The Character Issue (Eph 4:17-24)

Note:  This sermon was preached in my earliest days of full-time ministry.  I had been at the Main Street Church of Christ in Pikeville, Kentucky, for about 6 months.  It was the closing days of the 1996 Presidential campaign & Bob Dole has attacked President Clinton's character over and over.  One lady was highly offended when I first opened the sermon mentioning those attacks, but she settled right down when she realized I wasn't going to attack Bill Clinton.  It was, I think, a clever way to introduce the issue of character, yet I doubt seriously I would begin a sermon this way today.--Justin

  I.	INTRODUCTION.
		A.	In recent weeks, Bob Dole has attacked President 
			Clinton's character.  He has raised what has been
			referred to as the "character issue."
		B.	We need to talk about the "character issue."
		C.	We don't need to talk about it as it relates to the
			Presidential race; we need to talk about it as it
			relates to us.
		D.	Here, Paul paints two ethical pictures.  One is of the
			worldly character & and the other is of godly
			character.

  II.	THE WORLDLY CHARACTER, vv 17-19.
	A.	Futile in their thinking, vv 17-19.
		1.	Futility suggests emptiness, vanity.
		2.	The thought is that their minds think about things which
			lead to nothing; therefore, their lives are futile.
	B.	Darkened in their understanding, v 18.
		1.	This refers to spiritual understanding.
		2.	They don't know what God requires; they're ignorant.
	C.	Hardened in their heart, vv 18-19.
		1.	Their hearts have become calloused.
		2.	They have become so involved in sin that they no
			longer have a conscience (v 19).
		3.	Because they're ignorant & hard-hearted, they're
			alienated from God.
	D.	Abandoned in licentiousness, v 19.
		1.	"Licentiousness" refers to that excess which is
			indecent.
		2.	They don't care who knows about their sin.

III.	GODLY CHARACTER, vv 20-24.
	A.	Taught differently, vv 20-21.
		1.	Being taught about Jesus causes us to realize
			that he does not approve of sin, v 20.
		2.	The truth is in Jesus, v 21.
	B.	Life differently, v 22.
		1.	Paul told the Ephesians they could no longer
			live as the Gentiles lived.
		2.	This text refers to repenting.
		3.	The old self needs to be destroyed.
			a.	Corrupt--it's no good.
			b.	Deluded--it's deceptive.
	C.	Think differently, v 23.
		1.	We must be "renewed in the spirit" of our
			minds.
		2.	This means we change our thinking habits.
		3.	Paul tells these Christians that "thieves must
			give up stealing."  In order to do so, they
			need to change their thinking.
	D.	Dress differently, v 24.
		1.	We need to "put on" the new self.
		2.	The "new self" is like God.
			a.	Righteous.
			b.	Holy.