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Sermon Notes of Rev.Dr.I.J.W.Oakley (9-6-1996 Guisborough Evangelical Church)
Paul now moves on to write about Christian living. He
dwells on general principles before he comes later to details of family and
marriage and facing powers of darkness which beset our path. This passage
emphasises that as Christians we have to be different from others. Once we were
like every one else, in that we thought and acted and behaved like them. Now we
belong to the Lord and therefore are very different from the people we were and
the people around – in home, in the street, and in the workplace. New
standards, new outlook, new power. If we want to make any impact, we have to be
different. Not suggesting we need to be odd or eccentric, but we are new
creatures, and old things have passed away.
Foolish to think we can be good
influence on the world by being as like the world as possible. The world will
only laugh behind our backs. The world expects us to be different. So does God.
No one is likely to say, “He has something I haven’t got” unless we are
different. The importance of being different and separate is clear when we
realize that the Christian life and the pagan life are fundamentally opposed and
totally different.
Paul feels this very strongly. He summons all his apostolic authority, So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do (Ephesians 4:17). Then goes on to describe the godless person, the non-Christian. Psychological dissection of the unbeliever, speaking about (i) their condition, (ii) the cause of their condition, and (iii) the consequences of their condition. This is the most profound analysis of unregenerate man that we will come across. Paul ends by saying you will be totally different if you have learned Christ and have grasped the truth as it is in Jesus. Although Paul is describing ancient pagan world of the first century, it is perfect picture of twentieth century modern world.
The Gentiles live in the
futility of their thinking (Ephesians 4:17). nous
means more then just intellect, but mind, will and emotions too – their whole
personality. Their entire outlook on life, whole way of living life, is vanity,
futility, emptiness, pointless, aimless, lacking direction, no goal, leading
nowhere, never giving satisfaction. Summed up in Ecclesiastes 1:1 Meaningless,
meaningless, everything is meaningless. Peter speaks of the empty way of life handed down to you
from your forefathers (1 Peter 1:18). This way ends in death, what’s the
point, what’s beyond death?
John Bunyan’s portrayal of
“Vanity Fair”, in Pilgrim’s Progress is very apt here. Vanity Fair
– full of merchandise, honours, titles, pleasures, precious stones, games,
plays, thefts, murders, adulteries. Pilgrim causes a great stir because he is
clothed differently, speaks differently, and because he is disinterested in the
goods on sale – his sights were set on making his way to the Celestial City.
Our experiences today bear this
out. The things the people of this world regard as important, compared with the
glorious eternal and divine truths which control and motivate the Christian’s
life. The “achievements” of some people in the world – power, money,
position, status, publicity – but many testify to being unhappy despite all
this. Many still in quest for “inner peace”. This is why so many suicides.
This is why so many bitter and cynical old people. For all the world’s
intelligence, big show, sophistication, boasting, noise, glitter and brilliance,
life is empty, a bubble, make-believe, full of air. Life promises so much –
but ends in nothing. Like the “Gentiles” in this verse, walking in futility
of mind.
Amazing that some Christians enjoy the world, long for it, wonder if they are taking the Christian life too seriously. Rather, they should be profoundly sorrowful for the people who have not had their blind eyes opened to see the emptiness and pointlessness of it all.
Four things explain the condition of man without God and
without Christ and which lead to aimless, unsatisfying and empty lives. Darkened
by understanding, also separated from life of God. And why? Because of ignorance
in them due to hard hearts.
(a) Mental darkness – darkened
in their understanding, veil over heart and mind, unable to see, something
between them and the truth. The god of this age has blinded the minds of
unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of
Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4). The Fall of man into sin means they are mentally
in darkness.
Bible calls ungodly man a fool
– lacking understanding, blundering around without thinking. The fool says
in his heart ‘There is no God’ (Psalm 14:1). “Darkness” is
constantly used in the Bible to describe the ungodly. The people living in
darkness (Matthew 4:16), Men loved darkness instead of light (John
3:19). Africa was known as the “Dark Continent” because of its paganism and
ignorance. But William Booth coined the expression “Darkest England” –
with good reason. All man’s philosophy and knowledge will never get him to
God. Because of the darkness he is in, he scoffs at the Gospel and at Christ.
His understanding is darkened. The man without the spirit does not accept the
things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he
cannot understand them (1 Corinthians 2:14).
Only the Holy Spirit can remove
that darkness. We can preach, argue, illustrate and explain, but unless the Holy
Spirit shines into the heart and dispels darkness, we labour in vain. No point
in losing temper or wanting to shake them – what we need to do is ask God to
shine into them, ask God to open blind eyes.
(b) State of spiritual death, separated
from the life of God. Spiritual life is in God alone. If someone is
spiritually dead, spiritual truth and spiritual outlook and spiritual values
mean nothing to them. They do not know God personally, and cannot share and
enjoy His life. Their “life” is mere existence, on a level with animals.
