If you have your Bibles, go ahead and turn back if you would to Ephesians chapter four, and we'll be reading some of these verses here in just a few minutes. Again? Amen. Alright. Part one last week of this series from Ephesians was on who we are.

Who we are. Who are we? Well, I hope you're a Christian. I hope you are a child of God. And if you've received Jesus Christ as the Lord and savior of your life, the Bible says you are.

For as many as received him to them gave you power to become the sons or the children of God even to them that believe on his name. We have become through Christ children of God. It says here in second Corinthians five seventeen, it says, therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new. Let's pray.

Dear heavenly father, thank you, Lord, for this beautiful day that you've given us this wonderful opportunity to be here to praise your name today. We pray that you would be exalted in our midst. We pray that the Holy Spirit would work in our hearts. Pray that you would guide in the message this morning. Lord, that you would open our hearts to receive what you have for us today, that we might be convicted of our sin, that we might be challenged in our service, and that our faith and hope would grow more and more in the person of our salvation, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

In Jesus name we do pray. Amen. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new.

There are many Christians today that fail to live up to the potential that they have in Christ because they don't seem to know who they are in Christ. That is vitally important. Who are we? Well, we are children of God. We've been endued with the power of his spirit.

I've read more than one story or seen more than one movie that was about someone who was royalty or something or and somewhere there was a mix up. And they they ended up in a adopted by a family or an orphanage or something and and they didn't know it. And somewhere along the line after living many years of their life thinking of themselves as a nobody who could do nothing, They all of a sudden found out they were a somebody. And when they found out that they were a somebody, so to speak, it changed their what? Changed their outlook on life.

Well, sad to say there are many Christians in Christ who have been saved. We are children of the what? Of who? The king. And we live like paupers.

We live seemingly powerless lives to sin. That doesn't have to be the case. Who are you? Well, you are a child of God. You are as Paul puts it here, you are in Christ Jesus.

Before you met Christ, we read the passages last week, your life was defined by terms such as these, lost, without hope, depraved, bound in sin, alienated from God, dead in tress trespasses and in sins, children of wrath. Those are a few terms used in scripture to define, describe those who are lost, who have not yet come to Christ to be saved. But if you've been born again through faith in Christ, these no longer define you. You are defined by a much different set of terms. Terms such as this that we looked at last week.

Let's see. I have some of them here. Blessed with many spiritual blessings. That's you. Blessed by who?

Blessed by God. Chosen to be holy and without blame. You've been forgiven. Not only have you been forgiven of your sins, you've been given in the Holy Spirit and by God's grace the ability to overcome it. Number three, adopted by Jesus Christ.

We are been adopted, accepted into God's what? And the God's beloved family. Redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. You have been bought back from sin and Satan and hell, and you now belong to God. Number six, forgiven forever of all my sins.

As the East is from the West, so has he put away my sins. Number seven, you have obtained an inheritance. An inheritance where? In heaven that fadeth not away, reserved for you who are in Christ Jesus. You have been sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise that he has given to all of us who know him.

You have been made alive unto God. You have been given eternal life in Christ. You are seated in heavenly places in Christ as though you were already what? There. Because Christ is sitting there as your representatives.

Ain't a wonderful thing? As we are here today on earth, Christ is in heaven representing who? Us. And as Christ is in heaven representing us, we're here on earth representing him. You get that?

As he is in heaven representing us, we are here on earth representing him. Isn't that a wonderful thing? We've been saved from the wrath of God. Saved from the wrath of God through Jesus Christ because he took God's wrath upon himself on the cross for us. And we are a masterpiece of God created in Christ Jesus onto good works.

We are God's masterpiece. He is working in our life to bring glory to his name as we let our light shine so others may see our good works and glorify our father which is in heaven. These are a few things, just a few things that you are in Christ Jesus. But again, the key is the phrase in Christ or in him. Without Christ, I am nothing.

With Christ, I can do all things. Are you in Christ Jesus? Have you embraced Christ as savior by faith? Have you received his offer? This all depends on that decision.

I made that decision when I was nine years old. I didn't understand everything I understand today, but I understood this. Jesus Christ died for me and he would save me if I trusted in him. And as I trusted in him, I became these things and you have too. You have unlimited potential to fulfill God in your life, fulfill God's will in your life, to live a holy life before God in love, to accomplish whatever calling in place of service that he has called you to because you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.

You are not alone. He has said, I will never what? Leave you nor forsake you. If so, then God asks something of you. If so, if that is the case indeed, then what is God's expectation?

God's expectation is that you walk or live as a representative of Jesus Christ. That you live a holy life set apart unto the Lord. God expects you to be different and he expects you to live different than the lost around you because you can do so. You have been freed from the bondage of sin. You have been given the Holy Spirit.

