TRANSFORMED BY CHRIST

I. BE RENEWED IN YOUR MIND (Ephesians 4:17-24)

A. Not Like Others (Ephesians 4:17-19)

B. The Way of Life (Ephesians 4:20-24)

2. GIVE NO PLACE TO THE DEVIL (Ephesians 4:25—5:2)

A. No Lying, Angry Outbursts, or Stealing (Ephesians 4:25-28)

B. No Harmful Words or Grievous Acts (Ephesians 4:29-30)

C. Kind and Loving Followers (Ephesians 4:31—5:2)

3. LIVE IN CHRIST’S LIGHT (Ephesians 5:3-14)

A. Prohibitions (Ephesians 5:3-4)

B. Relationships (Ephesians 5:5-7)

C. Children of Light (Ephesians 5:8-14) 

Central Truth: Christians should reflect Christ’s transforming power in their lives every day. 

Focus: Examine how Christ transforms believers and be transformed by Him. 

Evangelism Emphasis: Lives are transformed when people accept Christ. 

Text: “Walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour” (Ephesians 5:2). 

INTRODUCTION 

The Bible identifies Christians as “strangers” and “pilgrims”; however, we should never forget that while our true citizenship is in Heaven, we still retain a citizenship on earth (1 Peter 2:11; Phil. 3:20). While a member of two kingdoms, we are called to live by the principles of God’s kingdom while existing physically for a time in the kingdom of this world. 

As Christians, we have experienced the new birth and been adopted into the family of God. We are not perfect and will not be until the end of the age. But between the period of regeneration and glorification, we live a life separated unto God. 

Our new lifestyle involves a new estrangement. Before accepting Christ, we loved the world, and the world loved us. But when we became reconciled to God, we became estranged from the world. Jesus said His disciples are not of this world, but He also said they are in the world (John 17:11, 16). Jesus said that as the Father sent Him into the world, so He has sent His disciples into the world (v. 18). This is the great paradox of the Christian life. We live in the world but are not of the world. 

Charles Swindoll said, “If you are a ‘Sunday Christian,’ you will not stand alone when outnumbered. Apart from a personal and vital faith in Christ, it is impossible to wage a winning effort against the system called ‘the world.’” 

I.  BE RENEWED IN YOUR MIND 

A.  Not Like Others (Ephesians 4:17-19) 

 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. 

In the first 16 verses of this chapter, Paul emphasizes unity. He puts forth a plea for believers to live a life worthy of their calling in Christ Jesus. Then after sharing the seven major areas of unity (vv. 4-6), the apostle points out areas where there can be diversity in the church while maintaining unity. 

Beginning in verse 17 and continuing to the end of the chapter, the apostle provides a comparative study of the differences between the old life and the new life. The intent is to recognize the influences of the past, throw them off, and establish new ones. It is this type of character development that provides us with a foundation for personal ethics. 

Paul begins with an insistent appeal: “So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord” (NIV). These issues have eternal consequences. And so no one will assume it’s just Paul sharing his personal views, the Lord’s authority in this comes to the forefront (“testify in the Lord”). If Christ himself were there with them, He would speak the same thing. 

Paul challenged the Ephesian believers to live differently than the Gentiles by separating themselves from a pagan lifestyle. And the beginning point is their “mind,” which includes their conscience and affections. So the logical conclusion is that as they adopt the mind of Christ, spiritual truth and moral values will triumph. 

In verse 18, Paul describes the condition of the pagans. “Having the understanding darkened” speaks of their inner spiritual darkness. This comes from their unbelief. There can be no inner enlightenment until an individual accepts Jesus Christ as Savior and experiences renewal. No wonder Paul earlier indicated how he prayed that the believers’ new enlightenment would enable them to know hope and the riches of glory (1:16-18). 

The unbelievers’ alienation refers to the results of the moral fall of the human race through Adam. Through his sin of eating the forbidden fruit, all of us are estranged from God, and our own efforts to be reconciled to God are futile. Only through Jesus Christ can we return to an enlightened spiritual condition and enjoy the citizenship of Heaven. 

