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Sermons From Ephesians - Executable Outlines

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INTRODUCTION<br />

Walking In Truth And Holiness<br />

<strong>Ephesians</strong> 4:17-32<br />

Mark A. Copeland<br />

1. In the previous lesson, we saw where Paul began to describe our “duty” to “walk worthy of the<br />

calling with which you were called” - Ep 4:1<br />

2. In doing so, he first called us to “walk together in unity” by admonishing us to...<br />

a. Display the “attitudes” crucial for maintaining unity - Ep 4:2-3<br />

b. Understand the “basis” of the unity we have in Christ - Ep 4:4-6<br />

c. Utilize the “gifts” given by Christ to His church that serves to keep the body of Christ together<br />

and growing - Ep 4:7-16<br />

3. In the last half of chapter four (Ep 4:17-32), Paul continues to describe the sort of “walk” that is<br />

worthy of our calling, especially as “a holy temple in the Lord” (cf. Ep 2:21-22)<br />

a. Whereas the first half emphasized “walking together in unity”<br />

b. This section emphasizes “walking in truth and holiness”<br />

[We begin, then, in verse 17 with...]<br />

I. THE ADMONITION (17-24)<br />

A. NO LONGER WALK LIKE THE REST OF THE GENTILES... (17-19)<br />

1. They walk “in the futility of their mind” - How so?<br />

a. It starts with the “hardening of their heart”<br />

b. Which leads to “ignorance that is in them”<br />

c. Because of such ignorance they are “alienated from the life of God”<br />

d. And that results “having their understanding darkened”<br />

-- Notice where Jesus describes this same process - cf. Mt 13:14-15<br />

2. Their walk is “past feeling” - as indicated by the fact they...<br />

a. “have given themselves over to licentiousness” (i.e., unbridled lust, excess)<br />

b. “work all uncleanness with greediness”<br />

-- Desensitized, they seek after ever-increasing forms moral depravity - cf. Ro 1:18-32<br />

B. INSTEAD, WALK IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUE HOLINESS... (20-24)<br />

1. This is how you learned Christ<br />

a. As you heard Him and were taught by Him (through His apostles, of course - cf. Mt<br />

28:19-20)<br />

b. In Whom is the truth - cf. Jn 8:31-31; 14:6<br />

2. For you were taught to “put off” the “old man”<br />

a. That is, your “former conduct”, how you behaved before you were saved - cf. Co 3:<br />

5-9<br />

<strong>Sermons</strong> <strong>From</strong> <strong>Ephesians</strong> 48

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