So what should you do now as a Christian? What does this mean now? It means you are no longer unsaved, spiritually lost. Your eyes have been opened to receive the truth which has and will set you free. You have no excuse for conducting yourself or behaving yourself in the same manner as the lost world around us.

Is that true? Yes. It is true. You know better. You can do better.

You are able in Christ to serve the Lord who made you. You can become more like him. Look if you would in verse 17 again of Ephesians four. This I say therefore and testify in the Lord that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, meaning the lost, in the vanity of their mind, having their the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart. Who being past feeling have given themselves over to lasciviousness to work all uncleanness with greediness.

But ye have not so learned Christ. If so be that you have heard him and have been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus that you put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lust, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind and that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. That is what God expects of us. And he has given us his holy spirit and he has given us his word and he has given us one another to help us to fulfill that responsibility, that privilege to gain that victory in our life. If indeed you have been born again, if you have hearkened unto Christ to embrace him as Lord and savior, have been taught by him, and as the truth concerning life and how to live it is found in Christ, God expects something better of you.

He expects you to put off the unfruitful works of darkness. The old and corrupt person you were before you met Christ. He expects you every day and me every day to grow in Christ, to draw closer to him So that he might help us to shed the old man and to put on the what? The new man in Christ Jesus. Because in Christ, now you have that potential.

You now know better than to allow the desires of the old nature to rule in your life. In first Peter one fourteen, it says this, as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance. As obedient children, does God expect his children to be obedient? Yeah. Well, that makes sense, doesn't it?

God expects his children to be obedient. And as obedient children, we need to pattern our life after who? After Christ And not after the lost. And not after the ways we lived before we came to know Christ. We have a new pattern, Jesus.

And we don't need to go back to the old one. Romans let's see. Oh, Hebrews twelve one and two say this, wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, Let us lay aside every weight in the sin which does so easily beset us and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him, that was you by the way, you were the joy that was set before him. Endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

He went through with the cross and he did it for you. And with that knowledge of who we are in Christ and what Christ did for us, we need to look to Jesus as our new pattern in life. And we need to shed and we need to cast off those those weights and those sins which so try to cling to us. We can let them go by God's grace. We can put off the what?

We can put off the old man. We can. You have not only a new life, a new start, Christ, which God has asked us to to put off those old ways, but you have a redeemed heart. And God wants to renew your what? Your mind.

How do you change the old ways? How do you put off the old things? Well, you have to let God change your you have to let God change your mind because the mind is the key to the actions and the behavior. It says here in verse 22 again of Ephesians four, it says, if so be that she I'm gonna say it. Verse 22, that she put off concerning the former conversation, that's the old ways, the old habits of life, which is corrupt according to seedful lust and be what?

Renewed in the spirit of your mind. Renewed in the spirit of your mind. That your mind be remade after the mind of who? The mind of Jesus Christ. It starts with the mind.

You will not change your actions if you do not let God change your what? Change your mind. Change the way you think. The things and the convictions you have, they need to change. Now, you change the big one if you trusted Christ as savior.

You chose to put your faith in him to save you from sin and you became a child of God. But it doesn't end there because there's a lot of other stuff in this mind that the world has has just bombarded us with. That God needs to what? That God needs to change. Renew your mind.

First Peter one thirteen, what does it say? Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, Be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. You need to to gather in the loose all that loose stuff that's in your mind that's that's crowding your mind and and and distracting you and pushing you away from keeping your eyes fixed on who? On Jesus and your home, which is where? In heaven.

So you need to get a hold of your thoughts. You need to let God renew and change your mind and your heart. And if you will, it'll help you to put off the old things. It'll help you put on the what? The new things.

It is an important key. That's why verse 23 is here wedged between verse 22 and verse 24. Put off, renew your mind, put on. It's important. Romans twelve two, and be not conformed to this world and be not conformed.

In other words, just like don't go back to that old pattern. Don't go back to the old ways. Don't let the world drag you in. You don't have to. Don't be conformed as a child of God to the old to the world.

But be ye what? Transformed. Now con being conformed is yielding to pressure from without. Being transformed is being changed. Transformed is the word for metamorphosis, from the inside out.

And that's how God works. God who has given us his spirit uses the sword of the spirit to change us from the inside out by the renewing of our mind. But be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is a good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Colossians two eight says this, beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit after the tradition of man, after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ. Guess what?

When you got saved, Satan said, okay, it's over. I'm done. I'll leave him alone. Is that right? No.

It's not right at all. What is Satan gonna do? Well, you're now the enemy. He wants to destroy you. He wants to destroy your testimony.

He wants to get back at God. If he could take away your salvation, he would take away your salvation. I don't believe he can because I'm kept now by the power of who? By the power of God. But he's gonna do everything he can to destroy you because he hates you.

