Changing Our Spiritual Wardrobe
Ephesians 4:17-32
INTRODUCTION
We all look forward to the coming of Spring. We can put away our heavy coats and pull out the light jacket, or maybe even our shorts. But Spring poses a minor problem for us. It is often hard to know how to dress for the day. You get up in the morning and it’s cold so you put on long sleeves and a sweater. By noon you’re dying because the temperature has gone up. So you take off the sweater and roll up your shirtsleeves. As the seasons change, we have to change how we dress to match the conditions.
As we go through the seasons of life, we change our wardrobe on a regular basis based on what’s going on in our life. Over the years as I’ve matured and changed, my wardrobe has changed. Styles have changed for one thing. Things aren’t the way they were back in the dark ages! I hate to even admit it, but I actually owned a cream colored leisure suit. Some of you men may still have one of those in their closet. Not only did I have a leisure suit, but also I wore double-knit plaid pants and flowered shirts – together! Whoa! What was I thinking?
Not only have styles changed, but as we mature and our position in life changes, our wardrobe changes to match our new situation. I had to dump the leisure suit and buy a real suit, because you need one as a pastor every once in a while. It’s an essential part of your wardrobe.
Not only does our position in life change, but also our interests change. Our activities change and so our wardrobe reflects that. In my closet I have clothes for going out into the woods and camping, I have clothes for when I want to be casual, for when I want to go out to dinner, and when I need to work in the yard and get dirty. We all have clothes that reflect what we’re doing and what our interests are.
The one change that none of us like to admit is that not only does our position in life change, but our physical condition changes, and our wardrobe reflects that as well. No longer do I buy athletic cut blue jeans! Relax fit all the way! Can’t get into the athletic cuts anymore because things have changed and my wardrobe reflects those changes.
Just as our physical wardrobe changes with the seasons of life, so our spiritual wardrobe needs to change as our commitment to Christ grows. We need to get rid of the old things that no longer fit, the things that reflect the old agenda of life, the values and agenda of our sinful life. We need to replace them with a wardrobe that reflects the new life we have in Christ – the new creations we are in Him. Paul tells us that there are two things we need to do to change our wardrobe and get in style with who we are in Christ. We need to put off our old nature and put on our new nature in Christ.
This is not something that we can do on our own by asserting our will. We can only do this as we yield to the work of the Holy Spirit. We have to intentionally cooperate with the Holy Spirit as He enables us to strip away the old and put on the new.
There is a graphic image of this in one of the Narnia Chronicles. Eustice is a very selfish and self-centered boy. He happens to come across a hoard of dragon gold. As he tries to possess the gold for himself, he is transformed into a dragon. When he becomes fully aware of what has happened to him, he is in utter despair. Aslan comes to him and tells him that as a dragon he can strip off his old skin. But with each layer that Eustice strips off there is another layer underneath. Finally he yields to Aslan’s help. The process is painful, but when it is done he is again a young boy. That is a powerful image of how we are recreated in Christ.
Study 1: Ephesians 4:17-19
We are all influenced by peer pressure, even as adults. Our natural tendency is to conform to the dominant styles of the day. Back in the 60’s, young people wanted to break free from “the establishment” and be unique. The outcome was that we all adopted the new norm, and ended up looking exactly alike. Paul told the Ephesians that it was time to stop following the World’s trends.
1. Paul begins this section with a serious command.
a. What command did he give to the Ephesians?
b. On what authority did he issue this command?
c. How important was this to Paul?
2. Paul describes the condition of the “Gentiles”.
a. What image does he use to describe their condition?
b. What is the consequence of their condition?
c. What is the cause of their condition?
3. Paul describes the outworking of their sinful condition.
a. What is the state of their heart?
b. What direction is their life headed?
c. How does this dominate their life?
MAKE IT PERSONAL
1.How do you think about sin in your own life? Is it a minor inconvenience or a major problem?
2. How does your attitude toward sin affect the way you deal with sin?
3.What happens to our conscience and our ways of thinking when we leave sin unchecked?
