4:17-32 THE The Believer’ s Walk in Righteousness (4:17-32) 1. The Previous Walk of the Old Life (4:17-19) 2. The Present Walk of the New Life (4:20-32) Welcome to the Wardrobe explore it and let the Spirit of the house enlighten you. The Wardrobe is a place where God hangs the clothes of His people, no one can come into His house with this old clothes and jackets on, it would quickly become too warm and they would feel very uncomfortable inside this warm house. The Owner of the house would also be grieved that they made His house dirty with their filthy clothes because it is so clean, perfect and so full of light in here that the smallest dirt would be seen. 1. The Previous Walk of the Old Life (4:17-19) Like any normal person who become royal has to quit the old life and live the new life, Christians also has to quit the old life after they have become royal. V. 17-18 describes the Mental perspective and v.19 the Moral practice. V.17 a) Direction - Futility: We didn’ t have a sound and wise mind but walked without purpose and direction, we were wanderers like Cain. Col.1:21 V.18 b) Darkness - Evil: Our ability to distinguish between good and evil were blinded, clouded and darkened. 2.Pet.1:9 c) Division - Alienation: We didn’ t know the life of God because we were separated from God, we only knew the evil life of the flesh. d) Disregard - Ignorance: We disregarded God, tried to reason God away and loved pleasure. e) Dullness - Hardening: Our hearts became blind, hard and dull because of our love for the world. V.19 f) Derestricted - Licentiousness: We had no self-control and liked no restriction and were given over to sexual sins. g) Deeds - Uncleanness: Because of unclean indwelling spirits we obeyed their pleasure and did all kinds of unclean deeds. h) Desire - Greediness: We were selfish and stored only for ourselves. Compassion for the poor and needy were substituted with compassion for our selfish pride. 2. The Present Walk of the New Life (4:20-32) V.20-21 a) Learned in Christ - Through hearing and teaching. V.22 b) Lusts of the old man - Take off: I. We ought to take off the crucified old man like we take of a garment, Jesus hanged it on the cross, let it stay there. II. Lusts are deceitful because they do not satisfy, they stir up the lust and enslaves the person. V.23-24 c) Life of the new man - Take on: I. Before we were mentally ill but now we should let our mind be renewed by the Word of God. Eph.1:17-18; Rom.12:2 The new man is not enforced on us even though its put within us and united to our spirits, we have to willingly put it on daily. II. God created in Jesus Christ the new man righteous and holy even as He created the first man innocent and pure. V.25-31 The putting off the old man. V.25 a) Speech and truth - The new man is transparent and loves truth, therefore speaks truth. V.26 b) Sun and wrath - I. God also gets angry therefore anger is not sin, but we are commanded to forgive even before the day is over. II. Anyone can become angry: But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose and in the right way is not easy. (Therefore don’ t get angry) V.27 c) Satan and ground - We shall not give ground to the devil neither in our mind, action or speech, not even discuss with him. V.28 d) Stealing and work - The curse were hard work, this curse is not lifted from believers yet and all ought to supply their own needs. If we work we are not easily tempted to steal and a place is not given to the devil. 1.Tim.4:8; 2.Thes.3:6-15; 1.Thes.4:11 V.29 e) Sin and communication - Edification and grace should come from our mouth, therefore let the Word of Christ dwell richly in us. Col.3:16 V.30 f) Spirit and grief - Sin grieves the Spirit and our joy is lost, not only is He grieved but we feel His grief as well. 1.Thes.5:19 V.31 g) Six sinful manifestations - These 6 sins of the old man is a result of not trusting in God but defending ourselves It starts with malice (a bad feeling) and then bitterness takes root, then wrath and anger with clamour (shouting) and then slandering about the person. V.32 h) Sweet spirit - As God forgave us we ought to forgive one another.