Although they were made for God, they do not know Him. Hence they are restless,
dissatisfied and troubled. Augustine said “Thou hast made us for Thyself, and
our hearts are restless till they find their rest in Thee”.
Feel they are made for something
bigger. Ever seeking real answer but cannot find it. So they worship substitutes
– family, work, money, position, self. But these do not satisfy. They never
will be satisfied till they know God.
“I
tried the broken cisterns, Lord,
But,
ah, their water failed.”
Do you know God, and share in His life? Are you
spiritually alive? Do you have rest for your soul?
(c) The reason for this
separation – Because of the ignorance that is in them. They
may be great readers, have an encyclopaedic knowledge of the world around, have
an answer to all the impossible questions in quizzes – but about the most
important things, they are ignorant. Ignorant about God, His character, Truth,
purposes, His Son, salvation, grace. Hence they imagine they can save themselves
by good works. They do not know they need His power. They are ignorant of the
seriousness and solemnity of eternity.
(d) And why the ignorance? Due
to the hardening of their hearts. pwrwsis
Originates in pwros, which means “marble” – hearts as hard as stone. They
deliberately refuse God. They do not feel anything. Their consciences have
been seared as with a hot iron (1 Timothy 4:2). Lost moral sense, fighting
against God, resisting His call and challenge. They argue against conscience and
the voice of God.
This is the condition of the
world – empty, aimless living of the unbeliever. The reason is their spiritual
state. Mental darkness, spiritually dead, state of deep ignorance, hearts as
hard as stone. Hopeless plight. We were all like that once and would still be if
it were not for the power of God – scattering the darkness, giving us life,
revealing truth, and giving new hearts.
Need to pray for others. Yes, we still need to witness to them, but God must shine in their hearts. We may plant and water, but only God can give the increase. Helpless apart from Him.
They have given themselves
over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual
lust for more (Ephesians 4:19). It is a biblical principle that ungodliness
always leads to unrighteousness. And the more that restraints are relaxed, the
more unrighteousness abounds. It is also a biblical principle that a point is
reached in individual’s lives and in society that God gives men up to their
sins. He takes the brakes off and abandons them to the full consequences of
their sins. God abandons those who abandon Him.
Giving of men to licentiousness
is a gradual and increasing process. Gradually forget all self-control. Then
care nothing for public opinion, decency, tradition, or God. Unashamed, open and
proud of their unrighteous behaviour. Together with greediness. Only self
matters. Main thing is to gratify lusts. Allow nothing to stand between
themselves and their pleasures. Need look no further than the headlines in
today’s papers.
In America in the 1960’s
posters listing the 10 Commandments had to be taken down, references to
Christian values deleted, and prayers forbidden on school property. By the
1990’s discipline and values barely exist. Metal detectors are needed in some
inner city schools to stem tide of guns and knives being brought to school.
In summary, Paul’s analysis of the unbelieving world is bang up to date. As a result of mental darkness and spiritual death, we see deep ignorance and hard hearts. This increasingly leads in practice to licentiousness and unrestrained selfishness and lust.
You, however, did not come to
know Christ that way. You heard of him and were taught in him in
accordance with the truth that is in Jesus (Ephesians 4:20-21). The truth in
Jesus was taught, learned and heard, and has created a miracle in the life.
Given worthwhile, meaningful life. His light has driven away darkness. His truth
has mastered us. The veil has been removed. We have come to know God personally,
set free by His truth, given new heart, eyes opened, loving holiness and His
will and His way, hating the things that we once revelled in and enjoyed when
living for self. New people in Christ, under His Lordship, indwelt by
life-giving power.
Thank God that He has delivered
you from the world, separated you from it. Thank God for the miracle He has
worked in your life, raising you from the dead. Heed this solemn warning, to
remember who you are and what God has done for you. Make sure you don’t drift
back and live like the world. Be separate, pilgrims and strangers in this world,
for your citizenship is in heaven. Belong to the Lord in every area of your life
– home, school, street, neighbourhood, workplace, shop. Remember you are His,
bought with a price. Do not fail Him or let Him down.
Not a question of having to be
good, it is about having a relationship with the Lord. Declare the praise of
him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9).
Henceforth, certain things are unthinkable for us to say and do. Is the
difference evident? Are people surprised to hear you are a Christian? Is the
demarcation line blurred?
Also need to be faithful in declaring and applying the Gospel. Be clear about the real situation of people living in their sins. Bible teaching here helps us to realize real situation and need. Only hope for individual and society is the power of God. Only God can give light and life. Only God can revive us and send revival, which is only real answer to situation in which we find ourselves. Therefore, seek Him as never before.
