First Baptist Church Wiggins, FBC Wiggins
The Life That Makes Us One
Today, we want you to receive Christ’s testimony.
Locations & Times
First Baptist Church Wiggins
219 2nd St N, Wiggins, MS 39577, United States
Sunday 5:00 AM
I. The Life That Makes Us One Works Powerfully in Us to Produce A Softened Heart. Vs 17-19
- Paul is calling the Gentile believers at Ephesus to be different than the Gentile unbelievers BECAUSE the Gentile unbelievers are “alienated from the Life of God.”
- “the life of God” is the gift of life that God had given them at the beginning. They have become separated from it. “The life of God,” for them, is no more.
Ex.
1). They are walking in the futility of their minds.
- They may try to appear to be spiritual, but in reality they are
making decisions according to their whims and emotions.
2). The light that was in them has been darkened.
- There is no light to guide their way
3). Their hearts have become hardened.
- There is no conflict of conscience. They have conceded the battle with their conscience and have given over to their passions and desires.
The Saints to whom Paul is writing have been rescued from this perverse way of walking that is alienated from the life of God so the Saints “must no longer walk as the Gentiles do.”
- Paul is calling the Gentile believers at Ephesus to be different than the Gentile unbelievers BECAUSE the Gentile unbelievers are “alienated from the Life of God.”
- “the life of God” is the gift of life that God had given them at the beginning. They have become separated from it. “The life of God,” for them, is no more.
Ex.
1). They are walking in the futility of their minds.
- They may try to appear to be spiritual, but in reality they are
making decisions according to their whims and emotions.
2). The light that was in them has been darkened.
- There is no light to guide their way
3). Their hearts have become hardened.
- There is no conflict of conscience. They have conceded the battle with their conscience and have given over to their passions and desires.
The Saints to whom Paul is writing have been rescued from this perverse way of walking that is alienated from the life of God so the Saints “must no longer walk as the Gentiles do.”
We must no longer walk as the Gentiles do.
Most Americans are:
1. Walking in the futility of their minds by making decisions based on what Jimmy Fallon, Dr. Phil, and Oprah says. They think it's a smart way to live.
2. The light that was in them has been darkened by ignoring the God from whom their blessings come, not giving Him glory and living for themselves. There is no light in them.
3.Their hearts have become hardened by the depravity they witness on the big and small screen and the availability and celebration of pornography.
- We have been given LIFE and LIGHT and the love of Christ has melted our hearts. Hence we should no longer walk as other Americans do. There SHOULD be a difference.
- If not, then that is something that should concern us. Do we really have the life of God? Or are we still alienated from it?
Most Americans are:
1. Walking in the futility of their minds by making decisions based on what Jimmy Fallon, Dr. Phil, and Oprah says. They think it's a smart way to live.
2. The light that was in them has been darkened by ignoring the God from whom their blessings come, not giving Him glory and living for themselves. There is no light in them.
3.Their hearts have become hardened by the depravity they witness on the big and small screen and the availability and celebration of pornography.
- We have been given LIFE and LIGHT and the love of Christ has melted our hearts. Hence we should no longer walk as other Americans do. There SHOULD be a difference.
- If not, then that is something that should concern us. Do we really have the life of God? Or are we still alienated from it?
II. The Life That Makes Us One Works Powerfully in Us to Produce a Renewed Mind. Vs 20-24
- “that is not the way you learned Christ,” Paul is saying that it was when they turned away from the futile Gentile way of thinking that they came to know Christ.
- They needed to KEEP turning away from that futile Gentile way of thinking and keep turning toward Christ.
The new way of life that they had turned to led to the renewing of the spirit of their minds. This brought about righteousness and holiness through the putting on of Christ.
- “that is not the way you learned Christ,” Paul is saying that it was when they turned away from the futile Gentile way of thinking that they came to know Christ.
- They needed to KEEP turning away from that futile Gentile way of thinking and keep turning toward Christ.
