Lesson 60 September 7, 2003

4:17-24 Intro Review!

This I say therefore, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk,

#1 "in the futility of their mind" mataiothsj; empty, aimless, thinking

- Paul's stress here at this point is on #1, our thinking, our ability to reason;

- We know the material world is real, its there, we know that we live in time, that our lives are, in the words of James, but a vapor, here today, gone tomorrow! Its temporal!! (James 4:14)

But we also know that, the material, temporal world is not all that there is!!

Our old mind set must be, NO LONGER the basis, or framework for our thinking!

#2 "being darkened in their understanding"

- having no light to see and illuminate the process of thinking.

** There is a common link between the 3rd 4th and 5th;

- "because of the ignorance that is in them,"

- "because of the hardness of the heart;"

- "and they having become callous;"

** From that mind set; empty and aimless thinking; it leads into a moral quicksand!

What Paul is saying is this; Believers you recognize this mind set and its attendant moral conduct from your former pre-salvation days.

4:19b Morality Depicted; shift to conduct that flows out of mind set!

"have given themselves over to sensuality, for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness."

- This way of life was theirs by choice!! they gave themselves over;

"to sensuality"; avse,lgeia; - the idea is that of uncontrolled, unrestrained living; the context to give area or direction of the unrestrained living;

How is this word used?

- used in 1 Pet 4:3 of one of the characteristics of the pagan, UB'r lifestyle

- in 2 Pet 2:2 of a characteristic of false teachers; in 2:18 of one of the ways the F/T entices others to fall for his line.

- also in Jude 4 of F/T's; "who turn the grace of God into licentiousness"; turning grace into license!

this unfortunately is typical of many F/T's today; redefine what sin is; rejection/denial of absolutes of WOG.

- in 2 Pet 2:7 of the sexual perversion of homosexuality

Conclusion:

* This speaks of a life without a concern for personal standards or social sanctions.

- in this verse the direction of the unrestrained living is; "for eij the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness."

- "impurity" avkaqarsi,a; filthiness, uncleanness; most uses are of moral uncleanness; especially as result of sexual immorality;

- "greediness" pleonexi,a; main idea, insatiable craving; never enough; always a desire for more!

New Life Commanded; New way of thinking [new mindset]

a. New life contrasted with the former 4:20-21

b. The Duty related to the New life; 4:22-24

a. New life contrasted with the former 4:20-21 Read!!

- But YOU did not learn Christ in this way.

Since you have this new life, His life, it obligates you to live in a manner worthy of that new relationship.

** Paul is saying to them, look there are some differences!!

#1 You now know Christ; and have by virtue of salvation a relationship with Him; are in union with Him.

#2 They also know truth. vs:21

* There's more to learning, being taught than just an academic understanding of something; but what we learn of Christ, His thinking, is to be lived out in our lives;

[Phil 4:9] read

** Look at 4:21 "If indeed you have heard Him [auvton] [1^cc and you have]

and been taught in Him

This relationship began the moment they believed in Christ, and it is in that sphere that their and our spiritual instruction progresses.

as [kaqw,j] the truth is [evstin] in Jesus.