Learning Christ

Ephesians 4:17-20 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 ye have not so learned CHRIST;

There Is No “Vicarious” Christian Life

Opening: I heard a word several years ago – and when I heard it, I didn’t know what it meant. The word was “vicarious”. We all do it, whether we know what the word means or not. When some of you watch sports, you get a vicarious thrill when your quarterback runs a 60 yard touchdown, or your pitcher pitches a no hit game. Vicarious. When I saw Dale Earnhardt win a race, in my mind I was in the cockpit with him! Vicarious means to watch what another person is doing, then imagining that you are the one doing it. I get a vicarious thrill when I watch John Wayne or Clint Eastwood shoot a really bad guy. I didn’t do the shooting. I wasn’t in the scene. But watching it, in my imagination, I put myself there, and get a thrill out of it.

There was a song I grew up with called “Just My Imagination” sung by the Temptations. In the song they sang (and I sang along with them):

Each day through my window I watch as she passes by,
I say to myself, you’re a such a lucky guy.
To have a girl like her, is truly a dream come true.
Out of all the fellows in the world, She belongs to you.
But it was just my imagination, running away with me.
It was just my imagination, running away with me.

That’s vicarious. It’s imagined. It’s dreamed of. You do it when watching television, the movies, sports. You put yourself – in your imagination – in the place of the actor. But you’re really not there. It’s just your imagination.

The Christian way of life cannot be lived vicariously – yet many do so. They imagine they are believers in Christ, but never get in the game. They imagine living for Jesus, but do as little to nothing as they can. Why? Because “it’s just their imagination”. They never REPENTED and RECEIVED the Kingdom of God by faith.

The Saved Do Not Act Like The World

Ephesians 4:17 This I say {legō} therefore, and testify {martyromai} in the Lord, that ye henceforth WALK NOT as other Gentiles WALK, in the VANITY of their mind

In the beginning of Paul’s statement he says, “This I SAY therefore, and TESTIFY”. The Apostle is not repeating himself. He’s saying, “This is not something I just read and am telling you to do. This is not something I saw on television. I SAY it because I DO IT”. What Paul is getting ready to tell them, he experienced himself. This is not a vicarious statement. Paul says “I TESTIFY in the LORD”. The word rendered “TESTIFY” is the Greek martyromai. If you look at that word, the first part of the word spells a word you well know: “MARTYR”. A MARTYR is someone who suffers death or extreme persecution because of their faith. The word martyromai means “to be a public witness for that which you believe is true, no matter what the cost”. Paul spoke as a martyr “IN THE LORD”, that is, regardless as to consequence he virtually – not vicariously – stood up and professed Jesus before a non-receptive crowd. The phrase “IN THE LORD” is found 111 times in the Scripture, and it is a reference to genuine salvation. When Abraham believed in God, the Bible says:

Genesis 15:6 (KJV) And {Abraham} believed IN THE LORD; and {God} counted it to him for righteousness.

What Paul is going to say, Paul did. He says:

Ephesians 4:17 … that ye henceforth WALK NOT as OTHER Gentiles WALK, in the VANITY {mataiotēs} of their mind

The “OTHER Gentiles” that Paul walked among are like many in America today. They WALK, that is, live their lives not according to the precepts of God’s Word, but according to “VANITY” of their minds. This is the Greek mataiotēs, which means “a thought process devoid of truth, perverse or depraved, that which is lightless and lifeless”. This very word is used for ANIMALS and what happened to the ANIMALS when Adam fell in the Garden. The Apostle wrote:

Romans 8:19-21 (KJV) For the earnest expectation of the CREATURE waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For THE CREATURE WAS MADE SUBJECT TO VANITY {mataiotēs}, NOT WILLINGLY, but by reason of him who hath subjected [the same] in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also SHALL BE DELIVERED FROM THE BONDAGE OF CORRUPTION into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

When Adam fell, creation itself fell. Not because creation had anything at all to do with Adam’s sin, but because Adam and creation were a package deal. When he fell, the world fell. Animals became subject to the vanity of sin. Plant life became subject to the vanity of sin. The whole world was enslaved to the vanity – the depravity, the life choking force of sin. Our Lord Jesus said:

John 8:34-36 (LSB) Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, EVERYONE WHO COMMITS SIN IS THE SLAVE OF SIN. 35 “And the slave does not remain in the house forever; the Son does remain forever. 36 “So IF THE SON MAKES YOU FREE, YOU WILL BE FREE INDEED.

