Habits!
Part 4
V24 n5
Eph 4:17-18, This I say therefore, and testify in
the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of
their mind, 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: (KJV)
Walk in the Spirit, and then one will not walk in or follow the path of the flesh; that is the old, carnal or fleshly nature. The old carnal nature (the fleshly man) was a mind that was void or empty of the truth of God’s Word. How did it get this way? It happened or came about by the people, places and things that one hung around, or associated themselves with. Evil company or companionship, corrupted a person, and established the wrong traits or habits within a person. It is an unregenerate mind, that seeks to return to it’s old places and or habits.
The
carnal or fleshly habits, blind the mind from seeing the truth of God’s Word.
It causes a person to become alienated or separated from God’s standards and
values; it puts self first.
What, or how does this happen? It happens or comes about, because of the places one frequents, or the crowds they associate with, where God and His Word are not treasured or valued above all else. One develops the habits, traits or characteristics of those that they hang around or associate with. Those who only hear the Word, but never live according to the principles that God puts forth and proclaims within his word. They are hearers of the Word, and not doers, and thus deceive themselves, and any and all that follow their example.
How
often does a person ignore God’s Word, because it is not what everyone else is
doing? Because by societies standards, it is not the in thing
to do? Will a person ignore hearing and obeying God, because they do not
want other people talking about them?
Definition for “having darkened”: 4656 skotoo-1) to darken, to cover with darkness
2) metaphorically, to darken or blind the mind.
Definition for “alienated”: 526 apallotrioo- 1) to
alienate, to estrange 2) to be shut out
from one's fellowship and intimacy.
Definition for “ignorance”: 52 agnoia-
lack of knowledge, ignorance a)
especially of divine things b) of moral
blindness.
Definition for “blindness”: 4457 porosis: from 4456;
stupidity or callousness: 1) the covering with a callous 2) obtrusiveness of
mental discernment, dulled perception 3) the mind of one has been blunted; used
of stubbornness, obduracy. (All from Ephesians 4:18)
It
is because of a persons stupidity or stubbornness that they allow their
ignorance of God and His Word, to allow a covering to come over their own mind,
that would otherwise allow the an intimacy and closeness to God. Hosea writes, that God’s people perish for a lack of knowledge. It
is interesting that Hosea does not say the heathen, but rather His people
perish, because they chose not to seek out the deep things of God.
Hosea 4:6, My
people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast
rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt
be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also
forget thy children. (KJV)
One
must remember, that as long as Moses was around, the people followed (though
somewhat begrudgingly) the habits or traits that Moses lived by. Once Moses was
out of sight for awhile, what kind of habits or traits did the people follow or
chase after? Have times really changed, or are people still the same way today?
[My
people are destroyed for lack of knowledge] They have not the knowledge of God,
nor of sacred things, nor of their own interest, nor
of the danger to which they are exposed. They walk on blindly, and perish.
[Because thou hast rejected knowledge] So they might have
become wise, had they not rejected the means of improvement. (from
Adam Clarke Commentary)
They
would stumble in darkness. The result was the destruction of
Eph 4:19-20, Who
being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all
uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; (KJV)
As one develops their ability to walk by sight or the flesh, they then turn themselves over to the habits of the flesh. One must remember, that the Word clearly tells us that evil communications or companionship does indeed corrupt or destroy good morals, manners or habits. One does become a product of their environment, unless the Word is the standard by which one chooses to adhere to. Thus why we are told to walk rather by faith, that is our ability to accept and walk in the message delivered by the Word of God, Christ. By allowing this Word to become a real and actual way of life and living. The flesh and the Spirit are exact opposites, and one must make the choice of which path they will choose to walk in. As Matthew 7:13-14 tells us plainly of the two choices of paths that one may walk in.
(1)
To throw off all sense of shame, and to be utterly devoid of pain, for
committing unrighteous acts.
(2) to be desperate, having
neither hope nor desire of reformation; in a word, to be without remorse, and
to be utterly regardless of conduct, character, or final blessedness. (from
Adam Clarke Commentary)
They had no sense of their sin, nor of the misery and danger of their case by means of it; whereupon they gave themselves over unto lasciviousness. They indulged themselves in their filthy lusts; and, yielding themselves up to the dominion of these, they became the slaves and drudges of sin and the devil, working all uncleanness with greediness. They made it their common practice to commit all sorts of uncleanness, and even the most unnatural and monstrous sins, and that with insatiable desires. Observe, When men's consciences are once seared, there are no bounds to their sins. When they set their hearts upon the gratification of their lusts, what can be expected but the most abominable sensuality and lewdness, and that their horrid enormities will abound? (from Matthew Henry's Commentary)
Eph 4:21-23, If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; (KJV)
[That ye put off] And this has been one special part of our teaching, that ye should abandon all these, and live a life totally opposite to what it was before. (from Adam Clarke Commentary)
[Which is corrupt] The whole of your former life was corrupt and abominable; ye lived in the pursuit of pleasure and happiness; ye sought this in the gratification of the lusts of the flesh; and were ever deceived by these lusts, and disappointed in your expectations.
The old habits, the old ways that one did things before Christ, is what is supposed to be dead and buried (2Cor 5:16-17), cast away, and also those things that one has put off and aside since they have become that new creation in Him. Not returning to those former things, but rather continuing in His Word. (It is when one returns to these old habits or ways, that it is clear what the Word is referring to, in how a dog returns to it’s own vomit).
One is to put away or put off the former conversation, that is conduct or manner of living, that is the old man, that fleshly nature that one lived in before Christ. The deceitful lusts are the old habits or traits of the flesh, which had doomed a person to an eternity apart from God, unless they became that new creation in Christ, and continued in and on that path.
The meaning here is, "with respect to your former conduct or habits of life, lay aside all that pertained to a corrupt and fallen nature." You are not to lay "everything" aside that formerly pertained to you. Your dress, and manners, and modes of speech and conversation, might have been in many respects correct. But everything that proceeded from sin; every habit, and custom, and mode of speech and of conduct that was the result of depravity, is to be laid aside. The special characteristics of an unconverted man you are to put off, and are to assume those which are the proper fruits of a renewed heart. (from Barnes' Notes)
"That ye put off ... the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts." <Col. 3:9>, "lie not to one another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds." From these passages it is evident that Paul uses the expression to denote our sinful and corrupt nature; the passions and evil propensities that exist before the heart is renewed. (from Barnes' Notes)
Thus why the Word tells us that we are to hold fast our profession of faith, without wavering. Holding on to the habits and traits that are established and maintained by the Word. To continue in Him; that is to abide in “the vine” for without Him we can do nothing. Which habits or traits is it that you will adhere to or cling to this day?
That you may know Him,
In the service of Jesus Christ.
Larry Gazelka
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