Living as the New You
Context: Equipping Saints for Ministry
Every single one of us needs to be the ultimate ministers of the church. We are the ones who should be ministering to one another. The task of the prophets, apostles, teachers, evangelists, and shepherds is to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, so that every Christian is doing the ministry.
There is a wrong perception that churches exist to provide meaningful worship, messages, and fellowship, while the congregation simply shows up and enjoys. Enjoying church is good, but there is work to be done, and that is everybody's task.
Sin is a significant hindrance to the body of Christ rising up, protecting one another in doctrine, theology, and holiness, and creating a safe, secure, stable environment.
Not Walking as the Gentiles Walk
If sin is the greatest hindrance to ministry, we must not walk as the world walks, not as the Gentiles or unbelievers. We did not learn Christ by acting as a non-Christian; we learned Christ through the teaching and preaching of the gospel. Therefore, there must be something fundamentally different about the way we live compared to the world.
The world lives in the futility of their minds, in pointless thoughts leading to pointless living. The key is not a secular versus sacred divide. The task of a Christian is to live every area of life—sports, school, work, relationships—not like an unbeliever.
Much of what we see here is a framework for understanding how to live in these areas as a Christian. There are activities we cannot do as Christians because they can only be done as an unbeliever. Most activities are not inherently sinful; the question is how we do them as Christians, with a severe difference from non-Christians.
Putting Off the Old You, Putting On the New You
Put off the old man, the former unbeliever version of you—the "before Christ" version. Put on the new version purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ. Live not as the world does, but as the church does, to benefit your spiritual walk and the lives of those around you.
There is no such thing as rogue Christianity—just you and Jesus. Christ purchased Christians whose spiritual benefit overflows to bless others. Paul capstones this in Ephesians 4:25-32, giving tools to put off the old us and put on the new us, exciting us to see what we look like as more holy individuals.
We already have the new us; we need to understand how to live as the new us.
Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
Ephesians 4:25-32
An Extreme View on Christian Living
This passage details how we should speak, feel, and behave in a radical, extreme degree. It affects what you say, how you feel, and your actions.
Don't learn from the world's experiences, thoughts, or feelings—they walk in darkness. Learn from how God says you should behave, with the power of the Holy Spirit to think, speak, and act.
The old you is self-centered. The new you is concerned with God's glory, your sanctification, and your brothers' and sisters' well-being. The old you focuses the camera on yourself; the new you turns it toward God and others.
Put Away Falsehood: Speak Truth
"Put away falsehood" uses the same word as "put off the old you." Living as an unbeliever when God has declared you righteous in Christ is a lie. Speak truth to your neighbor by living as a Christian.
The truth about you is that you are blood-bought, predestined for adoption as God's child, an heir with Christ. Living below that quality of life is living falsely.
Truth includes not speaking verbal lies, but mainly, living as a non-Christian is the significant lie. Stop lying by your actions; live as the righteous, holy new self created in God's likeness.
Be Angry and Do Not Sin
Sincere, righteous anger exists, as with Jesus cleansing the temple. But be angry and do not sin—don't give the devil a foothold or place to live in your life.
Don't let the sun go down on your anger; reconcile quickly, especially in marriages, friendships, and church relationships. Be angry at sin, but control emotions to avoid sinning.
From Stealing to Sharing
The old you takes; the new you works honestly to share with those in need. Honest work is work of righteousness, concerned for others' spiritual needs through meeting physical ones.
Do Not Grieve the Holy Spirit
Do not grieve or irritate the Holy Spirit, by whom you were sealed for redemption. Sin saddens Him, especially given His holiness. Prioritize not offending Him over people.
Put Away Bitterness, Wrath, Anger, Clamor, Slander, Malice
A root of bitterness defiles many. Don't be bitter at the world, people, or offenses. Wrath acts on sinful anger; clamor is angry shouting; slander is abusive speech tearing others down.
Control your tongue; don't blaspheme God's image-bearers. The old you is ugly—a cosmic killjoy. View it as God does.
Be Kind, Tenderhearted, Forgiving
The new you is compassionate, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you. Contemplate God's total forgiveness of you first; it compels you to forgive always.
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Matthew 6:14-15
This extreme Christianity makes you attractive, trustworthy, secure. You won't lack friends in the church. Living the new life means learning who you are in Christ, redeeming emotions with the gospel, working to give, controlling speech, honoring the Holy Spirit, and living in compassion and forgiveness.
