July 21, 2024, Ephesians 4:17-32, "Put Off - Put On", (2nd factor authentication backup)

Ephesians 4:17-24, putting off the old nature (before a person was saved or the old person), understanding the reality of the believer's state, and willingly moving forward with God to put on the new nature (the spiritual growth God has planned for the believer)

[the old man]
Ephesians 4:22, the nature of the old man
Ephesians 4:17, the mentality of the old man is futile- intellectually and spiritually unproductive
Ephesians 4:18, the old man is unaware of spiritual things
1 Corinthians 2:14, ignorance defined
Romans 1:20-23, the state of being morally and spiritually blind
Joshua 24:2, the first record of idolatry, which is consistent, even in the present time, with a human's tendency to worship something

[immorality]
Ephesians 4:19, lewdness attracts people towards immorality- it makes them more empathetic towards sin. The longer they willingly dance with sin, they may eventually fall in love with it and marry it
Romans 1:32, sexual impurity
Romans 1:28, a reprobate mind. Even though God has given common grace in the current dispensation of grace, and the Holy Spirit prevents complete anarchy, all people will naturally have a reprobate mind, until they are saved by God and begin the sanctification process
2 Peter 2:22, the natural tendency to sin
Luke 8:14, Hosea 4:8, Job 20:12, people will naturally and gladly consume sin, as for each person, there is some sort of sin that will appear pleasurable and good for consumption. Even though it is bad for their health and brings pain, they will gladly consume it again when the next opportunity arises

[the new man]
Ephesians 4:23, a new mind
John 3:5, Matthew 7:16-17, a new mind is only possible for those who have been saved by God, and have become born again of the Spirit and water
Ephesians 4:23-24, Ephesians 2:10, God's workmanship shall not be in vain. God is holy, and the expectation of the new man is to follow after His holiness
Romans 8:29, the believer is being continuously sanctified and will become more like the image of Christ over time. Sanctification ends when the believer is removed completely from the presence of sin
Romans 6:5-7, Ephesians 4:25-32, the old man has been killed on a cross, and a new creation from God has replaced it. A series of character changes is listed here
Colossians 3:8-16, God's love holds the faith together. People cannot be good towards each other without God's love. People cannot have God's love, unless they love God
1 Thessalonians 4:3, 1 Corinthians 6:18, flee fornication. Beyond sexual immorality, fornication is also idolatry- please refer to the Old Testament for the story of a nation that went to fornicate with many other nations and quit loving and trusting God. Contrast God's love with a reprobate's love
Philippians 3:10, Philippians 3:20-21, the citizenship in Heaven
Romans 12:2, transformation through the renewing of the mind. The renewing of the mind comes from the knowledge of God, and the knowledge of God makes it possible for the believer to navigate the challenges of the race through life
1 Corinthians 9:24, Matthew 25:21, the race towards sanctification. But the believer has to be willing to run it with the help of God

[songselect.ccli.com songs]
My Redeemer Lives, 2397964
You Are My King, 2456623
Majesty, 1527