A New Self

A New Self

Here is the big idea this morning – Your identity dictates your actions.  When you change your identity, it changes how you live. 

Ephesians 4:17-24

Context/Story

The larger narrative lands us in a passage that is focusing on the unity and maturity of believers. Chapters 1-3 Our identity, Chapters 4-6 our actions.  Salvation cannot be earned.  But there are some things we are called to live out as believers.  How do we do that? By putting off our old self, and putting on our new self.  

The passage this morning is a simple one to understand but a difficult one to put into practice.  Christian maturity is not about knowing all the right things.  It is about living out those right things.  Practicing what we preach.  Knowledge is the easiest part of it all. 

Put off Your Old Self (22)

There is a massive difference between the Christian and the world.  Don’t be like the Gentiles.  

• Futility of their minds

• • • We live in a world that wants to hear, “You’re smart. You’re very insightful. Your arguments are airtight. The friends you’ve chosen are all brilliant. And God agrees with you, you’re never wrong, you are always right!”
    • But You know what Paul says? If you are living according to the world, “Your head is broken, your mind doesn’t work, you are a fool.”
      • Your mind, your thoughts, your reasoning, your convictions, your assumptions are FUTILE
      • “Well Brandon, I don’t think it’s such a big deal”  “that’s the entire point!  What you think cannot be trusted!  Your mind is not working right!”  
      • Well Brandon, I read some books, I watched some videos…” Written and recorded by people whose minds are futile!
      • Brandon, that is so offensive! Yep! Paul wrote it…he’s in prison… Now you know why.

• Darkened in Understanding

• • • Nobody ever thinks that their understanding is darkened.  Everyone believes that they can see clearly. 
    • “No, I know where I am going, and I am a good person.  We are creating a new utopia, America is going to be tolerant, and diverse, and everyone will have equity, and we are going to overthrow the white, cis-gender patriarchy.  We just need more people who THINK LIKE I DO.
      • Then what happens is that people come together, and they reinforce one another. They join social media pages which advocate their cause, they only follow news stations that support their perspective, They unfriend everyone who disagrees with them.  
        • It becomes an Echo Chamber of ignorance. 

• Hard-hearted

• •  they are not just victims lacking information.  They have a hard heart
    • The Bible talks about the heart more than 900 times.  It is the center, the core, the very nucleus of who we are, and when our heart is soft, we are willing to learn, to grow, to change when prodded.  But a hard heart is like a stone,  you don’t mold a stone.  Stones don’t change.  
      • “I’m right. You’re wrong. You’ve failed. I’ve not. You owe me. I disagree. They will say to God, You need to change. Maybe even that Book you wrote—we need to edit that thing because I found some problems.  And then along comes a parade of teachers and authors and professors and pastors who say, “Well, futile minds and darkened understanding leads to a good income stream. There’s a huge market for those with a hard heart.”
  • If you are living like that. Separated from God…the truth is, It really doesn’t matter what we think about ourselves. We’re not going to die, stand before a mirror.  No, we are all going to die and stand before the almighty God of the universe.  The righteous judge.  And He is not using your moral compass as His guide.
    • Callused – prolonged pressure upon a point over time 
      • Guitar, Gardening, hammer – What used to hurt doesn’t hurt anymore! – What used to bother you, doesn’t bother you anymore! – What used to make you feel guilty…well you don’t feel guilty anymore. 
    • This is why there is an urgent need.  Because it is entirely possible that repeated sin will sear your conscience, and you will never have victory over your sin.  
      • One notable pastor…
• What will you do with your old self? (Every person here has 2 options) 
  • Option #1 – Keep it – Defend it – Justify it
    • Paul says to the non-Christian, “You are a fool, You are blind, and you are hard hearted.”  Hate speech.  Intolerance! Offensive! Don’t you know that words are violence?!  We can’t have people reading a book that says such things! Imagine what it would do to people’s self esteem?!  
      • But the proof of the pudding is in the eating church. It might look good, but until you taste it, until you experience it, you won’t know if it is actually good or not.  Vs 19 is the fruit of a worldly life.  Sensuality, Greed, and Impurity
    • When you place your identity in your sin, your actions will follow suit. (2x)
      • I’m not just talking about the Gay pride movement, or the Transgenderism movement, although those do apply here.
        • Abortion – (six times more likely to commit suicide than women who gave birth)
        • Alcohol Addiction, Greed, Status, Fame – You pursue them with everything you have
        • Vs 22 – calls these deceitful desires. Idols who promise life, but only deliver death.
          • Pastor Brandon, I really want to walk out on my marriage – Deceitful Desire
          • Look at that website – Deceitful Desire
          • Go home with that girl – Deceitful Desire
    • For the non-Christian – You need a new nature, you need a new heart, your hope isn’t in you.  You have no other nature than the one that is killing you.  You need Christ. You need His salvation.  
      • Good news is that it is a free gift.  
  • Option #2 – Kill it 
    • Colossians 3:5-9 – Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices
    • Where are you still clinging to your old self?
      • Romans 6:6-7 – We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.
    • How can we break free practically?
      • By putting on a new self!!!  We can’t take off our old nature and replace it with nothing!

Put on Your New Self (20-21, 23-24)

• • You are not who you once were!  The Bible uses the language of born again, regeneration, new creation, new person, new man, new life, new self, new you.  
    • This is so radical when this happens in the Bible that sometimes people get new names. Abram becomes Abraham, and Sarai becomes Sarah, and Cephas becomes Peter, and Saul becomes Paul
    • Righteousness, Holiness, Truth
  • Transformation
    • Positional Reality – God sees you, and will forever see you as a new creation.  Your old self is gone, your sins are gone, you are totally covered by the blood of Jesus.  
    • Physical Struggle – Until Jesus finishes what he started in you when He saved you, you will have to fight a battle between the old self and then new.  You will have to continually put your old, sinful, fleshly desires to death, and keep reminding yourself of your new Identity in Jesus Christ.
      • Which one is going to win? – The one you feed.  

• For the Christian, It is a battle of the mind!

• • You don’t have to pay penance, you don’t have to clean yourself up.  You need to be reminded.  You are not guilty, you are forgiven.  You are not hated, you are loved.  You are not distant, you have been brought near.  You are not alienated, you are reconciled.  God is not angry with you, He loves you.  You don’t need to pay God back, He already paid your debt. You don’t need to clean yourself up, You need to live out your new identity. 
    • It is a mental battle!
  • 2nd Corinthians 10:5b – take every thought captive to obey Christ
  • Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

You Don’t Have To Fight Alone (Conclusion)

• You fight the old by putting on the new.  
  • Prayer – we have some awesome prayer warriors that are praying for you right now.  Perhaps next week, you should join them.  
  • Study of the Word – Join one of our Bible studies – Discipleship 1
  • Fellowship – Celebration Groups signups are starting this week. Get in a group.  Let us help you get there.