181011AM
Rev 1-5-4
Short Clip
HOW PAUL OVERCAME THE LUST-FILLED ROMAN CULTURE:
Shedding (Eph. 4:22)
Thinking (Eph. 4:23)
Wearing (Eph. 4:24)
Start the Habit of Grace-prompted Shedding Ephesians 4:22
First, Paul is asking believers to start a habit of grace-prompted shedding. This is “putting off” old habits like old clothes are so comfortable and fit us so well, that we often forget that we even have them on again—until the Spirit of God convicts us. Paul is reminding us that those who will live a life holy to the Lord must repeatedly put off the old ways.
Start the Habit of Grace-prompted Thinking Ephesians 4:23
Second, in v. 23 Paul is asking them to start a habit of grace-prompted thinking. Choices to put off old ways flow from our renewed minds. Just as Romans 12:2 says we are “transformed by the renewing of our minds”. When we think godly, we behave godly; or when we believe right, we behave right.
Start the Habit of Grace-prompted Wearing Ephesians 4:24
Lastly, in v. 24 Paul is asking them to start a habit of grace-prompted wearing. This is the putting on: “… and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (v. 24).
God makes it clear that it is not enough to merely put off old fleshly habits, they must be replaced with the newness of Christ in wearing His love, wearing His peace, etc. (Galatians 5:22). If I lose my temper with my wife or children, and repent and put it off—that is not enough unless I also put on Christ’s love and patience also!
Point #4 : Jesus Gives Them An Admonition (2:4) Rev. 2:4 “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love The saints in Ephesus were not being obedient to the central truth of the Scriptures Old and New Testament: Love the Lord Your God MOST. That is what had been taught them from God’s Word by their faithful pastors over the years—listen to what Christ said:
Jesus States His Desire: In one word Jesus describes what He wanted, what they had, and what they had allowed to drift away from their lives. The requirement of the Lord is that we love Him FIRST. The word in verse 4 translated into English as “first” is the Greek word protos (4413) Protos is a contracted superlative from the Greek preposition pros (4253) which has the meaning ‘in front of, above, before’.