OUR FATHER WHO CREATED A NEW MAN IN US

The apostle Paul, in the fourth chapter of the letter to the Ephesians from verses 17 - 32, adjures believers to comport themselves in a way that is befitting of those who have been granted access to the knowledge of Christ.

To emphasize the change of conduct believers must undergo, Paul contrasts the former way of life that was driven by dark impulses guided by darkened minds with the new way of life of righteousness and holiness.

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.

25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. 26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary [h]edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

The apostle gives a listing of behaviors and attitudes that are symptoms of the fallen man;

• Futility of mind
• Darkened understanding
• Alienated from God
• Ignorant
• Blind at heart
• Insensitive
• Unclean
• Greedy
• Corrupt
• Lustful
• Telling lies
• Thievery
• Corrupt speaking
• Bitterness
• Wrath
• Anger
• Clamor (obstreporously noisy)
• Malice

To counter these tendencies of the old man, the apostle also gives us a listing of righteous conduct in our passage;

• Learning of Christ
• Listening to Christ
• Teachable by Christ
• Renewed mind
• Truthful
• Longsuffering
• Crowding out the devil
• Generosity
• Edifier of the body
• Peace with God 
• Kindness
• Soft-hearted
• Forgiving

Amen

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