CREATED TO BE LIKE GOD

Passage: Ephesians 4:17-24

Key verse: 24

NIV

Instructions for Christian Living

17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer(A) live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.(B) 18 They are darkened in their understanding(C) and separated from the life of God(D) because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.(E) 19 Having lost all sensitivity,(F) they have given themselves over(G) to sensuality(H) so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off(I) your old self,(J) which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;(K) 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;(L) 24 and to put on(M) the new self,(N) created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.(O)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The New Life

17 Now this I say and (A)testify in the Lord, (B)that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, (C)in the futility of their minds. 18 They (D)are darkened in their understanding, (E)alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to (F)their hardness of heart. 19 They (G)have become callous and (H)have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you (I)learned Christ!— 21 assuming that (J)you have heard about him and (K)were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to (L)put off (M)your old self,[a] which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through (N)deceitful desires, 23 and (O)to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on (P)the new self, (Q)created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

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Footnotes
  1. Ephesians 4:22 Greek man; also verse 24
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Put on the new self (17-22)

Most of the Ephesian Christians were Gentiles. But Paul uses the term 'Gentiles' here to mean those who do not know God. They are those who are apart from God and are controlled by their sinful nature. They are the ones Paul decries in Romans as those whose thinking is futile and whose 'foolish hearts are darkened'. (Rom 1:21) They are the ones who have given themselves over to a depraved, sinful life. Paul admonished the Ephesian Christians that they must not live like this any longer. They belong to Christ. When we belong to Christ we put such ways aside.

2. Made new in the attitude of your minds (23,24)

What happens when we put on the new self? The attitudes of our minds are made new. This means we become new creations! The gospel teaches us the truth of our new life in Jesus. We are made to be like God, in righteousness and holiness. Because of Jesus, our old, sinful selves are gone. God doesn't see us anymore as dirty sinners and His enemies. Rather, we are a new creation in Him!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the new self you have made us to be through Jesus. Help us to live as your new creation in all righteousness and holiness.

One Word: Take off the old self; put on the new