Reflections from August 12th, 2012: The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost, “Put Off, Put On” (Ephesians 4:17-5:2)

Dear Christian Friends,

Here is an excerpt from the August 12th sermon:

Ephesians 4:22-24: “put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, ²³and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”

 A.  You put off the old self when you confess your sin and turn away from it…not filling your mind with it, but denouncing it…and you put on your new self when in faith you return to Jesus Christ…your only righteousness and your only holiness who died for your sins so that they would not swallow you and destroy you, making you futile and worthless.

 B.  And the LORD through St. Paul did not leave the Ephesians to themselves (and the LORD does not leave you to yourself), but finished this section with Christ…and in Christ, this life we are discussing will not be a foreign thing, but a familiar thing:

Ephesians 5:2: “And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Christ loves you dear Christian; He gave Himself up for you…and through His victorious sacrifice, He will be your holiness, He will be your strength to put off (every day) the old self and to put on (every day) the new self…the new self united with Christ that leads us to loath that which would make our lives futile; and leads us to love the life of our Savior and LORD!

In Your Service and To Christ’s Glory,

Dr. Espinosa 

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