I AM NEW

EPHESIANS 4:17-2417 So I tell you this, and insist on it in theLord, that you must no longer live as theGentiles do, in the futility of theirthinking. 18 They are darkened in theirunderstanding and separated from the lifeof God because of the ignorance that is inthem due to the hardening of their hearts.

EPHESIANS 4:17-2419 Having lost all sensitivity, they havegiven themselves over to sensuality so asto indulge in every kind of impurity, andthey are full of greed. 20 That, however, isnot the way of life you learned 21 when youheard about Christ and were taught in Himin accordance with the truth that is inJesus.

EPHESIANS 4:17-2422 You were taught, with regard to yourformer way of life, to put off your oldself, which is being corrupted by itsdeceitful desires; 23 to be made new in theattitude of your minds; 24 and to put on thenew self, created to be like God in truerighteousness and holiness.

When you know who you are, then you know what to do.

New Identity“I am seeing that I am in Christ.

I see that I am made alive in Christ. I am a new creature in Christ!”

“That all of the death, shame, and condemnation that I deserved went to Jesus, and all the forgiveness, love,

and grace is given to me!”

When you know who you are, then you know what to do. And when you know who you are, it changes how

you live.

OLD YOU

The big idea today is that “in Christ, I am new.”

EPHESIANS 4:17-1917 So I tell you this, and insist on it in theLord, that you must no longer live as theGentiles do, in the futility of theirthinking. 18 They are darkened in theirunderstanding and separated from the lifeof God because of the ignorance that is inthem due to the hardening of their hearts.

EPHESIANS 4:17-1919 Having lost all sensitivity, they havegiven themselves over to sensuality so asto indulge in every kind of impurity, andthey are full of greed.

In the Bible, the Gentiles are the people who don’t know God, don’t

obey God, and don’t love God. They’re not filled with the Holy Spirit; they’re not in relationship with God.

“When you become a Christian, things need to change.

Now that you’re new, you need to live a new life.

So, if you’re a Christian, you’re not supposed to walk like the

non-Christians. Your life is supposed to look distinguishable and different.

FUTILE MIND

We’re supposed to think God’s thoughts after Him, but if we don’t know God, we’re not connected to God, we’re

not filled with the Spirit of God, we don’t have the mind of God –

our thinking is futile.

DARKENED IN

UNDERSTANDING

Do you know what you see clearly in the dark? Nothing. It’s really dark;

you don’t see clearly.

ALIENATED AND

IGNORANT

Because they’re “alienated from the life of God”, they’ve disconnected

themselves from the God who made them, the source of life and light and

truth.

Alienated — means that they’re citizens in another kingdom at war against a great King. It means that they’ve wandered away from their homeland; now they’re strangers.

“If you’re living your life alienated, separated from God, that’s the

root of all sin. That’s the worst sin of all.”

HARD-HEARTED

GIVEN UP

DON’T LIKE THE

TRUTH

NEW YOU

EPHESIANS 4:20-2420 That, however, is not the way of life youlearned 21 when you heard about Christand were taught in Him in accordance withthe truth that is in Jesus. 22 You weretaught, with regard to your former way oflife, to put off your old self, which is beingcorrupted by its deceitful desires;

EPHESIANS 4:20-2423 to be made new in the attitude of yourminds; 24 and to put on the newself, created to be like God in truerighteousness and holiness.

We live in a world that everybody wants to change. You can change

things you do; only Jesus can change who you are. And once He changes

who you are, that changes what you do.

THE TRUTH IS IN

JESUS.

None of us is born a Christian; none of us is born with an innate

knowledge of Jesus. He lived without sin. He said He was God. He died on the cross. He substituted Himself in

our place for our sins.

Our death went to Him; His life came to us. Three days later, He rose from death. He’s ascended into heaven.

He’s ruling and reigning.

He’s Lord, God, King, returning to judge the living and the dead and to

establish a kingdom that will never end.

The truth about everything and anything is in Jesus.

PUT OFF YOUR

OLD SELF AND ITS

DECEITFUL DESIRES.

Don’t follow your heart; guard your heart.

Don’t do what you want; do what He wants.

PUT ON THE

NEW SELF

The Bible uses the language of born again, regeneration,

new creation, new person, new man, new life, new self, new you.

You’re genuinely new in Christ.Not yet totally new—God’s going to

keep working on you, but your identity is as a new person.

CLOTHED IN THE

RIGHTEOUSNESS

OF CHRIST

Five Kinds Of People

We Hear About:

1. LOOSELY RELIGIOUS

“I’m already good enough.”

2. SECULAR-RELIGIOUSYou don’t have a religion, but you

have a religious zeal for some cause.

3. VERY SPIRITUAL

4. DEVOUTLY RELIGIOUS

5. HOPELESS

WHAT IS YOUR IDENTITY?

PHILIPPIANS 3:5-65 circumcised on the eighth day, of thepeople of Israel, of the tribe ofBenjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; inregard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as forzeal, persecuting the church; as forrighteousness based on the law, faultless.

PHILIPPIANS 3:88 What is more, I consider everything aloss because of the surpassing worth ofknowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whosesake I have lost all things. I consider themgarbage, that I may gain Christ.

OUR IDENTITY IS CHRIST.

Receive that you met Jesus and have been born again.

Understand your new identity.Walk your new Identity.