Sermons on Ephesians 4:24

Ephesians 4:24 Interpretation:

Embracing Our New Identity in Christ (MLJTrust) offers a distinctive and detailed interpretation of Ephesians 4:24 by emphasizing that "putting on the new man" is not a passive or merely emotional experience, but an active, ongoing, and comprehensive act of the will. The preacher insists that this is not something God does for us or that happens automatically through prayer or spiritual experience; rather, believers must deliberately and continuously apply the truth of their new identity in Christ to every area of life. The sermon uses the analogy of dressing oneself—just as one must get up and put on clothes each day, so must the Christian actively "put on" the new self, regardless of feelings. The preacher also warns against compartmentalizing this new identity (e.g., only "putting on" the new man at church or in certain company), and instead calls for a holistic, all-of-life transformation. The act of "putting on" is described as a form of self-preaching, where the believer must repeatedly remind and persuade themselves of their new status in Christ, echoing Paul's exhortation to "reckon yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God" (Romans 6:11). This interpretation stands out for its practical, psychological, and volitional focus, as well as its insistence on the believer's responsibility in the process.

Spiritual Vitality: Transforming Leaders Through Holiness and Surrender (Dallas Willard Ministries) interprets Ephesians 4:24 as a call to a life sourced in God, where "holiness" is redefined not as mere moralism but as living from God’s life and being formed inwardly by the Holy Spirit. The sermon uniquely frames the "new self" as a process of spiritual formation, where the inward person is shaped by the Spirit and the Word, resulting in "easy, routine obedience to Christ." The preacher draws a distinction between performance-based Christianity and genuine transformation, suggesting that the new self is not about external success or ego, but about the person one is becoming in Christ. The analogy of "training for reigning" is used to situate present transformation within the context of eternal destiny, and the preacher repeatedly stresses that the true measure of success is not numbers or outward achievement, but the presence and action of God in and through the believer.

Letting Go: Embracing Forgiveness and Spiritual Freedom (Waymark Church) provides a novel interpretation by connecting Ephesians 4:24 to the metaphor of a "holding penalty" in football, where holding onto old wounds, grudges, or sinful patterns is likened to illegally restraining progress—both one’s own and that of others. The preacher uses the Greek word "lupeo" (to grieve) to explain how holding onto internal bitterness and resentment "grieves" the Holy Spirit, and argues that the process of putting on the new self involves letting go of these internal burdens. The sermon is notable for its focus on the internal roots (bitterness, rage, malice) that produce external sinful behaviors, and for its insistence that true transformation and the "new self" are only possible when the believer proactively releases these internal holds, allowing the Holy Spirit to work freely.

Sanctification: A Journey of Grace and Transformation (Ligonier Ministries) interprets Ephesians 4:24 as a profound statement about the restoration of the image of God in believers, emphasizing that sanctification is not merely about moral improvement but about God actively renovating the whole person—mind, will, and desires—so that believers begin to "want to do what we ought to do." The sermon draws a unique analogy between Christian freedom and a dog running free in a field, suggesting that true freedom is not doing as one pleases but living out one's created purpose, which is to reflect God's righteousness and holiness. The preacher also highlights the linguistic detail that the "new self" is "created in righteousness and holiness of truth," indicating a return to the original design marred by Adam's fall, and that sanctification is the Spirit's ongoing work to make us "want right" again.

Embracing the New Man: A Journey of Transformation (SermonIndex.net) offers a distinctive interpretation by framing Ephesians 4:24 as a call to step onto the "ground of the new man," which is not just an individual transformation but an entrance into a whole new "racial order" or civilization—the "heavenly man"—represented by Christ. The sermon uses the metaphor of moving from the "old ground" of Adam to the "new ground" of Christ, insisting that God will only deal with people on this new ground. The preacher further develops the analogy by comparing the new man to a new culture or civilization, with its own way of thinking, acting, and relating, and insists that sanctification is only possible within this new order. The sermon also references the image of the ladder from Jacob's dream, reinterpreted as Christ himself, to illustrate that access to God and spiritual blessing is only possible on the ground of the new man.

