SUNDAY June 9, 2024
Disciples of Truth
But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:20-24
Paul used such a good argument for the character of a renewed man. To learn means “the making of a disciple.” It refers to a learner who is taught by a teacher. Paul declared to the Ephesian believers that they had been taught by Christ not to continue in sin! What had Christ taught them? He taught them to repent, to submit, and to obey––change.
Paul desired to get this great lesson across to Christians. It was the same truth he taught us in 2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. In our new life in Christ, we can no longer live the way we used to. Jesus has drawn us to the Cross. We belong to Christ and must reckon the old man to be dead––the old self (Romans 6:12-14). Sin can no longer reign as king over our lives!
As Christians, we cannot live a double lifestyle. Christ desires that we be true witnesses. If people are to come to Christ, they need to see a changed life. This happens as we become obedient to God, not disobedient. Dr. Billy Graham said:
“Only by a life of obedience to the voice of the Spirit, by a daily denying of self, by full dedication to Christ, and by constant fellowship with Him are we enabled to live a godly life and an influential life in this present ungodly world.”
The only way to live a godly life is to submit your life to Jesus Christ. As you read the Bible, the truth is teaching you how to put off the old man. As you die to yourself, putting off the old man and putting on the new man in Christ every day, there will be a dramatic change.
God became man to turn creatures into sons: not simply to produce better men of the old kind but to produce a new kind of man.
~C.S Lewis~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
