Ephesians 4:23
Verse
Context
Sermons




Summary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind - Their old mode of living was to be abandoned; a new one to be assumed. The mind is to be renovated; and not only its general complexion, but the very spirit of it; all its faculties and powers must be thoroughly, completely, and universally renewed. Plautus uses a similar expression describing deep distress, and answerable to our phrase innermost soul: - Paupertas, pavor territat mentem animi. Poverty and dread alarm my innermost soul. Epid., l. 519.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
be renewed--The Greek (ananeousthai) implies "the continued renewal in the youth of the new man." A different Greek word (anakainousthai) implies "renewal from the old state." in the spirit of your mind--As there is no Greek for "in," which there is at Eph 4:17, "in the vanity of their mind," it is better to translate, "By the Spirit of your mind," that is, by your new spiritual nature; the restored and divinely informed leading principle of the mind. The "spirit" of man in New Testament is only then used in its proper sense, as worthy of its place and governing functions, when it is one spirit with the Lord. The natural, or animal man, is described as "not having the Spirit" (Jde 1:19) [ALFORD]. Spirit is not in this sense attributed to the unregenerate (Th1 5:23).
John Gill Bible Commentary
Wherefore putting away lying,.... Which is one of the deeds of the old man, and a branch of the former conversation agreeable to him: a lie is a voluntary disagreement of the mind and speech, with a design to deceive; it is to speak that which is false, contrary to truth shining in the mind; and it is spoken knowingly and willingly, and with a design to impose upon others; hence a man may speak what is false, and not be a liar, if he does not know it to be so; and hence parables, fables, tropes, figures, hyperboles, &c. are not lies, because they are not used to deceive, but to illustrate and enforce truth: there are several sorts of lies; there is an officious lie, which is told for the service of others, but this is not lawful; for evil is not to be done, that good may come of it; and a man may as well tell a lie to serve himself, as another; and any other sin by the same rule may be allowed of, and tolerated; besides, it is not lawful to lie for God, and therefore not for a creature: and there is a jocose lie; this ought not to be encouraged; all appearance of evil should be abstained from; every idle word must be accounted for; and hereby also an evil habit of lying may be acquired: and there is a lie which is in itself directly hurtful, and injurious; as is every false thing, said with a design to deceive: and there are religious lies, and liars; some practical ones, as those who do not sincerely worship God, and who are dissolute in their lives, and their practice is not according to their profession; and there are others who are guilty of doctrinal lies, as antichrist and his followers, who are given up to believe a lie; and such who deny the deity, incarnation, Messiahship, work, office, grace, righteousness, and sacrifice of Christ; and who profess themselves to be Christians, and are not: the springs and causes of lying are a corrupt heart and the lusts of it, which prompt unto it; such as covetousness, malice, and the fear of men; and also a tempting devil, the father of lies; and who is a lying spirit, in the hearts and mouths of men; this is a vice which ought to be put away, especially by professors of religion; the effects of it are sad; it brings infamy, disgrace, and discredit, upon particular persons; and has brought judgments upon nations, where it has in general obtained; and has been the cause of corporeal diseases and death; and even makes men liable to the lake of fire and brimstone, which is the second death: it is a sin exceeding sinful; it is a breach of God's law; an aping of the devil; it is against the light of nature, and is destructive of civil society, and very abominable in the sight of God: wherefore speak every man truth with his neighbour; both with respect to civil and religious affairs, in common conversation, in trade and business, and in all things relating to God and men: for we are members one of another; as men, are all of one blood, descended from one man, and so are related one to another; and as in civil society, belong to one body politic; and in a religious sense, members of the same mystical body, the church; of which Christ, who is the truth itself, is the head; and therefore should not attempt to deceive one another by lying, since there is such a near relation and close union of one to another.
Ephesians 4:23
New Life in Christ
22to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;23to be renewed in the spirit of your minds;24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Giving Our Mind to Christ
By Zac Poonen2.0K59:24MindPRO 23:7MAT 6:33ROM 12:2EPH 4:23PHP 2:5COL 3:2In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of not letting worldly desires and material possessions rule our lives. He encourages listeners to keep their focus on their ultimate destination, which is to become like Christ. The preacher highlights the need to surrender our bodies to God and not just go through the motions of prayer without genuine love and devotion. He also warns about the battle for our minds, as the devil seeks to control our thoughts through various means such as media and lies. The preacher calls for true worship and reverence towards God, rather than just seeking personal enjoyment in church gatherings.
