Transforming Lives: Embracing Christ-like Purity and Wisdom
Summary
Christ-like living impacts every part of our lives as we put off our old self and put on the new self. This transformation is not just about acquiring knowledge but about gaining true wisdom that aligns with the heart and soul of Jesus. Ephesians 4:17-24 challenges us to no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds, but to be renewed in the spirit of our minds and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. This new reality with Jesus at the center calls us to learn Christ, not just know about Him, and to align our lives with what makes God tick.
Walking in purity involves a conscious decision to live in love, light, and wisdom. It means imitating God by loving others as Christ loved us, walking in the light by exposing and turning away from darkness, and walking in wisdom by making the best use of our time and understanding the will of the Lord. This journey requires us to confront and discard the old nature, which grieves the Holy Spirit, and embrace the new nature that reflects the character of Christ.
The call to purity is not just about avoiding sexual immorality but also about addressing greed, anger, and corrupt talk. It is about allowing the light of Christ to shine on every area of our lives, exposing darkness and bringing healing and wholeness. As we walk in purity, we become a light to others, bringing hope and transformation to those around us. This is not a call for a select few but for everyone, as we are all called to be imitators of God and to walk in His ways.
Key Takeaways:
1. Christ-like Living: Embracing Christ-like living means putting off the old self and putting on the new self, aligning our lives with the wisdom and heart of Jesus. This transformation is not just about knowledge but about a deep, personal relationship with Christ that impacts every part of our lives. [45:01]
2. Walking in Love: To walk in purity, we must walk in love, imitating God by loving others as Christ loved us. This involves selfless love, putting others' needs ahead of our own, and being a light to those around us. [47:14]
3. Walking in Light: Walking in light means allowing the light of Christ to shine on every area of our lives, exposing darkness and bringing healing. It is about living in a way that reflects the character of Christ and being a light to others. [51:46]
4. Walking in Wisdom: Walking in wisdom involves making the best use of our time, understanding the will of the Lord, and setting healthy boundaries in our lives. It is about planning our days to be a light and to walk in the ways of God. [01:01:08]
5. Imitating God: We are called to imitate God, not by being omnipotent or omnipresent, but by reflecting His love and character in our lives. This involves learning Christ, understanding what makes Him tick, and living in a way that glorifies God. [01:04:47]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Prayer for Next Level Church
[02:00] - Introduction to Ephesians Series
[04:15] - Walking in Purity
[06:45] - Christ-like Living
[09:30] - Ephesians 4:17-24
[12:00] - Learning Christ
[15:00] - The Story of Eustace Scrubb
[18:30] - Therefore Statements
[21:00] - Walking in Love
[24:00] - Walking in Light
[27:00] - Exposing Darkness
[30:00] - Walking in Wisdom
[33:00] - Final Encouragement
[36:00] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 4:17-24
- Ephesians 5:1-18
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Ephesians 4:17-24 say about the difference between the old self and the new self? How does this passage describe the transformation that occurs when we put on the new self?
2. According to the sermon, what are some characteristics of walking in purity, and how do they contrast with the behaviors of the Gentiles? [06:45]
3. In Ephesians 5:1-2, what does it mean to be imitators of God and to walk in love as Christ loved us? How is this love described in the sermon? [47:14]
4. How does the sermon describe the role of wisdom in our daily lives, and what practical steps are suggested for walking in wisdom? [01:01:08]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of putting off the old self and putting on the new self relate to the idea of learning Christ rather than just knowing about Him? [18:30]
2. What does it mean to walk in light according to Ephesians 5:8-14, and how does this relate to exposing darkness in our lives and the lives of others? [51:46]
3. The sermon mentions that walking in purity involves more than just avoiding sexual immorality. What other aspects of purity are highlighted, and why are they important for a Christ-like life? [55:24]
4. How does the sermon explain the concept of grieving the Holy Spirit, and what are the implications for our daily walk with God? [49:33]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you are still holding onto the old self? What steps can you take this week to embrace the new self in Christ? [06:45]
2. Walking in love involves selflessness and putting others' needs ahead of our own. Can you identify a specific relationship where you can practice this kind of love more intentionally? [47:14]
3. The sermon challenges us to walk in light by exposing darkness. Is there a specific area in your life that needs to be brought into the light? How can you take a step towards healing and wholeness this week? [51:46]
4. Consider your daily routine: How can you incorporate more wisdom into your decision-making? Are there specific boundaries you need to set to make better use of your time? [01:01:08]
5. The sermon encourages us to imitate God by reflecting His love and character. What is one practical way you can demonstrate God's love to someone in your community this week? [48:57]
6. Think about the concept of grieving the Holy Spirit. Are there habits or behaviors in your life that might be causing this? What changes can you make to align more closely with the Spirit's leading? [49:33]
7. The sermon mentions the importance of planning our days to walk in God's ways. How can you be more intentional about planning your time to include opportunities for spiritual growth and service? [01:02:53]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing a New Identity in Christ
Christ-like living calls for a profound transformation, where one puts off the old self and embraces the new self, aligning with the wisdom and heart of Jesus. This transformation is not merely about acquiring knowledge but about cultivating a deep, personal relationship with Christ that permeates every aspect of life. Ephesians 4:17-24 challenges believers to abandon the futile ways of the Gentiles and to be renewed in the spirit of their minds, putting on the new self, created in the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. This new reality, with Jesus at the center, invites individuals to learn Christ, not just know about Him, and to align their lives with what resonates with God's heart. [45:01]
Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV): "To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."
Reflection: What specific aspect of your old self do you need to put off today to embrace your new identity in Christ?
