Bible Study

The Gift of Eternal Life Berean Bible Study Course

Part IV--The Family Of God / The Body Of Christ

A. Lesson 19--The Nature Of Christ's Body

13. READ: EPHESIANS 4:17-25

b. What must we "put off"?

Answer: We must put off our old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, (verse 22).

MORE INFORMATION AND/OR OTHER SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:

• This old self is our former evil nature (NOT "original sin!"),the gratification of all of our fleshly desires. This old self was displayed in our former way of life, when we lived in sin and darkness. The word "old" is not just speaking of things being old in time, but of being worn by use, as a sinful life wears away or corrupts a person physically, morally, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, etc. What happened to our old, worn out self?

  Romans 6:6: "For we know that our old self was crucified with Him [Christ] so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin..."

• What are some of the things we must put off, get rid of, put to death?

  Ephesians 4:25, 31: "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body...Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice."

  Colossians 3:5-9: "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices..."

  James 1:19-21: "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the Word planted in you, which can save you."

  Peter 2:1: "Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind."

• Concerning the old self being corrupted by its deceitful desires:

  Psalm 5:6: "You [God] destroy those who tell lies; bloodthirsty and deceitful men the Lord abhors."

  Psalm 36:1-4: "An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes. For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin. The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and to do good. Even on his bed he plots evil; he commits himself to a sinful course and does not reject what is wrong."

  Jeremiah 17:9-10: [God said,] "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve."

  Hebrews 3:12-14: "See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first."