The new way of life that they had turned to led to the renewing of the spirit of their minds. This brought about righteousness and holiness through the putting on of Christ.
Change your way of thinking.
Change your view of the world.
Commit to a continued change.
Why? Because every other way of thinking and every other worldview leads to a darkened understanding, a hard heart, and a depraved mind.
Keep putting on the new self.
Resist the urge to sleep your way through life.
Submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit, the strength He gives, and keep fighting the good fight.
Change your view of the world.
Commit to a continued change.
Why? Because every other way of thinking and every other worldview leads to a darkened understanding, a hard heart, and a depraved mind.
Keep putting on the new self.
Resist the urge to sleep your way through life.
Submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit, the strength He gives, and keep fighting the good fight.
III. The Life That Makes Us One Works Powerfully in Us to Produce A Transformed Lifestyle. Vs 25-32
- As covered before, salvation is a gift from God that comes by grace through faith. It is not according to works… it is a gift of God.
- So this is not a list of stuff to do in order to be saved. Rather it is a list of stuff we do BECAUSE we are saved.
- Things that we have to strive for in the strength he gives.
- We are not doing them to get God to love us more, but rather to reveal to the world that our heart has been softened and our mind has been renewed.
Our transformed life should be evident in the way talk:
1) "speak the truth with his neighbor" (v.25)
2) "no corrupting talk" (v.29)
3) "Let all...slander be put away from you" (v.31)
Our Transformed life should be evident in the way we act:
1) "Be angry and do not sin" (v.26)
2) "give no opportunity to the devil" (v.27)
3) "Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor... that he may have something to share with anyone in need" (v.28)
4) "do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God" (v.30)
5) "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another" (v.32)
- As covered before, salvation is a gift from God that comes by grace through faith. It is not according to works… it is a gift of God.
- So this is not a list of stuff to do in order to be saved. Rather it is a list of stuff we do BECAUSE we are saved.
- Things that we have to strive for in the strength he gives.
- We are not doing them to get God to love us more, but rather to reveal to the world that our heart has been softened and our mind has been renewed.
Our transformed life should be evident in the way talk:
1) "speak the truth with his neighbor" (v.25)
2) "no corrupting talk" (v.29)
3) "Let all...slander be put away from you" (v.31)
Our Transformed life should be evident in the way we act:
1) "Be angry and do not sin" (v.26)
2) "give no opportunity to the devil" (v.27)
3) "Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor... that he may have something to share with anyone in need" (v.28)
4) "do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God" (v.30)
5) "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another" (v.32)
For unsaved people, not not think that you can just jump up and go out there and start acting saved. Remember apart from Christ you are alienated from the life of God, you have a wrong way of thinking and only repentance and faith in Christ can change that.
Christians cant jump up and go out there thinking that they can do anything in their own strength either.
We shouldn't go out there thinking that we are going to earn anything by being different. We should have the mindset that we are going to be a blessing to God and a blessing to others so that He might be glorified and honored in our life.
It's important for us to do this together because “we are members of one another.”
- Whoever resists the calls hurts us all.
- Whoever submit to these calls helps us all.
Are you going to help us grow together, or are you going to hurt us?
Christians cant jump up and go out there thinking that they can do anything in their own strength either.
We shouldn't go out there thinking that we are going to earn anything by being different. We should have the mindset that we are going to be a blessing to God and a blessing to others so that He might be glorified and honored in our life.
It's important for us to do this together because “we are members of one another.”
- Whoever resists the calls hurts us all.
- Whoever submit to these calls helps us all.
Are you going to help us grow together, or are you going to hurt us?
If anyone is interested in participating in a evangelism training/ apologetics class to better prepare for conversations with others then join us this Sunday at 4:30 in the fellowship hall. We will dive deep into the artful method and attractive manner needed to share our faith with others. Maybe pick up a little knowledge while there... see ya sunday!