(Eph 4:22) “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; (23)  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;”  The mind, how we think about things, how we see things, must we reshaped into seeing and thinking in agreement with God’s Word. That only comes through desire, bowing to His Lordship over us, and love for Him enough to want to please Him. It takes effort on our part and dedication to the reading of God’s Word. It takes sitting at the feet of a godly teacher and the seeking out of a church where the Word of God is held up as being the rule of faith. Not all churches and preachers put what God thinks first. So, we must seek such godly men and churches.

(Eph 4:22) “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; (23)  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;”  I have heard people say to a lost person, “You don’t have to worry about changing your life. Just come to God as you are.”  We do come to God as we are, but one’s life does change through the rebirth and we are called upon to continue to change. They instinctively know that. Plus, we are told to “count the cost”. Jesus is worth it! So, be honest and forthright with them, “Yes, you need to forsake your sin. Jesus give you a new heart which will desire to change. Come to Him and be saved.” 

(Eph 4:20) “But ye have not so learned Christ; (21) If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:” Remember that earlier in this chapter it has been said we have been given pastor and teachers for this very thing, so that the Holy Spirit might use them to teach us. Friend, you won’t get that at home unless you are house-bound. If you are able, the House of God is the place for you, for this is God’s plan. The word “church” means “a called out m assembly”. Every believer has been called out of the world to embrace Christ Jesus. We are to exit the world and enter the gathering of God’s people and be taught.

(Eph 4:20) “ But ye have not so learned Christ;”   When other brothers and sisters speak and do things in God’s House or among God’s people that are hurtful and wrong, this should be our verbal response to them, “Are you behaving as the Lord Jesus would?” ({Eph 4:20} “ But ye have not so learned Christ;”)  If this does not bring forth repentance, at the least it will help to guide the response of others who are listening, who desire to do right before God.

(Eph 4:20) “ But ye have not so learned Christ;”   The Lord knows the make-up of His children. He knows they unknowingly sin against Him, for they still live with the old nature as a part of them. That doesn’t mean that we do not seek to be sinless, pure thinking and doing vessels which the Holy Spirit lives in. This is what we have learned of Christ.

( Eph 4:17) “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind”,……… (Eph 4:20) “ But ye have not so learned Christ;”  There are those who say, “The Lord wants me to be happy”. No, you are first and foremost to be used of Him for His Own glory. He wants you to be holy. His glory is what matters and we are to seek to glorify Him through the valleys as well as the mountaintops. The Bible speaks of our “joy” rather than our “happiness”. Joy comes from the spirit living, doing right. Happiness is normally based on the flesh’s response to outward circumstances.  

 (Eph 4:17) ”This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,  (18)  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: (19)  Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.”  “Lasciviousness”,  uncontrolled desire of the flesh. When it says here they are without feeling, it is referring to “right moral feeling” as opposed to filthiness. It is not that one does not love its own, but feeds the flesh, not withholding from it whatever it desires. That is man today. He comes first and foremost in his life. The saved are to think of their flesh as dead, now that the spirit within them is alive (Romans 6). And through the power of the Holy Spirit live unto God!

(Eph 4:17) “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, (18)  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:”  This verse should serve as warning that if we have the light, we should respond to the light. I am afraid that there are those who seek to convince themselves of being saved who have never had a time and place where they repented of their sins and asked the Lord to save them totally upon what Jesus has done on the cross. If you had such a time and place, it would have changed you then and there. It is not coming back years later and turning over a new leaf. The change is supernatural and takes place the moment Jesus saves you. I plead with you to be honest with yourself before God.  

 (Eph 4:17) “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, (18)  Having the understanding darkened,….”  When lost man turns his back on what light he has within him (the truth that God exists, has made all things), he moves his mind and heart further and further along the road of darkness. How can we help them? Not through argument, but through the power of the Word of God itself. Saying to them, “I think”, has no power, for why should they put what you think above what they think? Read and quote the Word of God. God is the authority and the Spirit of God will bear witness to it. 

(Eph 4:17) “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,”  According to Romans Chapter 12, verses 1 and 2,  you and I need to reprogram our minds to accept what God says and agree with what God says. We are to do this to the degree that we bring our thinking in align with God’s. This means we should avail ourselves to every opportunity of reprogramming. We do this in Sunday School, Preaching Service, Evening Service, Wednesday Nights, and the daily reading of the Bible. If we love our Lord and wish not to sin against Him; moreso, to serve Him, we must move from vanity of thought to agreement with God.