Ephesians 4:24 Theological Themes:

Embracing Our New Identity in Christ (MLJTrust) introduces the theme that sanctification is a cooperative process: while God provides the power and new nature, the believer must actively exercise that power by applying truth to themselves, refusing to wait for feelings or passive experiences. The sermon also stresses the dignity and privilege of the believer’s new identity, arguing that remembering one’s status as a child of God and a representative of the heavenly family is a powerful motivator for holy living. Another unique theme is the idea that the Christian life is not about seeking happiness or victory for its own sake, but about living out one’s purchased status as a "bondslave" of Christ, with no right to live otherwise.

Spiritual Vitality: Transforming Leaders Through Holiness and Surrender (Dallas Willard Ministries) presents the theme that holiness is not primarily about external behavior but about the source of one’s life—living from God and being formed inwardly by the Spirit. The sermon also introduces the idea that the true fruit of spiritual formation is "easy, routine obedience" and inner peace, rather than outward success or ego-driven achievement. The preacher’s focus on the person one is becoming, rather than what one accomplishes, is a distinct theological emphasis.

Letting Go: Embracing Forgiveness and Spiritual Freedom (Waymark Church) adds the theme that internal transformation (putting on the new self) is inseparable from the act of releasing bitterness, resentment, and grudges. The preacher uniquely frames forgiveness as an act of worship, mirroring Christ’s sacrificial forgiveness, and insists that freedom from internal bondage is only possible through proactive, empathetic, and sacrificial forgiveness of others. The sermon also highlights the communal impact of individual transformation, arguing that unresolved internal issues create barriers not only in one’s own life but in the life of the church.

Sanctification: A Journey of Grace and Transformation (Ligonier Ministries) introduces the theme that sanctification is not just a human effort but a "work of God's free grace," paralleling justification, and that the Spirit's role is to restore the marred image of God so that believers' desires, not just actions, are transformed. The sermon adds the nuanced idea that the commands of God, often perceived as burdensome, are actually blessings that align with our true nature, and that sanctification is about learning to see and embrace God's commands as life-giving rather than restrictive.

Embracing the New Man: A Journey of Transformation (SermonIndex.net) presents the unusual theological theme that Ephesians 4:24 is about entering a new "racial order"—a new humanity in Christ that transcends all earthly distinctions (Jew/Gentile, male/female, etc.). The preacher insists that sanctification and all spiritual dealings with God are only possible on the "ground of the new man," and that baptism and the laying on of hands are not just rituals but acts that signify dying to the old civilization and being incorporated into this new, heavenly civilization. The sermon also stresses that spiritual maturity and growth are only possible within the context of this new community, and that God refuses to interact with believers on the "old ground" of self-pity, offense, or fleshly identity.

Ephesians 4:24 Historical and Contextual Insights:

Embracing Our New Identity in Christ (MLJTrust) provides historical context by referencing the Victorian era’s tendency to compartmentalize religious identity—putting on a "religious cloak" for church while living as a "hard-headed businessman" the rest of the week. The preacher uses this to warn against a superficial or hypocritical application of Ephesians 4:24, emphasizing that Paul’s exhortation was meant for a comprehensive, all-of-life transformation, not a part-time or situational religiosity.

Letting Go: Embracing Forgiveness and Spiritual Freedom (Waymark Church) situates Paul’s exhortation within the context of the Ephesian church, noting that Paul is addressing believers who are already indwelt by the Spirit and thus have the power to change. The preacher also references the first-century context of the letter, where the church was called to a radical internal and external transformation in a pagan environment.

Sanctification: A Journey of Grace and Transformation (Ligonier Ministries) provides historical context by referencing the Old Testament use of the term "holy" (Hebrew: kadosh) for the people of God, showing continuity between the Old and New Testaments in the concept of being set apart. The sermon also discusses the cultural understanding of commands and blessings in Genesis, noting that the first command to Adam and Eve ("be fruitful and multiply") was also a blessing, and that the original creation order was one of harmony with God's will, which sanctification seeks to restore.

