That government which Christ has appointed for the edification of his church has now been considered. Do not be fooled by their mysteries and secrets, which they call true wisdom!” Worthless. “In the Lord” indicates that this chapter is not from Paul exclusively but from the Lord Himself; this is divine revelation. These verses warn believers not to fall back into the Gentile way of thinking. This series on the book of Ephesians features author and professor Mark Roberts teaching through the book in eighteen engaging and challenging lessons. Paul again calls the believer to walk - not as the lost Gentiles walk - and goes into the lost"s perverted mindset and lifestyle. (CHAPS 1-3) THE DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH -- OUR WEALTH -- OUR SPIRITUAL POSITION IN CHRIST Your email address will not be published. Ephesians 4:17 - So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, on StudyLight.org Walk—Note, Ephesians 4:1. 4. What ever vanity they can conceive they will make a part of their lifestyle. And even in the worship of God, it leads to great errors, particularly in the first table of the law. Points out how they had been changed, in consequence of their conversion to Christianity, Ephesians 4:20, Ephesians 4:21. “This is the Lord’s command I speak to you! A. Most of us realize that the unity of the church of God courses through the book of Ephesians as a general theme. Human viewpoint results in a way of life that devolves and ends in futility. A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments brings out an interesting aspect of these verses. Ephesians 4:17-30 New Life-New Lifestyle. But experience, we shall be told, is openly at variance with this opinion; for men are not so blind as to be incapable of seeing anything, nor so vain as to be incapable of forming any judgment. Verses 17-19 tell us where to begin. Verses 17 to 32 set forth how Christians are to “walk” in the Lord. Ephesians 4:17, ESV: "Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds." Overall theme in Chapter 4. Visit our library of inductive Bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the Bible you can use in your small group. Everything included in the following verses respecting the blindness and depravity of the heathen is; therefore comprehended in the word vanity. But with these, , which was a common Hebrew term for idolatry; and here with St. Paul it is a name for all the utter worthlessness of the apostate antitheism of Gentilism. —In view of your being the model Church described in the last paragraph. And we concluded that the work of the ministry was too important to get sidetracked with unimportant issues. By “Gentiles” Paul was referring to the non-Christian. Ephesians 4:17-19 New International Version (NIV) Instructions for Christian Living. Scripture: Ephesians 4:25. All men know, for instance, that there is a God, and that it is our duty to worship him; but such is the power of sin and ignorance, that from this confused knowledge we pass all at once to an idol, and worship it in the place of God. The “therefore” resumes the subject of the Christian’s walk in fellowship with the Lord (4:1). A call for unity among God’s people. They have become callous … Ephesians 4:17 … The source of conflicts--the old man (4:17-24). Verses 17 to 19 show the kink in the armor for walking with the Lord— the sin capacity in the soul. With regard to the former, he accuses their mind of vanity: and let us remember, that he speaks generally of all who have not been renewed by the Spirit of Christ. "What is immediately noteworthy is the apostle"s emphasis on the intellectual factor in everybody"s way of life [cf. 17.I say’ and testify—I declare and protest. Most of us realize that the unity of the church of God courses through the book of Ephesians as a general theme. Ephesians 4:17-24 – Commentary on Ephesians – The New You. Ephesians 4:17-32 NLT With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Here should be the divine residence of eternal truth, God, Christ, and holiness. That Christians should imitate it an inheritance as God 's own people all! ” Worthless be proud of,... 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