You Have Not So Learned Christ

by Mitchell Tan
July 08, 2020

LEARNING ABOUT CHRIST

When we truly have learnt well about the Lord Jesus, our lives will be indeed transformed. We would live differently from the world. This was a truth that Paul taught in his letter to the Ephesians.

“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 …”
Ephesians 4:20-21

1. LEARNING ABOUT THE LORD JESUS

There is so much that Paul had written with regards to the Lord Jesus; what He stands for and what He has done for us (Ephesians 1-4). The Lord Jesus stands for truth. It is His truth that builds us up.

2. LEARNING FROM THE LORD JESUS

If indeed we have been taught by the Lord, we would not go back to being like the world (Ephesians 4:17-19). It would be wrong for us if we have learned about Him and still revert back to loving the world. True learning would cause us to be centered on the Lord, to see the truth that He stands for, and respond by standing for truth too. We would be distinct from the world.

PUTTING OFF THE OLD MAN

“… That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts …”
Ephesians 4:22

The “old man” is a reference to the old spiritual state and life before we know the Lord. If we have learnt well about the Lord and His truths, we would seek to indefinitely put off our former way of life. Paul also wrote about this to the Colossian Church. They were to put to death the sinful deeds of the body; sins like uncleanness, evil desires, and covetousness (Colossians 3:5). Because these sins are part of the old man, they are to be discarded as we discard away old clothes. The old man if not dealt with can continue to grow perverse and corrupt according to the lust that deceives us. The challenge is to put away all that is sinful (Colossians 3:8).

PUTTING ON THE NEW MAN

“… And be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”
Ephesians 4:23-24

1. A NEW MIND

Learning well about the Lord would help us put on the new man which includes a new mindset. There must come a sense of purpose in changing the way we think; a total transformation of our mindset. We would seek to be renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him (Colossians 3:10).

2. A NEW LIFE

Putting on the new man has the idea of putting on “new clothes”. The Lord is meant to create something totally new within us, according to His transforming power. Wonderfully, this is about reflecting His image. We are to return back to what we were meant to be from the beginning of time; to reflect the image of God (Genesis 1:26). We are to live our lives in true righteousness and holiness. Let’s seek to be renewed in our minds as we learn about the Lord and stand on His truths. Let’s seek to live out our lives in newness of life … in righteous and holy living.

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