Put Off Your Old Self

In this sermon, we looked at Paul's reminder to the Christians in Ephesus to no longer walk as their old selves before they heard the Gospel and learned about Jesus. In Ephesians 4:17-25, Paul teaches us that at the core of the old self is a darkened heart that has become calloused and can no longer feel pain, grief, guilt, or conviction. He also warns that once our hearts become darkened and calloused, we give ourselves over to moral riot. Paul reminds the Ephesians that they are no longer the same and gives them instructions to take off this old self by putting away falsehood and telling the truth about their sin and suffering. We, too, have been commanded to put off the old self and put on the new self, created in the image of God. By giving our sin and suffering a name and telling the truth, our hearts become alive and sensitive, allowing us to walk in the new self in right relationship with God and others.