to walk before learning how to sit!
Let us read the verse in its context. The unbeliever walks like that because he does not have the revelation of the gospel. Their minds have been darkened.
What is the revelation? When you believed in Jesus (faith), you became a new creation. You received a new nature in Christ – the new man. This new man is created in righteousness and holiness by Christ. Your sinful self – called the old man has been crucified on the cross. If you have this revelation, you have learnt how to sit.
So it is not about a Christian trying to keep the law to try to be righteous and holy. It is about what Christ has done – He has made you righteous and holy. What we need is to be conscious of this truth. When we are conscious, we put on the consciousness of the new man. When we do so, the power of God will work in us to cause us to walk in the nature of Christ – in righteousness and holiness. We start to bear fruit if the Spirit.
So when we have learnt how to sit, we will be able to walk. We will no longer walk in the old man. The key is to sit well.
(Eph 4:17-24)
17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should NO LONGER WALK as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you PUT OFF, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you PUT ON THE NEW MAN which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
The law-based Christian will read this verse and say, “We must behave as Christians. We should not be lewd, unclean and greedy. This is what God expects of a Christian. We must be righteous and holy. If you obey God, you will be blessed.”
Can you identify with that? That would be like trying to walk before learning how to sit!
Let us read the verse in its context. The unbeliever walks like that because he does not have the revelation of the gospel. Their minds have been darkened.
What is the revelation? When you believed in Jesus (faith), you became a new creation. You received a new nature in Christ – the new man. This new man is created in righteousness and holiness by Christ. Your sinful self – called the old man has been crucified on the cross. If you have this revelation, you have learnt how to sit.
So it is not about a Christian trying to keep the law to try to be righteous and holy. It is about what Christ has done – He has made you righteous and holy. What we need is to be conscious of this truth. When we are conscious, we put on the consciousness of the new man. When we do so, the power of God will work in us to cause us to walk in the nature of Christ – in righteousness and holiness. We start to bear fruit if the Spirit.
So when we have learnt how to sit, we will be able to walk. We will no longer walk in the old man. The key is to sit well.
posted by Joshua Lye @ 10:36 PM
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