Because he hates who you belong to. And he's gonna work very hard to destroy you. And he's gonna bring people into your life to tempt you. He is going to bring words and teachings before your eyes and ears to try to confuse you. And so Paul writes here to the Colossians and says, don't you need to beware.

You're you have an adversary, the devil. He's a roaring lion roaming about seeking whom he may devour. And what does he use? Well, he uses philosophy in vain deceit. He uses sometimes peers, sometimes teachers, sometimes sadly even preachers to try to confuse and fill our mind with things that are not true.

To keep us from serving who? To keep us from serving Jesus. We need to be prepared. How do we get prepared? Spend a lot of time where?

A lot of time here. You put in the truth and the truth will wash out that which is what? False. How do you know the truth? You you get to to know it more and more.

You read it. And as you get to know the truth, you'll recognize that which is False. False. How are bankers taught to recognize counterfeit bills By studying counterfeit bills all day? No.

They're taught to see the difference by studying the what? The real thing. You know the real thing. If you know the feel of the real thing, if you know the look of the real thing, then when the false king comes across, you're gonna recognize. Be renewed in your mind.

You have no excuse for dwelling on the things of the past, for dwelling on things that are false. That's why Paul says to think on things that are true and lovely and just in Philippians chapter four. Don't allow the old beliefs, the old thought patterns to rule in your heart and mind. Cast them aside and fill your mind and heart with the truths of God's word. Fill your mind and heart with thoughts of peace and joy and love that which is lovely, just, and pure.

Fill your mind with things that will help you to discriminate between right and wrong. Is there a right and wrong? Yes, there is. How do I know what's right and wrong? Well, for the most part this, God tells me because he's the judge and he is the creator and he is the law giver.

There is a right and wrong and we're bombarded by decisions all the time. Is this right? Is it wrong? Sometimes it's easy. Sometimes it's a little harder.

Fill your mind with God's word. He will renew your mind and you'll be able to tell the difference between right and wrong. Fill your mind with a new hope and a victorious outlook on life. As a child of God, you have a new hope and you have victory in Jesus Christ. And then, verse 24, and put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Put on the new man, a new way of living. God changes you inside, it needs to work its way what? It needs to work its way out. God expects that to happen. First Peter one fifteen and sixteen, but as he which has called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation or behavior because it is written, be ye holy for I am holy.

Let me read that again. But as he which have called you is holy, so be holy in all manner of conduct or conversation because it is written, be holy for I am holy. Verse 24 in Ephesians four again, and that you put on the new man which after God has created in righteousness and true, what? Anybody there? Holiness.

Holiness. God expects us to be salt and light. How are we salt and light in the world? By being different. But not just by being different, but by being like who?

By being like Christ. You must put on a holy way of living, a manner of conduct patterning yourself after your Lord and savior Jesus Christ. And you can. And you can. Because you have been redeemed.

Because you have been forgiven. Because you have his spirit living inside your heart. You are a child of who? A child of God. And God says, put off the old.

Renew your mind. Change those those thoughts. The old thoughts, the old way of thinking. Fill your heart and mind with God's word and then put on a new way of living that others may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven. Following verse 24, Paul's gonna spend several verses talking about giving some examples.

Examples of the putting off and the putting on. But we don't have time to look at all those examples this morning. So we're gonna put those off till next week. Let me ask two questions in closing this morning. Question number one.

Are you a child of God? Are you in Christ Jesus? For if you are not in Christ Jesus, if you've not been saved, then you're outside of the fold and you're you're easy pickings for the devil and you don't have all these things that we listed earlier. But they can be yours in Christ Jesus. Number two, Christian, how are you doing with putting off the old?

Have we allowed the old ways, the old thoughts to rule in our life and in our heart? If so, you need, as Hebrews 12 says, to cast aside the weights and the sins which does so easily beset us and drag us down. Let them go. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Take them to God.

Leave them there and let God have his way in your life. Let's pray. Dear God, thank you, Lord, for your word today. Thank you, Lord, for your example we have to follow. Thank you, Lord, for salvation that is ours in Christ Jesus and for who we are in Christ.

Thank you, Lord, for this passage of scripture that reveals to us and reminds us today to put off the ways of the world, the sins of the past, the old way of thinking, and to adopt the mind of Christ, to fill our heart and mind with the word, to not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, but to meditate in your word day and night that you might make us like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings glory to our creator. Lord, we can, by your grace, we can live lives that bring glory to our Lord. Forgive us if we have settled for mediocrity and complacency. Forgive us if we've allowed the devil to cheat us and to rob us of our joy. And Lord, I pray that we, today, would rededicate ourselves to serving you, to putting off the old, to putting on the new, and to renewing our mind each day in the word of God.

In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.