Conquering Warriors
By Denny Kenaston2.0K1:18:10Spiritual WarfarePSA 119:11MAT 6:33ROM 12:22CO 10:12CO 10:4EPH 4:23REV 6:2In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the need for Christians to be conquering warriors in the spiritual war. He describes how many believers have become complacent and are simply waiting for the enemy to attack. The preacher challenges young men to rise up and embrace the challenge of being a soldier for God. He outlines the rules for this war, which include humility, brokenness, holiness, freedom from sin, love for souls, and self-denial. The sermon also highlights the importance of unity among Christian soldiers and the sobering reality of the spiritual battlefield.
Through the Bible - Ephesians - Part 2
By Zac Poonen1.7K55:03MAT 6:33EPH 3:10EPH 4:1EPH 4:17EPH 4:20EPH 4:23EPH 4:25EPH 5:22In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of Christians walking in a manner worthy of their calling. The first key aspect mentioned is humility, which is seen as essential for proper praise and worship. The sermon then delves into three areas of relationships: husbands and wives, children and parents, and masters and servants. The speaker highlights the need for proper behavior and treatment in these relationships, both in the home and in the workplace. The sermon concludes by emphasizing that while Jesus lived externally like others, it was his heavenly mindset that guided his behavior, and Christians are called to follow his example in their homes and in the church.
Church Live Re-Visited: Session Four - Part 2
By Ron Bailey1.0K32:39LUK 12:471CO 3:81CO 3:21EPH 4:23COL 3:9HEB 13:17This sermon delves into the process of spiritual renewal and growth as outlined in Colossians and Ephesians, emphasizing the ongoing transformation of believers. It also discusses the importance of trusting and respecting spiritual leaders in the church, highlighting the genuine spiritual authority and responsibility they carry. The sermon touches on the concept of rewards for faithful labor in serving God and the solemn warnings about accountability and perseverance in the Christian journey.
(Where Is the Church Going) 2. Shepherds and Hirelings
By Miki Hardy1.0K52:56HirelingsMAT 6:33JHN 10:11ROM 12:1EPH 4:23COL 2:82TI 2:151PE 2:2In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the need for Christians to focus on the true essence of the gospel rather than being swayed by worldly influences. He urges believers to present themselves as living sacrifices to God and to renew their minds in order to discern His perfect will. The preacher also warns against being manipulated or exploited by false teachers and emphasizes the importance of discernment in these critical times. Overall, the sermon calls for a return to the heart of the gospel and a deeper understanding of God's Word.
New Creation: Walking According to the Spirit (2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 8:5)
By Mike Bickle171:22:25New CreationWalking In The SpiritJHN 8:32ROM 6:11ROM 8:5ROM 12:22CO 5:17EPH 4:23COL 3:3HEB 10:231PE 3:4REV 12:11Mike Bickle emphasizes the transformative power of being a new creation in Christ, as outlined in 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Romans 8. He explains that believers often overlook the miraculous change that occurs in their spirit at the moment of salvation, which empowers them to walk in victory over sin, addictions, and depression. Bickle highlights the importance of understanding one's identity in Christ and living according to the Spirit rather than the flesh, encouraging believers to renew their minds with the truth of Scripture. He stresses that true transformation comes from recognizing and confessing the new reality of our spirit, which is filled with the Holy Spirit and righteousness. Ultimately, Bickle calls for a shift in focus from natural experiences to the spiritual truths that define our new identity in Christ.
The Carnal Mind
By G.W. North0Mind TransformationSpiritual vs. Carnal MindISA 55:8JHN 3:3ROM 8:6ROM 12:21CO 2:142CO 5:17GAL 5:17EPH 4:23PHP 2:5COL 3:2G.W. North emphasizes the distinction between a carnal mind and a spiritual mind, arguing that the condition of one's mind is more crucial than the knowledge it holds. He addresses the common human tendency to blame God for their circumstances, asserting that God made choices before creation that align with His love and purpose. North highlights the mystery of Israel's role in God's plan and the emergence of a new spiritual nation, which transcends physical lineage. He concludes that while the world may seem chaotic and unjustifiable, the focus should remain on the Gospel of Jesus Christ rather than on human conditions. Ultimately, transformation requires a divine intervention to change the fundamental state of the mind.
