The third sermon on "The Christian Walk" is called the worthess, or vain, walk. Verse 17 says not to walk as "the gentiles walk." As it is used here it means not to walk as heathens walk. Don't live like people who live only for the world and belong to Satan's world system. "In the vanity of their mind" refers to an empty way of living that leads to an empty life.
I. Verse 18 - "Having the understanding darkned" A. They walk in the dark as opposed to walking in the light of Christ. B. They are "alienated from the life of God." Sadly, the Lord has nothing to do with their lives, which is the kind of society we are living in. C. They are ignorant of the true way of life. They are walking blindly through life. II. Verse 19 - "Who being past feeling..." A. They are living "lascivious" lives. Which means that they live only for the world and have bought into Satan's lie. Paul gives a description of this way of living in Romans 1:24-27, which is the direction of the world. B. They "work all uncleanness." C. And they work "with greediness." III. Verses 20-24 - "But ye have not so learned Christ." A. Christ hasn't taught us to live for the world - the world system. B. We should have put off the "old man" which lived "according deceitful lust." C. According to verses 23-24 we should live with renewed minds since we are new people living in "righteousness and true holiness." In Christ we do not live in a dark world, ignorant of God's way and will. Christ has taught us better than to live for the world and to join them in their waywardness.
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We live in an age of proliferation of knowledge. Computers can take knowledge around the world in a matter of seconds. But all knowledge is neither useful nor wise. Our text gives us the bases for true knowledge.
I. We need to know that God is, indeed, God. A. He is not "the man upstairs," etc. "There is no fear of God before their eyes." B. He is transcendent - higher. He is not like us. He transcends all of our knowledge and all of our abilities. "His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts." C. He is worthy of awe. 1. Awe of His holilness. 2. Awe of His power. 3. Awe of His knowledge. 4. Awe of His love, grace, mercy and glory. D. He is worthy of worship. E. He has been revealed to us in Jesus Christ. II. We need to know that God is our creator. A. We are not cosmic accidents. For us to just happen by accident would be like a watch just forming itself while we sleep. B. We are created in his image. 1. We are tied to Him - we need Him. 2. We are incomplete without Him. 3. St. Augustine: "You made us for yourself, and our souls are restless until they find their rest in you." C. He made us who we are in Christ. III. We need to know that we are His people. A. Any number of people say when asked if they are saved, "I'm trying to be." That's like saying "I'm trying to be married." B. If we belong to Jesus, we know it. Jesus said, "I know my sheep and am known of mine...." C. The bottom line question for you is, do you know that you belong to Jesus in a saving relationship? This is not knowledge that will impress the world, but it is necessary in the eyes of God. If you know these three things, you are way ahead in life. |
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