The Gentiles at the Church in Ephesus were saved by faith in Christ. Once saved, the Holy Spirit indwells you (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19). You become the property and possession of God, the Child of God by faith (2 Timothy 1:14). The “OTHER Gentiles” live their lives according to vanity, to emptiness, to untruth and ungodliness.

The godless walks according to three steps: ignorance, blindness, and self sensuality.

Ephesians 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them …

What causes an unbeliever to remain an unbeliever? To reject Christ as Lord and Savior? “IGNORANCE that is in them”. I am amused with the vast number of people who believe there are little green men or aliens from space. Every few years people will get a story going about how the U.S. Government in Area 51 is hiding alien stuff. People want to believe in aliens – but have alienated themselves from the God Who made them. Jesus said:

John 8:12 I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall NOT WALK IN DARKNESS, but have the light of life.

They are like the Pharisees who, looking diligently for the Messiah, rejected the True Messiah when He came because He was not what they had expected. Though they saw the miracles Jesus did, they discounted those miracles as works of the devil.

Ephesians 4:18 because of the BLINDNESS of their heart

Word Study: The word rendered “BLINDNESS” is the Greek pōrōsis, which means “to cover with a callus, to become hardened”. The word was used to describe the Pharisees when Jesus healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath day:

Mark 3:3-6 (LSB) And {Jesus} said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and come forward!” 4 And He said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?” But they kept silent. 5 And after looking around at them with anger, grieved at their HARDNESS {pōrōsis} of heart, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 And the Pharisees went out and immediately [began] taking counsel together with the Herodians against Him, [as to] how they might destroy Him.

Finally, being devoid of God and blinded to the Gospel, the lost person chases their own sensuality:

Ephesians 4:19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto LASCIVIOUSNESS {aselgeia}, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

Rejecting REPENTANCE, rejecting the Biblical Christ as REDEEMER, they throw themselves into themselves. The new thing today among “progressive” women is to have a “high body count”, that is, to see how many people they can conquer sexually. What a demonic thing this is! When I hear professing Christians say “I’m a homosexual” or “I sleep around”, my loving response must be “you are confused. I love you, but what you are saying is not supported by the Scripture”.

You can give yourself to God, or give yourself to yourself. The lost have “GIVEN THEMSELVES OVER TO LASCIVIOUSNESS” {aselgeia = unbridled lust or wantonness, outrageousness, shamelessness}. Christians may be tempted. Jesus was tempted – this is not sin. Christians may struggle against desires. The struggle is not sin. Christians do not give themselves over to wantonness and unbridled sexuality. They REPENT and walk with the Lord.

The lost do not “WORK OUT their salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians2:12-13), but they “work all UNCLEANLINESS with GREEDINESS”. The lost work differently than the saved.

The Saved Are Not To Be Selfish, But Selfless

Ephesians 4:20-23 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 {WAY OF LIFE} THE OLD MAN, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And BE RENEWED IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND

Every Christian has two characteristics that the unbeliever does not have:

you have HEARD Him, and
you have been TAUGHT BY Him

Jesus calls all people to come to Him. He said, “If anyone thirst, let Him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37). “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). The Christian is “the CALLED of Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:6). We heard His call, and responded. We as believers are called the “Church”, literally the Ekklesia, the “called out ones”. But not only are we “called”, but we listen to Him, we heed His commandments. The Bible says:

1 Corinthians 1:9 (ESV) God is faithful, by whom YOU WERE CALLED into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ OUR LORD.

Those who are the “called” of God are to “PUT OFF THE OLD MAN”. That old pre-salvation way of life, the things you used to do following the foolishness and darkness of the world, you put that away. You REPENT. The phrase “OLD MAN” is a reference to your old, sin driven way of life. The day that the Christian is publicly baptized in water, he is openly professing that his old self died, and that he is resurrected as a “new creature in Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15). The Bible says:

Romans 6:3-6 (KJV) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, EVEN SO WE ALSO SHOULD WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of [his] resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our OLD MAN IS CRUCIFIED WITH HIM, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth WE SHOULD NOT SERVE SIN.

When God the Holy Spirit indwells us, He leads us toward Christ and Life. We affix our minds on the Word of God, not on the ways of the world.

Ephesians 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and TRUE holiness.