The final phrase of 4:18 is better translated, “due to the hardening of their hearts” (NIV), which results in the insensitivity described in verse 19. Callousness of the heart keeps a person from experiencing moral pain when committing acts of sin. As a result, individuals then give themselves over to shameful, wanton sexuality. The depth and type of sins are pursued with greediness. One makes a business of practicing and enabling others to indulge in sensuality. An example of this is pornography, which sometimes hides under the heading of “artistic expression.” And sacred religious beliefs are defamed under the freedom of expression. 

• Can you name specific examples in recent years where governmental actions have supported the expression of shameless sin? 

B.  The Way of Life (Ephesians 4:20-24) 

 20 But ye 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 concerning the former conversation 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. 

This passage provides a contrast to the state of darkness described in the previous three verses. No one can claim salvation and still maintain the old ways of thinking and doing. 

Verse 20 reveals the sharp distinctive between the two lifestyles. To know Christ is to allow Him to dominate our entire being. We can know His teachings and the specifics of His life on earth, but we do not really learn of Christ until we experience Him through accepting His divinity and redemptive work on the cross. It is only when we experience the cleansing of our sins by His shed blood that we come into intimate relationship with Him. 

It is interesting how Paul refers to “Christ” in verse 20 but uses the name “Jesus” in verse 21. This reminds us of the dual nature of the Son of God. The title Christ reminds us of His divine office as mediator for our sins. The name Jesus indicates His humanity and identity as Jesus of Nazareth who bodily rose from the dead. 

Verse 22 indicates life in Christ includes a major change. The term conversation means “one’s mode of life, or pattern of living.” When a person experiences conversion, there must be a corresponding change of character and activities. The old pattern needs to be replaced by a new pattern. 

As Christians, we must “put off . . . the old man” (v. 22) and “put on the new man” (v. 24). Our new nature reflects the qualities of the Holy Spirit, namely “righteousness and true holiness.” Righteousness describes our relationship to other humans, while holiness relates to God. 

How does this transformation take place? We know our human frailties quickly undermine our best intentions. But that is the beauty of life in Christ. We are not in this struggle by ourselves. Rather, the Holy Spirit is there with us—empowering us to do what would be impossible alone. By ourselves, we fail to renew our minds. We lack the power to bring about the needed transformation. Many times we even lack the desire to be renewed. When anger, frustration, and the desire to retaliate flood our minds, the Holy Spirit enables us to push beyond and demonstrate a Christlike spirit. 

No Surprise 

I’m sure it comes as no surprise to most of us that we act out precisely what we take in. In other words, we become what we think.—Charles Swindoll 

2.  GIVE NO PLACE TO THE DEVIL 

A.   No Lying, Angry Outbursts, or Stealing (Ephesians 4:25-28) 

 25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 

Jesus said Satan is “a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44 NIV). Since this is true, for believers to lie to one another would be playing right into the devil’s devices. Jesus said of Himself, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (14:6). We belong to Jesus, so we belong to the truth; therefore we should always be truthful. We are no longer of the world, so our actions must change to reflect the new creations we have become. “Like putting off the old self and replacing it with the new self, so believers put off falsehood and put on the willingness to speak the truth” (The Life Application Commentary). 

In verse 26 of the text, we see anger is not necessarily sinful. There are times when anger is justified. Still, we are not to let it continue for long. We have the right to respond in controlled reaction to wrongs and sin, but we cannot allow our anger to consume us. If we do, we are as guilty as the one who caused the anger. It is never a question of what happens to us, but rather how we handle those things. 

The Gospels record Jesus showing anger when He twice overturned the tables of the moneychangers in the Temple. However, this was righteous anger (because they were stealing from the people), and He did not sin. 

Paul’s words in verse 28 seem obvious, since stealing is prohibited by the Ten Commandments. However, he is saying that those who have been redeemed from a lifestyle that included such vices as theft should never let their old nature control them. Now they should work honestly, and God will bless them.

