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In Pursuit of Christian Maturity
I. A mature believer leaves behind the pagan paths of yesterday. (vs. 17-19)
A. Vanity of the mind. ( vs. 17; 1 Corinthians 1:21; Romans 1:21)
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe .
Because that, when they knew God, they glorifIed him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused (NLT).
B. Having their understanding darkened. (vs. 18; Romans 3:11)
There is none that understandet it, there is none that seeketh after God
C. Being alienated from the life of God. (vs. 18; John 1:4-5; 10:10).
In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. ( John 1 :4-5)
D. Through the ignorance that is in them. (vs. 18; Hosea 4:6)
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee.
E. Blindness of their heart. (vs. 18; 2 Corinthians 4:4)
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
F. Who being past feeling (vs. 19).
In their spiritual apathy they have become callous and past feeling and reckless and have abandoned themselves [a prey] to unbridled sensuality, eager and greedy to indulge in every form of impurity [that their depraved desires may suggest and demand].
II. A mature believer must learn three lessons taught by Jesus himself. (vs 20-24)
A. Put off the old man. (vs. 22)
B. Be renewed in the spirit of your mind. (vs. 23)
C. Put on the new man. (vs. 24)