Introduction and The Law of Replacement Tonight we’re in Ephesians chapter 4 please, verse 22. The dedication of our minds. We begin reading in verse 22 and read through verse 24.
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
So here’s again the law of replacement: that ye put off concerning the old, the former conversation, the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. Now when you read that verse, and again as you meditate on this verse… which is corrupt. So what do you first think of? We’re trying to get the idea here of not just memorizing scripture and just reading scripture to say “I’ve reformed what I needed to”… so what comes to your mind?
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt. So what do you think of when you say which is corrupt? What you want to do is you want to draw—now obviously the apostle Paul is, “ye” plural, talking to the church at Ephesus—so then if Paul were here saying this, then it should make you look inwardly to the corruption of your own flesh. And once you do that, according to the deceitful lust, then you say, “Yeah, I got a problem.”
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind. So now you see the corruptness, but now you see there’s an avenue to follow. And that ye put on—so now you have the renewed man. You just put off the former conversation and now you put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Transitioning from the Substandard So we’re looking at the dedication of our minds and first we want to see in verse number 22: transitioning from the substandard. So if you’re going to transition from the substandard, you’re going to look at verse 22—that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man—because that is substandard.
Notice please in James 4:4. Why does James, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, mention: Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?
What is substandard? Friend[ship of the world]. Why does God use the term adulterers and adulteresses? This is spiritual adultery… a betrayal spiritually here between Christ and us. And then He says the friendship of the world, which is substandard, is enmity with God. That word enmity… is hostility. We have to get in the mindset that friendship with the world is not “Well, God just doesn’t prefer [it]”; no, He said it’s hostile. Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is an enemy of God.
A Determination to Rid What is Detrimental Let’s break this down please. All right, so we have action here. Notice that ye put off: lay aside or rid yourselves. Literally means removing dirty clothing that needs laundering… so you put off, here’s the action.
Concerning the former conversation the old man: there’s the what. So the earlier way of life and behavior of the sin nature, so we’re going to put it off.
Then we’re going to look at which is corrupt according to deceitful lust, so there’s the why. The old nature that you and I possess is ruined and spoiled according to its deceitfully strong desires and cravings. Stop right there. Strong desires and cravings. Spoiled meat, spoiled fruit, spoiled vegetables, spoiled food. Notice what God says: that old nature is spoiled, it’s rotten.
Now let’s look at Proverbs 23:7 please. Notice what God says about the heart: For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.
Notice in Luke 6:45: A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
So a parent was telling their little boy, “Sit down, sit down.” The parent guided him over to the chair, sat him down. The boy said, “I’m sitting, but inside I’m still standing.” In his heart, “I’m still standing” in defiance to his father.
Transitioning to a Higher Standard So now we want to look at transitioning to a higher standard. So transitioning from the substandard… now again the law of replacement, we’re looking at now a determined attitude. Verse 23: And be renewed in the spirit of your mind. A renewing attitude of your mind and disposition.
Psalm 51:10: Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. So why is David saying this? He’s having a determined attitude. He’s removing from the substandard… his determined attitude was “I can’t do it by myself. Create in me a clean heart.” You might have to go through some turbulence to get there, humility to get there.
A Decisive Act Not only this, but we have to have a decisive act and we’re going to see that in verse 24: And that ye put on the new man. So that means clothe yourself or wear Christlikeness.
Romans 13:14: But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.
Also Colossians 3 and verse 10: And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.
And then in Romans 12 and verse two: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. Transformed means a change in form, metamorphoo… what comes to mind? A butterfly, right? What goes into the cocoon? A caterpillar. Comes out totally different.
Renewing means to revive or reawaken. They say when the butterfly is working its way out of the cocoon, it’s for a purpose. It’s working hard. And if you would open the cocoon to let the butterfly out, it will never fly because when it’s striving to come out, it’s pumping fluid to the wings. The illustration is: we want easy street. We just want it to just come natural… No, you’re going to take up your cross and follow Me, Jesus Christ said.
The abundant Christian life… is victorious Christian living. And that relates to Canaan. Canaan is not heaven… Canaan is victorious Christian living. And when they went into Canaan, they just waited right? No, they strategically started in the center and worked their way out… for seven years. Victorious Christian living: you’re going to have to put the effort, but you do it with the Lord Jesus Christ.
God’s Thoughts and the Word Turn please to Isaiah 55 and verse number six.
Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near… For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
God’s thoughts, plans, and ambitions for us are well beyond ours. Isaiah 40:13: Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counselor hath taught him?
Romans 11:34: Who hath known the mind of the Lord? We would conclude that no being could teach God or counsel Him… no created beings are qualified to contribute anything to enlighten or direct God.
When our thinking lines up with God’s, the reawakening that God had planned all along will occur.
Hebrews 4:12: For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword… piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The word of God keeps our minds and hearts tender to God and tender to His leading. If you turn to John chapter 15 please and verse three… Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. John 17:17: Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
In John 17 we have… the High Priestly prayer. Who is the Lord praying for? Those of us who are going to follow after Him. He already prayed that we would be one. If we’re not one, then it’s not His fault; He’s already given us the power.
Beholding the Glory of the Lord 2 Corinthians 3 and verse 18: But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. One looks into the face of Jesus through… the Word of God.
Turn please to Ephesians in chapter 5 and verse 18… and then go to Colossians 3:16. Christlikeness therefore equates to the empowering of the Holy Spirit and the controlling by the scriptures, which are one and the same.
Ephesians 5:18: And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess… but be filled with the Spirit.
And then Colossians 3:16: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.
So what is the parallel here? They’re one and the same. Because the Holy Spirit is going to magnify Jesus Christ, and to magnify Jesus Christ you have to magnify… the Word. You will not get the fullness of the Holy Spirit trying to say… “I’m going to do the best I can to live.” No, no, no. If you’re not immersing yourself in the scriptures, it’s not going to happen.
So the results of this then is going to be a singing spirit, a thankful spirit, and a submissive spirit. Singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord… Giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Conclusion Let’s finish off please in verse 24 of our text… which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. The new man is created in the sphere of a brightness… and the devotedness of absolute truth.
(Invitation Song: “Oh Jesus Lord and Savior”) I own no other master, my heart shall be thy throne. My life I give henceforth to live, O Christ for thee alone.