Embracing the New Man: A Journey of Transformation (SermonIndex.net) offers contextual insight by emphasizing the radical nature of Paul's teaching in Ephesians 4:24 within the Greco-Roman world, where social, ethnic, and religious divisions were deeply entrenched. The preacher highlights that Paul's vision of a "new man" was a revolutionary call to a new kind of community that erased these boundaries, and that early Christian practices like baptism and the laying on of hands were public, communal acts that marked one's entrance into this new order, not just private spiritual experiences.

Ephesians 4:24 Cross-References in the Bible:

Embracing Our New Identity in Christ (MLJTrust) references several passages to support and expand on Ephesians 4:24: Romans 6:11 ("reckon yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God") is used to illustrate the act of self-preaching and reckoning one’s new identity; Philippians 2:12-13 ("work out your own salvation...for it is God who works in you") is cited to explain the cooperative nature of sanctification; Romans 8:13 ("if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live") is used to show the Spirit’s empowering role; 1 Corinthians 6:19 ("your bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost") and 1 Peter 2:11-12 (living as "strangers and pilgrims" among the Gentiles) are invoked to reinforce the believer’s new status and witness; 1 John 3:2-3 ("we shall be like him...he that has this hope purifies himself") and Philippians 1:27 ("let your conversation be as becometh the gospel of Christ") are also referenced to motivate holy living.

Spiritual Vitality: Transforming Leaders Through Holiness and Surrender (Dallas Willard Ministries) references Ephesians 5:1 ("be imitators of God as dearly loved children") to expand on the idea of being created in God’s likeness, and Isaiah 26 ("thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee") to illustrate the peace that comes from a mind fixed on God. Romans 11:13 ("I magnify my office") is used to discuss significance in ministry, and 2 Chronicles 16:9 ("the eyes of the Lord run to and fro...") is cited to encourage wholehearted devotion. The preacher also alludes to Revelation 22:5 ("reign with him forever and ever") to situate present transformation within the context of eternal destiny.

Letting Go: Embracing Forgiveness and Spiritual Freedom (Waymark Church) references Romans 8:1 ("there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus") to ground the message in grace rather than condemnation; John 3:17 ("God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world...") and Hebrews 12:6 ("the Lord disciplines those he loves") to explain God’s loving discipline; Matthew 15:18-19 ("out of the heart come evil thoughts...") to support the focus on internal transformation; 1 Corinthians 10 (temptation and the way of escape) to discuss the process of overcoming sin; Matthew 6:14-15 ("if you forgive others...your heavenly Father will also forgive you") to stress the necessity of forgiveness; and Ephesians 5:1-2 ("follow God’s example...walk in the way of love") to connect forgiveness and love as acts of worship.

Sanctification: A Journey of Grace and Transformation (Ligonier Ministries) references several passages to expand on Ephesians 4:24: Colossians 1 (the inheritance of the saints and the restoration of the image of God), Ephesians 3:19 (being filled with the fullness of God), Genesis 1:26 (original creation in God's image), Romans 6:6 and 8:12-13 (mortification of the old self), and Philippians 1:27 (walking worthy of the gospel). These references are used to show that sanctification is about becoming who we are in Christ, a process that involves both dying to sin and living to righteousness, and that the Spirit's power is essential for this transformation.

Living Out Righteousness: The Armor of God (Desiring God) cross-references Ephesians 4:24 with Ephesians 5:8-10 (walking as children of light), Ephesians 4:26-27 (not giving place to the devil through unrighteous anger), 2 Corinthians 2:10-11 (forgiveness as a defense against Satan's schemes), Romans 5:19 and Philippians 3 (imputed righteousness), and 1 John 3:10 (practicing righteousness as evidence of being God's child). These passages are used to argue that the "breastplate of righteousness" is not just imputed righteousness but the practical, Spirit-empowered living out of righteousness that frustrates the devil's designs.