Day 2: Living in Selfless Love
Walking in purity involves a conscious decision to live in love, imitating God by loving others as Christ loved us. This means practicing selfless love, putting others' needs ahead of our own, and being a light to those around us. It is about embodying the love of Christ in our daily interactions and relationships, reflecting His character in all we do. This journey requires confronting and discarding the old nature, which grieves the Holy Spirit, and embracing the new nature that mirrors the character of Christ. [47:14]
1 John 4:11-12 (ESV): "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us."
Reflection: Who in your life needs to experience the selfless love of Christ through you today, and how can you show it to them?
Day 3: Shining the Light of Christ
Walking in light means allowing the light of Christ to shine on every area of our lives, exposing darkness and bringing healing. It involves living in a way that reflects the character of Christ and being a beacon of hope and transformation to those around us. This call to purity is not just about avoiding sexual immorality but also about addressing greed, anger, and corrupt talk. As we walk in purity, we become a light to others, bringing hope and transformation to those around us. [51:46]
Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV): "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Reflection: What area of your life needs the light of Christ to shine more brightly, and what steps can you take to expose and turn away from darkness?
Day 4: Walking in Godly Wisdom
Walking in wisdom involves making the best use of our time, understanding the will of the Lord, and setting healthy boundaries in our lives. It is about planning our days to be a light and to walk in the ways of God. This journey requires intentionality and discernment, seeking to align our actions and decisions with God's purposes and priorities. By walking in wisdom, we reflect the character of Christ and bring glory to God in all we do. [01:01:08]
Colossians 4:5-6 (ESV): "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."
Reflection: How can you make better use of your time today to align with God's will and reflect His wisdom in your interactions?
Day 5: Reflecting God's Character
We are called to imitate God, not by being omnipotent or omnipresent, but by reflecting His love and character in our lives. This involves learning Christ, understanding what makes Him tick, and living in a way that glorifies God. It is about embodying the values and virtues of Christ in our daily lives, becoming a living testimony of His grace and truth. This call to imitation is not for a select few but for everyone, as we are all called to be imitators of God and to walk in His ways. [01:04:47]
1 Peter 1:15-16 (ESV): "But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'"
Reflection: In what specific ways can you reflect God's character in your life today, and how can you be more intentional about imitating Christ in your actions and attitudes?
Quotes
Our world tends to have a great deal of knowledge if you look around you people think they're smart they think they know a lot of things and some of them do have knowledge about an abundance of different things the problem is that all of the knowledge without true wisdom leads to nothing in the old life all of the knowledge moving forward to anything will end up leaving to destruction because there's no improvement if the if the heart and soul aren't in tune with Jesus. [00:31:21] (29 seconds)
Walk as new humans alive in a new reality the reality with Jesus at the center everything being said here works under the assumption that people know who Jesus is so this this was taught to people they knew Jesus they knew who he was but they they needed to start to learn Jesus they needed to start to learn who he was more than just knowing about him because the way of Christ is so different than the way of the Gentiles that to just know about Christ wasn't enough you actually needed to know him. [00:36:03] (35 seconds)
Therefore having put away falsehood let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor for we are members of one another falsehood comes from the word pseudo which gives us the word pseudonym you might have heard but it talks about all the falsehoods in this world lies that start to build up in our hearts where you start to not know what the difference is between truth and lies and so it tells us to put aside falsehood and focus on the truth that is Jesus. [00:45:19] (29 seconds)
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you. All of these therefore statements are important because when we walk away from the old nature into the new nature, it's a good thing, but the old nature is what grieves the Holy Spirit. [00:49:20] (36 seconds)
Therefore be imitators of God as beloved children and walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Be imitators of God. Okay, that's a hard ask, okay? Be imitators of God. How many of you know how to do that? When Paul said be imitators of me as I imitate Christ was a little easier, but imitating God? [00:46:29] (26 seconds)
We may not see every action that God takes, but we can definitely imitate the steps that we do see him take. We can definitely do the things that we do see of him, because we're not called to be omnipotent. We're not called to be omnipresent or any of the other omnis that are associated with God. We're also not called to do what Jesus did and dine on a cross for everyone's sins. Thankfully, he's already done that for us. But we're called to walk in the ways he did. [00:47:34] (28 seconds)
And as we learn Christ, as we learn the way he interacted with all kinds of different people, people. We get to see the love of the Father in action, the love of a heavenly Father who loves each one of us. Jesus came to live as a servant, putting others' needs ahead of himself, washing their feet. He went to places no one else would go. He got his hands dirty, and he displayed what true love looks like for us everywhere he walked. [00:47:59] (31 seconds)
A Christian is not sinless, but as we learn Christ, we learn to sin less and less. And less and less, keeping ourselves removed from the darkness. Let's read again. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness, nor foolish talk, nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. [00:50:54] (32 seconds)
For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure or who is covetous, that is an idolater, has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore, do not become partners with them. For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true. [00:51:46] (36 seconds)
Walking in purity is about allowing the things that God has revealed to us to be fully in our hearts and to not contaminate ourselves by the things of our old nature. Sex, greed, bitterness, crude talk, all forms of impurity in our hearts. We often only think of sexual sin when we hear about purity. But there are so many other things that are holding our hearts, that are corrupting us, that are making us feel adulterous to the things that are of God. [00:58:19] (31 seconds)
Look carefully, then, how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, making the best use of the time because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit. Walk in wisdom. It's not just wine it's talking about here that we need to be careful about. It's all areas of our life where we feel need to justify our actions. [01:00:17] (36 seconds)
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