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So I tell you this and insist on it in the Lord, that you no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
Insist - maintain, vow, stand by it,
Gentiles - are considered the non believers of Chirst
Futility - Useless, pointless, senseless, ineffective, without lasting purpose, emptiness
Futility means there is a void of all spiritual matters and you don't care about your soul but only care about the flesh (new shoes, hair, clothes, latest fashions). Their eyes are blind to spiritual things, and remains in a depraved state.
People should be able to see a difference in you as a Christian that they did before you accepted Christ in your life. We should be full of light and joy. Remember the song "let yoru light shine, shine...
Paul told the Ephesians to leave behind the old life since they were now followers of Christ
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18. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of god because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
Many people today are so starved for love and attention that they are destroyed when they don't get it.
We as Christians, studying the bible in depth knows that there is no need for this depression to enter our lives.
We know of Gods love for us, and our duties inthe work and preparation of our minds needed to do the mission God has for us.
There is no time to feel sorry for ourselves. We know we are in the final generation of this earth age and we must all strive to be ready to go against all spiritual darts of evil, that Satan can throw your way.
How many times we catch ourselves wandering...
This include prayes and communication with the Lord not only for ourselves, but for others.
Two or Three come together in his name...
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19. Having lost all sesnsitivity, they have given themselves over to the sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
They have no feeling of shame....Have you ever notice that the majority of criminals show no remorse when they get caught.
If its indecent they want to do it
Their hearts are hardened against their ownselves
The fleshy body is so greedy thinking of itself that it won't provide even one morsel of spiritual food for the inner man (soul).
When the mind is hidden in darkess, there is no hope; but when even one candle, or seed of understanding comes into that blackened mind, then hope springs forth, and the soul will be fed.
New life then comes into the inner man and their mind.
This is why we plant the seeds of the gospel; so that they will spark into life and grow and bear fruit for God's Kingdom.
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20-21 That, however, it is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.
You were not taught this by Christ. In other words this behavior is not what you learned about Christ.
In reality you can see and feel the touch of God in your life. Christ became a living person to you, and not just a force, or thing unassociated to you life. He is part of you, and your decisions that you make every day of your life.
The bible tells us to get rid of the filth and evil in our lives and humbly accept the word God has planted in our hearts for is has the power to save souls.
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22-23 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its decietful desires: to be made new in the attitude of your minds.
Our old way of life before we believed in Christ is completely in the past. We should put it behind us like clothes to be thrown away. (Old Clothes we out grew).
Get rid of your old self which made your live as you used to live. Your old self was being destroyed by it decietful desires.
Your hearts and minds must be made completely new and you must put on the new self which is created in God's likeness and reveals itself in true life that is upright and holy.
Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think, walk, talk. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good, pleasing and perfect.
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And to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
If we are truly in God word it will change your thought process, thus changing how you look at things and what you do or say. You are what you think about. Feed your spiritual body so that it will control your physical body.
The "new man" that we are to put on, or become is the new nature of our soul and spirit. This "new nature" of our soul is to take control over our whole being, soul and spirit; as well as our physical body.
Whe we decided to accept Christ's gift of salvation it is both a one time decision as well as a daily committment. We can't be driven by desire and impulse but we must put on the new nature, head in the new direction, and have a new way of thinking that only the Holy spirit can give us.
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