• Why is dishonesty so damaging to the body of Christ? 

• When does anger become sinful? 

B.   No Harmful Words or Grievous Acts (Ephesians 4:29-30) 

 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 

Christians should maintain a high standard of speech. We should avoid slander, gossip, coarse language, or any word that is insensitive to others. We should be wise in our choice of phrasing, ever aware that we are witnesses for Christ. Words have power for good, as well as evil. We are the Church—Christ’s body on earth. Our words should build up one another. 

Because we belong to Christ, the Holy Spirit is living in us. Imagine Jesus standing in person next to us at all times. Anything we might do that would embarrass or sadden Him also grieves the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit’s power in us empowers us to live for Christ. We either yield to Him or to our old sinful nature. If we say yes to the Holy Spirit, He will guide our speech and actions, making sure they express kindness to everyone. 

It is amazing to think that our words and deeds have an impact on the Lord himself. We are of utmost importance to Him, so how we live, speak, and act can either sadden Him or make Him proud of us. His Spirit living within us is our guarantee of eternal salvation. 

The Power of Words 

Words—so innocent and powerful as they are, standing in a dictionary; how potent for good and evil they become, in the hands of one who knows how to combine them!—Nathaniel Hawthorne 

C.  Kind and Loving Followers (Ephesians 4:31—5:2) 

 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.  

 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 

As long as we have contact with people, there will be disagreements and opportunity for conflict. No two people—even the most devout believers—will agree on everything. However, we can agree to disagree on certain issues and still maintain Christian fellowship. All the sins listed in verse 31 are part of our old nature, the nature we are to put away. None of them have any place in the heart of the believer who has the Holy Spirit living inside. Instead, God’s indwelling Spirit helps us to be kind, compassionate, and forgiving, as Christ has been to us. 

Paul begins chapter 5 by appealing to the Ephesians to be “followers of God.” Followers is from the Greek word meaning “to imitate.” Every occurrence of the word in the New Testament is in the context of moral living. The primary trait of followers of God is that they follow “as dear children” who lovingly obey their parents. 

In verse 2, Paul extends his command to be followers of God with a command to “walk in love.” The expanded translation of the opening phrase would be to “walk/conduct your lives in the sphere/realm of love.” The Christian’s life is to be lived within the boundaries of love. 

The Christian’s walk is to be conducted in comparison to the way in which Christ conducted Himself in the sphere of love. The action of Christ specified is the giving of Himself for us “an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance” (v. 2 Amp.). 

• Why must Christians get rid of “all” the things listed in 4:31? How is this possible? 

3.  LIVE IN CHRIST’S LIGHT 

A.  Prohibitions (Ephesians 5:3-4) 

 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 

Paul explicitly defines what it means to have a loving relationship with God. This definition includes six prohibitions. The first three emphasize personal selfishness: fornication, uncleanness, and covetousness. Covetousness, meaning “greediness,” summarizes the previous two. All three refer to practices fulfilling personal lust. 

The latter part of verse 3 places these prohibitions in the context of faithfulness to God. Avoiding them is not just an act of self-improvement; rather, it is an act that “becometh saints.” It is a matter of consistent faithfulness to God. 

The second group of prohibitions emphasizes relationships with others. Filthiness refers to actions that are shameful and obscene in appearance to others. Foolish talking and jesting refer to speech that harms others. 

As with the first group, the second group of prohibitions is a matter of relationship with God. Practicing these is “not convenient,” meaning “not fitting.” They are not part of the Christian life and are inconsistent with knowing God. They represent a haughty spirit rather than one of thankfulness to God. 

• How can a thankful spirit help us to lead clean lives? 

B.  Relationships (Ephesians 5:5-7) 

 5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 

In verses 3 and 4, Paul addresses how our relationship with God should affect our relationship with others. He reverses the emphasis in verses 5-7. 

We are influenced by others. Those with whom we associate help to shape our lives, and sometimes we become a reflection of each other. Therefore, we must use caution in the selection of our close associates. 

