Sermon Tone Analysis

Ephesians 4:20–24 (ESV) — 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

I. WE HAVE LEARNED CHRIST

Ephesians 4:20–21 (ESV) — 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus,

Ephesians 1:13 (ESV) — 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit…

II.

WE ARE TO PUT OFF

Ephesians 4:22 (ESV) — 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,

“If a child is to grow into the fullest expression of his Father’s character, he needs both the DNA by virtue of birth and the practice of that character with the help of his father’s discipline.

In other words, we need regeneration by God’s seed, and we need sanctification by God’s Spirit- in order to grow up into the full participation in his holiness.”

John Piper, p. 32 in Acting the Miracle

III.

WE ARE TO PUT ON

Ephesians 4:23–24 (ESV) —23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

“We have the seed of God’s likeness (God’s holiness) imparted to us when we are born again, and we must grow into that likeness (that holiness) to show who our Father really is.” John Piper, p. 32 in Acting the Miracle

Romans 12:2 (ESV) — 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Ephesians 4:25 (ESV) — 25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

Ephesians 4:15 (ESV) — 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ…

Ephesians 6:14 (ESV) — 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness…

Titus 3:5 (ESV) — 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit…

“Paul, therefore, instructs his readers to live in accordance with the new self, which was created by God to display the type of righteousness and holiness that belongs to him.”[1]

[1] Merkle, B. L. (2018).

Ephesians.

In I. M. Duguid, J. M. Hamilton Jr., & J. Sklar (Eds.),

Ephesians–Philemon: Vol.

XI (p.

81).

Crossway.