ὑπερνικάω

Monday, August 24, 2009

Ephesians 4:20-24
20 But you did not learn Christ in this way,
21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus,
22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,
23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

This is a recap to what we did in cell on Sunday morning.

We have established that you are the one to actively lay aside your old self. The word clearly states that it is our part to lay aside all that you were, and also goes on to say that you put on the new self. It is your responsibility to do that.

We'll look on later in the verse, bit by bit, to see how Paul instructs the Ephesians to lay aside their old self.

25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another.

This is the first part that we will look at; speak truth to each other.

Lying is basically saying anything that is aside from the truth.

In the context of laying aside your old self, this means that you have to purpose yourself to avoid lying.

That also means that when you've told a lie, no matter how small, you do not push it aside and ignore it.

But you acknowledge it, and you repent. And you purpose yourself not to walk that manner of speech again.

Let us purpose ourselves to speak truth to the people around us.