4. In what ways is indulging sin like drinking salt water?
5. Why do you think Paul was so adamant about not living like the Gentiles? In this context, Paul is using the word Gentile to refer to those people caught in a sinful life.
6. What is the spiritual consequence of allowing sin to remain unchecked in our lives?
Study 2: Ephesians 4:20-22
There are times in our lives when we have to put away old, comfortable things and embrace a new reality. Not being a great athlete, I worked very hard in High School to earn my letter jacket. My first year in college I wore my letter jacket on campus. I soon learned that my letter jacket represented my old life and that I had to embrace a new life. So it is spiritually.
1. Paul reminds the Ephesians that they did not come to know Christ “in that way.” What was he referring to?
2. What was it that made the difference in the lives of the Ephesians?
3. How is hearing about Jesus different from being taught in Jesus?
4. Why does Paul stress the truth that is in Jesus?
5. How were they to respond to their old way of life?
6. What was wrong with their old way of life?
MAKE IT PERSONAL
1.If you are a believer in Jesus, how did you come to know about Him?
2. In what ways is your life now a contrast to your life before you came to faith in Christ?
3. Why is it important for us to not just hear about Jesus but to embrace the truth about Jesus?
4. What does it mean for you to put off your old way of life? Why is this important?
5. We all have things hanging in our closet that we need to get rid of. What do you still have hanging in your spiritual closet that Jesus wants you to get rid of?
6.What makes it hard for us to actively put off our old sinful nature?
Study 3: Ephesians 4:23-24
It is not enough for us to put off our old spiritual clothes. We need to replace them with something new.
1. Paul gives us the first step of putting on our new life in Christ in vs. 23.
a. Where does Paul say the transformation begins?
b. Why is it important that the transformation begin here and not in our outward actions?
2. We know that our transformation is an act of God. What is implied by Paul’s instruction to “put on” the new self?
3. How does Paul describe the new self?
4. How does this description relate to God’s original plan for humanity? (Genesis 1:26-27)
5. How would you summarize the transformation that needs to take place in a person’s life?
MAKE IT PERSONAL
1.In what ways does your attitude affect your actions?
2. How can having a negative attitude lead you into sin?
3. How can having a godly attitude lead you away from sin?
4. How important is it to intentionally replace old, sinful habits with new godly ones? Consider Matthew12:43-45.
5. What does it mean to you to be a new creation in Christ?
6. In what ways should being a new creation be evident in your life? (2 Corinthians 3:12-18)
Study 4:Ephesians 4:25-32
Paul did not leave his command in the realm of theory. He gave some practical examples of the transformation that needed to take place in people’s lives.
1. Paul gives a list of contrasts between the old nature and the new. Why do you think Paul did this?
2. What is the contrast in vs. 25?
a. What is implied by this statement about the current actions of the Ephesians?
b. Why does Paul say this counter action is important?
3. Anger is a common emotion that everyone faces.
a. How does Paul qualify this emotion?
b. How were the Ephesians to deal with their anger?
c. Why were they to deal with their anger?
4. Paul addresses the issue of stealing.
a. How were the people to counter stealing?
b. How is the attitude of the person supposed to change?
5. Paul turned his attention to a person’s speech.
a. What is the behavior that is to be put off?
b. What is to replace this behavior?
6. How is continuing in sin grieving the Holy Spirit?
7. How does Paul summarize the change that needs to take place?
MAKE IT PERSONAL
1. Paul begins this section with some obvious outward actions that need to change. What is one area in your life where sin tries to manifest itself?
2. How can having a positive alternative to a sinful action be a safeguard for us?
3. One of the areas where we all stumble from time to time is in our speech.
a. What are the dangers of unguarded speech?
b. What can you do you make your speech beneficial to others?
4. Although outward sinful actions are obvious, resident sin in our character is not always so obvious to us.
What role does the Holy Spirit play in reshaping our character? (John 16:8-11)
5. What is involved in having our character renewed by Christ? (Romans 12:1-2)
6. What are some positive steps you can take to put on your new life in Christ?
-1-