Embracing the New Man: A Journey of Transformation (SermonIndex.net) references Colossians 3 (putting off the old man and putting on the new), Genesis 28 (Jacob's ladder as a type of Christ), John 1 (Jesus as the ladder between heaven and earth), John 3 (Nicodemus and the necessity of new birth), John 12 (the grain of wheat dying to bear fruit), Hebrews 6 (baptism and laying on of hands), and Hebrews 10:25 (not forsaking the assembly). These references are used to support the idea that entering the new man is a radical, communal, and transformative experience that requires death to the old order and full participation in the new community of Christ.

Ephesians 4:24 Christian References outside the Bible:

Letting Go: Embracing Forgiveness and Spiritual Freedom (Waymark Church) explicitly references Mark Driscoll, quoting his teaching that spiritual growth can be measured by the decreasing time between sin and confession, with the goal being immediate repentance. The preacher also references a theologian (unnamed) who says, "the heart of the issue is always an issue of the heart," to reinforce the focus on internal transformation. Additionally, Henry Nouwen is quoted in "Spiritual Vitality: Transforming Leaders Through Holiness and Surrender" (Dallas Willard Ministries), particularly from "The Way of the Heart," to discuss the dangers of seeking identity in ministry and the insidious nature of anger and greed in church leadership. Dallas Willard himself is referenced as an authority on spiritual formation, with his book "Renovation of the Heart" mentioned as a key resource.

Sanctification: A Journey of Grace and Transformation (Ligonier Ministries) explicitly references the Westminster Shorter Catechism, particularly Question 35 on sanctification, to frame the discussion of Ephesians 4:24. The sermon also mentions the hymn "For All the Saints" by William Walsham How to illustrate the tension between the struggle of the saints on earth and the glory of the saints in heaven, and quotes Sinclair Ferguson and R.C. Sproul regarding the Latin phrase "simul iustus et peccator" (simultaneously justified and sinner), applying it to sanctification as "simul sanctus et peccator" (simultaneously saint and sinner). Additionally, the preacher recounts a personal anecdote involving John Piper, who remarked on the power required to keep a Christian faithful, equating it to the power that raised Christ from the dead.

Ephesians 4:24 Illustrations from Secular Sources:

Letting Go: Embracing Forgiveness and Spiritual Freedom (Waymark Church) uses several detailed secular illustrations to illuminate Ephesians 4:24. The central metaphor is the "holding penalty" in football, where a player illegally restrains an opponent, which is used to illustrate how holding onto internal wounds or grudges hinders spiritual progress. The preacher also tells a story about professional bass fisherman Hank Parker, who is tempted to withhold generosity from a stranger based on superficial judgment, ultimately using the story to highlight the need to "let go" of prejudices and extend grace. Additionally, the sermon references the song "Let It Go" from Disney’s "Frozen," using its lyrics ("the wind is howling like a swirling storm inside...let it go, let it go, can’t hold it back anymore") as a metaphor for releasing internal burdens and embracing the freedom of the new self. The preacher humorously refers to this as "the gospel of Elsa," reinforcing the call to let go of internal holds.

Spiritual Vitality: Transforming Leaders Through Holiness and Surrender (Dallas Willard Ministries) uses the analogy of "training for reigning" to situate present transformation within the context of eternal destiny, and tells the story of dog races in Florida where the mechanical rabbit breaks down, illustrating how misplaced focus on performance or external goals can lead to confusion and breakdown when those goals are removed. The preacher also recounts a humorous story about a pastor’s illustrated sermon with worms in jars of alcohol, tobacco, chocolate, and dirt, using the punchline to highlight the need for deeper spiritual insight beyond surface-level lessons.

Sanctification: A Journey of Grace and Transformation (Ligonier Ministries) uses the vivid secular analogy of a dog running free in a field to illustrate the concept of Christian freedom. The preacher describes the joy and naturalness of a dog doing what it was created to do, paralleling this with the believer who, through sanctification, is finally able to live out their true purpose in righteousness and holiness. This metaphor is used to challenge the common misconception that God's commands are restrictive, arguing instead that they are the path to true fulfillment and freedom, just as a dog is most itself when running free, not when constrained or acting against its nature.