G’morning!
I was reading in Ephesians 4:17-25 this morning I read a note I’d written in the margin: “After receiving the holy Ghost, you ARE this. These are descriptions of the nature within someone who is born again!” Did I write this down correctly? I’m sure it was from a sermon of yours. And it sounds like the description of someone with the Spirit but who is not living in the Spirit. This could be us if we are not following the Spirit and learning the things of God that He’s teaching us, right?
Amanda
17. This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18. having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart,
19. who, being past feeling, have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20. But you have not so learned Christ –
21. if so be that ye have heard him and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus _
22. that ye put off things related to the former conduct the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
23. and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24. and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25. Wherefore, putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
My notes jumped out this morning & made me curious…
Amanda
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Hi Amanda.
Your notes accurately reflect what I said. Since the righteousness of God that is revealed in this New Testament is a matter of the heart, every “commandment” found in New Testament books is actually only a description of that righteousness – which is the way those who walk in the Spirit are living, without anyone giving them commandments. Try to imagine those verses from Ephesians 4 as describing how Jesus lived; then, you can see that every “commandment” concerning holy living in the New Testament is just a description of how godly men and women live:
17. This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye are not walking as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18. having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart,
19. who, being past feeling, have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20. But you have not so learned Christ –
21. because ye have heard him and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus _
22. and you have put off things related to the former conduct the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
23. and you are renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24. and and you have put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25. Wherefore, you have also put away lying, and you speak every man truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
Get the picture?
Pastor John