Satan Seeks A Gap Called Grudge (Eph 4:22-27) John Piper

Excerpts from Piper's sermon:

The Contrasts Between the Old and New Natures

Verses 22–24: "Put off your old nature which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful lusts (or: "is ruined through desires of deceit"), and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." Notice the contrasts. There is an old nature and a new nature (or old man and new man). One is to be put off; the other is to be put on. One is corrupted; the other is created. The corruption of the old accords with desires of deceit. The creation of the new accords with God in the righteousness of truth.

 

old nature | new nature
put off |   put on
corrupted |    created
       in accord with desires of deceit  | in accord with God in righteousness and holiness of truth

Note especially the word "created” (Eph 4:24). We do not produce our new nature as Christians. We were dead in trespasses and sins (according to 2:1) and were made alive by God's sovereign grace (2:5). We were created anew (born anew!). Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Our new nature is God's creation, God's workmanship. It is a supernatural work of grace.

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If the hidden spring has been purified, let the visible streams of your life run clean.

The Christian Life Is the Experience of a Miracle

But of course, if the spring has been purified, the streams will run clean. If the tree is good, it will bear good fruit. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth will speak. Christian morality is the experience of an inner miracle. But the experience in moment by moment living includes conscious choices to go the way of truth not deceit. These choices are the fruit that signify a good tree; they are the words that reveal the abundance of the heart; they are the clean streams that provide the purified spring; they are the obedience that confirms your calling and election.

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   1.  The truth that none of us is so exalted that we can justify holding a grudge,
   2. The truth that vengeance belongs to God, he will settle all accounts;
   3. The truth that the cross of Christ is the wisdom and power of God, not foolishness; [This is power to forgive]
   4. The truth that the unity of the church is precious beyond words;
   5. And the truth that it is possible by holding a grudge to commit spiritual murder and suicide simultaneously (Eph 4:30).

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByScripture/3/468_Satan_Seeks_a_Gap_Called_Grudge/


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