Together For Joy 4-Ephesians 4:22-24

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Today we read Ephesians 4. Apostle Paul uses the imagery of new clothes to describe the life of faith. Through grace, God makes us a “new creation”. Let’s see what Paul says in the earlier chapters first. In Ephesians 2:1–10 Paul describes how we were once dead because of our offenses and sins, but through God’s rich grace and mercy, we’ve been made alive with Christ. We were forgiven through his death, raised with him, and now facing the sure hope of everlasting life. Our salvation makes us a new creation. And this is all from God’s grace, through faith. And this new creation isn’t just an individual thing. It’s something we’re in together. A little later in chapter 2, Paul talks about the way that Christ’s death brings reconciliation and peace: reconciliation with God, and also reconciliation with one another.

However, even though we’re saved, that doesn’t mean that we’re perfect. We still tend toward sinfulness, hostility and selfishness. That is why Paul says in today’s scripture, “taking off” the old humanity and “putting on” the new. Paul describes our Christian lives using the imagery of clothes. The old humanity is like a set of old clothes, made from old patterns of our lives that don’t fit us anymore and which we need to take off. The new humanity is a

brand new set of clothes, a set of clothes that suit us perfectly and beautifully. These clothes have been given to us by God for us to put on and wear with joy and confidence.