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Does the Bible Really Work?


Chad had been married for eleven years now. During those years he had found it very hard to keep his mind and actions faithful to his wife. He spoke sexual innuendoes without conscience thought. Time and again he had struggled with immorality. He insisted he was a broken man, desperately wanting God’s help to solve this problem. But, he had said this to himself many times before and found himself back in sin again. His pastor had not helped as he had hoped. He prayed for Chad, he encouraged him, he rebuked him but none of this kept Chad from going back to his sin. He just wasn’t sure there actually was an answer. After all, if his pastor couldn’t help, maybe the Bible couldn’t help him either. Perhaps he
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How to Change

Change - Putting Off Adam and Putting On Christ

needed to see a doctor. Maybe he was sick and needed medication. All these things ran through Chad’s head. He really had no hope. “I just know how to do it” Chad complained.

Nancy was depressed. She had been depressed for most of her adult life, she said. She made much of being a Christian and what a great Savior Christ was but, when it came to practical Christian living, Nancy was a conspicuous failure. The Bible might offer great hope for the life to come, but for the life Nancy was living now, it appeared to be of little value. “Can God help me live a normal life without this depression?” she asked.

Rob was 16 years old and clearly loved God and his family. But, he was having a hard time with his temper. His anger produced a reputation at school both with the faculty and the student body. Increasingly, the good kids avoided him and the bad kids welcomed him into their circles. He saw the danger. He was spiraling down into one problem after another. He wanted to change, he really did, but he had no idea how to go about it.

These three people all had several things in common. One, they all wanted to change but found change to be a mysterious thing. They were not at all clear as to how to actually change. Indeed, they had begun to doubt whether change was even possible in their lives.

Two, they all tried to change. Every one of them prayed about their problems and repented of their sins. Some of them walked the aisle at church making a fresh start with God. They resolved to try harder and to not return to their former behavior; they were committed to change. But all failed. Why? They did so because they failed to use God’s method of change found in Ephesians 4:17-28.

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.


What Is God’s Method Of Change?

Paul discusses change in detail in Ephesians chapter four. He begins this way:

“So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do….” Ephesians 4:17

There are two things of importance to note here concerning change. Number one, sadly, Christians all too often “live as the Gentiles do” or as the pagans around them live.

Number two, ungodly, gentile like living, is not an option. Paul is insisting on change. Sin is never one of several possible actions for a Christian. Holiness is demanded of the child of God. The believer “must no longer live as the Gentiles do….”

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14


How Did We Get This Way?

Paul explains how sin has gripped the gentile world this way.

“They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.” Ephesians 4:18-19

The first thing we note about this spiral down into depravity is that it has its origin in “thinking.” Notice the words “darkened in their understanding,” “ignorance,” and “hardening of their hearts.” These are all elements of thinking. Sin has its origin in the mind and must be fought there first. Losing the battle of the mind produces “separated from the life of God,” “given themselves over to sensuality,” “indulge in every kind of impurity,” and “a continual lust for more.” This is the condition of the pagan gentile world. This is the condition of the world around us today. Some believers, sadly, are guilty of these things as well.

Not the Way of Christ

Although compassionate, Paul is not complacent with these Christians. He demands change; “you must no longer live as the Gentiles do.” He reminds them that the gospel message they responded to was not one of debauchery and evil.

“You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.” Ephesians 4:20

Their repentance and faith in Christ was from such things and to the purity found in Jesus. The very nature of Christianity is one of separation from sin and the world, and separation to Christ and holiness. The Apostle John says much the same thing when he says,

“Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.” I John 2:15-17

Loving the world and living in a worldly fashion is not an option for a believer. We “must no longer live as the Gentiles do.” We must change.

Putting Off Adam, Putting On Christ

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24

There is an “old self” that every child of God must deal with. The way it is dealt with according to Paul is to “put off” this remnant of our life before Christ. To do this we must “put on” a “new self” that is a product of our regeneration in Christ. But notice this; right between these two phrases we have this comment “to be made new in the attitude of your minds….”

Earlier we saw the spiral of the pagan into “sensuality impurity, and lust.” This beginning of spiritual destruction was described as being darkened in their understanding, ignorance, and hardening of their hearts. We can see in these words that the origin of spiritual debauchery has its start in the mind, or as the bible sometimes describes it, the hearts of men and women. Interestingly, the solution to our problems is found in the same place. Right between the “put off” and “put on” of this passage are the words “to be made new in the attitude of your minds….”

This is where failure begins, but this is also where success begins also. In Romans 12 Paul says it this way,
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2

There, as here, spiritual victory begins in “your mind.” Unless Christ becomes Lord of what you think about minute by minute, hour by hour, and day by day then you can rest assured, you will never know consistent spiritual victory.

So, if we are to put off the old self and put on the new self, then we must recognize that the hinge upon which these instructions swing is the command to “be made new in the attitude of your minds….”

Your mind drives your behavior and your emotions. For this reason, when God confronts us with our sin and calls us to Himself, He calls us to repent. The New Testament Greek for repent is made up two words, “change” and “mind.” To repent is to “change your mind” about self and God. It is to reject the sin of the past and accept the righteous law of God as the only right way to live.

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

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