Different kinds of unbelievers are listed in verse 5. “Whoremonger” refers to someone given over to sexual immorality. The word is translated from the Greek word pornos, from which the English word pornography is derived. “Unclean person” refers to someone who does not live a morally pure life. “Covetous” refers to one who is greedy and self-centered. “Idolater” summarizes those previously named. Their lifestyle results from a life without God, a life given over to worshiping someone or something else. 

Verse 6 stresses that God will judge the consequences of a life not committed to Him. Therefore, we must not allow ourselves to be deceived by “empty arguments [that encourage (us) to sin]” (Amp.). Sometimes, close associations with unbelievers can influence us to an attitude of disobedience, although we may not do the same things as our non-Christian associates. Externally there may be a difference, but we may develop a heart of disobedience. 

“Partakers” (v. 7) means “those who possess the same.” The word stresses the kind of relationship in which what influences one person influences the other. It refers to matters of the heart as much as to practice. Two individuals become the same kind of person. Paul warns believers not to allow the sentiments and commitments of the world to influence them. 

Faithful Amid Persecution 

It is not easy to be a faithful follower of Jesus when: 

1. Teaching our family, friends, and neighbors about Jesus can cost us our lives. 
2. Worshiping with our fellow believers invites wholesale slaughter by Islamic militants. 
3. Holding fast to our faith in Jesus and refusing to pledge allegiance to any other name results in beatings, torture, imprisonment, or death. 
4. Standing for the truth of what God says in His Word leads to scorn, hatred, and exclusion from our communities because it is not politically correct.—I Am N (Voice of the Martyrs) 

C.  Children of Light (Ephesians 5:8-14) 

 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 

Paul’s mention of being “darkness” or being “light” (v. 8) refers to the condition in which the believer once lived and should now live. Darkness refers to an immoral and obscure existence. Light refers to a lifestyle that receives the perception needed to lead a meaningful life. 

The phrase “in the Lord” (v. 8) is decisive to understanding what Paul means by “light.” Unlike pagan sects which based their “light” on a variety of sources, Paul bases the “light” of the Christian “in the Lord.” As Christians, our light is within the power, authority, and origin of Christ. We should “walk [live, conduct ourselves] as children of light” (v. 8), because the Light, the Lord, exists in the midst of “all goodness and righteousness and truth” (v. 9). 

Walking as children of light “[proves] what is acceptable unto the Lord” (v. 10). “Proving” means to receive something and then, by using it, find it to be of good quality. “Acceptable” indicates things that are of good pleasure to the Lord. When we are obedient, we experience those things which please the Lord. 

“And” at the beginning of verse 11 indicates that in addition to walking in the light, we are to reprove (expose) the works of darkness (vv. 11-13). These are coordinating activities that complement each other. Instead of being in common association and bond with darkness (“fellowship”), we are to “reprove” darkness. Reprove comes from a Greek word which means “to bring to light, to expose, to reveal hidden things, to convict or convince, to correct, to punish, to discipline” (Linguistic Key to the Greek New Testament). While we walk in the light, that light exposes darkness and passes judgment on the works and character of darkness.

• Who is the sleeper in verse 14, and how can that person wake up? 

EVERYTHING FOR HIM 

The Christian faith was never meant to be an easy road, a painless journey, or a simple three-step adherence to a set of beliefs. To follow Jesus demands we give everything and invest all we have, and are, for the One who has laid down everything for us. He gave His life for us. The question is: Will we give our lives for Him?—Mark Batterson (All In) 

Daily Devotions  

M.  Transformed Heart and Conduct (Proverbs 4:23-27) 

T.  God Shines Light and Newness (Isaiah 42:1-10) 

W.  Right Fasting Shines Light (Isaiah 58:6-12) 

T.  Christ Shines Light (Matthew 4:13-17) 

F.  Renewed Minds (Romans 11:33—12:2) 

S.  Put On the New Self (Colossians 3:1-11) 

Adopted from the Evangelical Sunday School Lesson Commentary 2021-2022.