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"But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus."

Text: Ephesians 4:20-21

A TREE IS KNOWN BY ITS FRUITS

Paul argued that no genuine believer would ever choose a lifestyle that is marked by gross sinfulness. How could anyone claim to be a true believer if he manifested the following in his life?

1. Futility of the mind (Ephesians 4:17)

2. Living in benightedness (Ephesians 4:18)

3. Alienated from God (Ephesians 4:18)

4. Blindness of the heart (Ephesians 4:18)

5. Past feeling or caring (Ephesians 4:19)

6. Given over to lewdness (Ephesians 4:19)

7. Greediness in matters of sin (Ephesians 4:19)

THE TEACHINGS OF CHRIST

He who claims that he is a genuine believer must have experienced the teaching of the Lord Jesus. How does a person actually come to have unfeigned faith in Jesus? Paul posits the following statement- “But you have not so learned Christ.” This statement must take into consideration the following thoughts:-

1. The part of the learner

The learner is obviously responsible for what he is taught. The teacher cannot determine what the learner will learn. The subject in this case is “The Christ”. What does the learner have to master before he speaks of having a genuine faith in Christ?

2. The Life of Christ

Every believer must be taught the following basic lessons about the Lord Jesus.

a) That He is the Son of God sent to redeem the world from sin.

b) That He calls all sinners to full repentance.

c) That all genuine believers must walk in the footsteps of the Lord (which automatically shuts out the way of the Gentiles)

d) The genuine believer would have learned that he must abide, as a branch in Christ, or he would be totally unfruitful.