based on the LGG Study, Set Apart, living a life for God’s glory / w3d4
SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 4:17-24 / SOAP verses 22-24
You were taught with reference to your former way of life to lay aside the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires, 23 to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and to put on the new man who has been created in God’s image—in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth
Ephesians 4:22-24 NET
Check out the first words of Paul in this passage, “So, I say this, and insist in the Lord, that you no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.” Paul, who by the Grace of God has been sent to evangelize, is calling the believing Gentiles of Ephesus to “live set apart.”He wants them to understand that they have been made new in Christ, the old is gone. They are no longer to live as unbelievers and He makes the distinction that the Gentile’s way of thinking was pointless and empty, which had led to ignorance and hardened hearts and being alienated from God. As believing Gentiles they are no longer to be callous, or given to indecency and greed. Instead, being made new in Jesus, they are to put off the old way of life and put on the “new man”, who has been created in God’s image – an image of righteousness and holiness.
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT
An essential component of this putting off and putting on is a renewed mindset – one that is not futile but filled with the truths of the Gospel and our faith. A mind that understands that out of love God gave His only Son to die for the sins of the world – so that the world might be saved through Him. Our renewed mind is bent toward loving others and having a servant’s heart like Christ. It is a mind that understands that we have been called to be salt and light to those in the dark and to share the Gospel message with the world. This mindset is not futile or without hope it is not darkened by ignorance or alienated from God but it is filled with His life giving Spirit who empowers us to not only understand God’s Word but to live it out – set apart from the world .
So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.[b] 7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.
Colossians 3:5-9 NLT
WISDOM FROM THE JOURNEY
Put off the old self and put on the new. Walk in newness of life – 🦋
REFLECTION ON THE JOURNEY
How can you embrace your new identity in Christ, letting go of the old self and walking in the freedom He provides?
Me From the Inside Out 