Christians are to walk WITH God, not against God. The unbeliever walks in ignorance, hard heartedness, and self sensuality. The believer walks in righteousness and TRUE holiness. What is TRUE holiness? True holiness is not something that we manufacture. This is what the Pharisees did. Jesus condemned them, saying:

Matthew 15:3, 6, 8-9 Why do you transgress the commandment of God by your TRADITIONS … you made the commandment of God of no effect by your traditions … God said this people draws near to Me with their mouth, but in vail they worship Me, TEACHING FOR DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN …

Marks Of Righteousness & True Holiness

Ephesians 4:25 Wherefore PUTTING AWAY LYING, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.

The Christian speaks the truth in love. We affirm the Word of God. We do not dumb it down, nor compromise its teaching. This is what the devil does. He did it in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. He told our fore-parents that “you will not die if you eat of the forbidden fruit. God knows that the day you eat of it, you will become gods like Him!” (Genesis3:4-5). Jesus told the Pharisees:

John 8:44-47 (NKJV) You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and DOES NOT STAND IN THE TRUTH, because there is NO TRUTH IN HIM. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for HE IS A LIAR AND THE FATHER OF IT. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me?

The believer in Christ stands strong in the truths of God’s Word. We do not compromise what our Lord has declared is truth! False teachers hide in deception (Ephesians 4:14). As God’s children we are commanded:

Colossians 3:9 (NKJV) Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds

Believers “speak each man truth to his neighbor” (Zechariah 8:16).

Ephesians 4:26-27 Be ye angry, and SIN NOT: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give PLACE {topos} to the devil.

The Christian can get angry. Our Lord Jesus got angry. He got angry at hardened hearts (Mark 3:5). He got angry when the Gospel was blurred by selfishness (John 2:15-16; Matthew 21:12-13). Jesus got angry at false teachers (Matthew 23:27). But Jesus always controlled His anger – He was not controlled by it. Anger has its place. When the sun sets, anger should be retired. Uncontrolled anger gives PLACE to the devil. The word “PLACE” is the Greek topos, which means “a room or space”. Pastor Adrian Rogers described it this way:

“Suppose you had a piece of property. Let’s say there are 50 acres in that piece of property. And you sell me an acre right in the middle of your 50 acres, and you give me a deed to it. And I have ingress and egress across your property to get to my 1 acre there, in the middle of our 50 acres. And let’s suppose all night long I’m playing loud music, and I’m throwing trash around. I’m just doing everything to desecrate your property, and, after a while, you say, “I want you out of there. Move out of there. You’re bothering the rest of my property. You’re desecrating my property. You’re defiling the area. Get out.” And I say, “I’m not going. I don’t have to go, and you can’t make me go. You gave me this piece of property. You sold this piece of property to me. I’ve got a legal right to it, and I am not moving. If you don’t like it, then that is your tough luck. I am not moving.” Dear friend, you would not be able to move me out, because you gave me a place there. Now some of you have done, particularly or almost, the same thing to Satan. You have given a place to the devil, and you cannot dislodge him unless you legally dislodge him.”

When anger consumes the Christian, when you do not put a time limit on your anger, then you lease your life to the devil. And he will trash your property unless you REPENT and RESIST him in Jesus’ name! Repent. Confess. Put it under the Blood of Christ. Cast the devil out with the old man. He has no right to your life – you belong to Jesus.

Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather LET HIM LABOR, working with his hands the thing which is good, that HE MAY HAVE TO GIVE TO HIM THAT NEEDETH.

Some people are outright thieves. They steal, they shoplift, they burgle what is not theirs. Other people are sneak thieves. They labor and labor, but do so to build their own wealth, to make their own prosperity. The Christian is to labor so that we can not just support ourselves, but so that we can bless others.

The purpose of getting is for giving!

Ephesians 4:29 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.

The Christian is to speak so as to edify or build up others in the faith of Christ. Our Lord Jesus told us:

Matthew 12:26 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,

Our words should reflect the truths that God has placed in this wonderful Book, the Bible. We should always remember that there is a silent Witness to all we say, God the Holy Spirit:

Ephesians 4:30-32 And GRIEVE NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, 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.

The Christian can be the best advertisement for the Kingdom of God. The Christian can also be the worst advertisement for the Kingdom of God. We must remember that God is with us, and hears our every word. Let us speak, and live, as those who are the Children of the Most High.

Amen.