The Spirit of Truth
By Samuel Chadwick0JHN 16:13ROM 8:27ROM 12:21CO 2:14EPH 4:23Samuel Chadwick preaches about the importance of the Spirit of Truth in revealing divine truths through revelation and inspiration. He emphasizes that God has spoken through His Spirit to guide humanity, especially in times of sin and darkness. Chadwick highlights the role of the Spirit in the interpretation of the Bible, stating that the Scriptures are the record of God's revelation through the Spirit. He discusses the necessity of the Spirit's illumination for understanding the deep truths of God and the renewal of the mind to receive spiritual discernment and transformation.
Our Thoughts (Forsake Your Unrighteous Thoughts, and Let Christ Think His Thoughts in you.)
By Hans R. Waldvogel0Renewing The MindInner TransformationPSA 139:17PRO 23:7ISA 55:7MAT 6:6ROM 12:22CO 10:5GAL 2:20EPH 4:23PHP 2:5COL 3:2Hans R. Waldvogel emphasizes the necessity of forsaking unrighteous thoughts and allowing the mind of Christ to dwell within us. He highlights that true transformation comes from a deep, personal relationship with God, where we not only abandon external sins but also cleanse our hearts and thoughts. Waldvogel encourages believers to engage in sincere Bible study and prayer, which are essential for renewing our minds and aligning our thoughts with Christ's. He warns against superficial religion and calls for a genuine inner beauty that reflects Christ's righteousness. Ultimately, he reminds us that our thoughts can either stem from heaven or hell, urging us to choose wisely.
Entire Sanctification: A Second Work of Grace in the Life of a Believer
By D.S. Warner02CO 3:18EPH 4:23COL 3:10HEB 10:14HEB 13:121JN 1:7D.S. Warner preaches about the call to a higher state of grace beyond just being born again, emphasizing that this elevated Christian experience is received by faith through the Holy Spirit, not by works. He highlights the importance of entire sanctification as a distinct experience subsequent to justification, essential for the salvation of souls, the purity and power of the church, and the glory of God. Warner explains that Christian perfection is the complete moral restoration of man, reinstating the divine likeness in the soul and freeing it from sin, a state entered through the work of sanctification.
Attitude Flows From the Soul of the Person
By Bishop M.A. Lalachan0PSA 19:14PRO 4:23PRO 23:7JHN 17:17ROM 12:2EPH 4:23PHP 2:5PHP 4:8COL 3:21TH 5:18Bishop M.A. Lalachan preaches on the importance of having the same attitude and purpose as Christ Jesus, emphasizing the need for a humble mind that reflects consistency of character in words, actions, and values. He highlights that God desires to transform us into the image of His son Jesus through cooperation with the Holy Spirit, and negative attitudes hinder friendships, relationships, and overall well-being. The sermon underscores the impact of environment, experiences, and education on shaping attitudes, urging listeners to stay away from negative influences and embrace positivity in every aspect of life.
April 16. 1678. the Essential Matter of the Universal Blessing.
By Jane Lead0ROM 12:22CO 5:17GAL 5:22EPH 4:23COL 3:10Jane Lead preaches about the transformation of believers into a new creation through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, emphasizing the need to let go of earthly desires and embrace a spiritual rebirth that aligns with God's will. She highlights the importance of cherishing the birth of love within us, which leads to a higher spiritual dignity and a renewal of nature into wisdom and perfection. Lead also discusses the concept of universal blessing rooted in the deep original ground of the soul, where God-like signatures are imprinted for the manifestation of God's essence in believers' lives.
The Fresh Eye
By John Henry Jowett0PSA 51:10LAM 3:22MAT 9:362CO 5:17EPH 4:23John Henry Jowett emphasizes the importance of maintaining a fresh perspective in showing compassion, drawing from Lamentations 3:22-33. He highlights how God's compassions are new every morning because He never grows accustomed to our needs, always seeing them with fresh eyes. Jowett urges the congregation to seek discerning eyes from the Lord to prevent becoming desensitized to the needs around them, ensuring that their sympathies never fail and their compassion remains strong.
The Pivotal Point
By Ernest O'Neill0PRO 3:5EZK 36:26JHN 3:3ROM 2:151CO 2:11GAL 5:16EPH 4:231TI 1:5HEB 9:141PE 3:16Ernest O'Neill emphasizes the pivotal relationship between our conscience and will, highlighting that our spirit and soul intersect at this point. Obedience of our will to our conscience allows God to infuse our soul with His life, leading to true regeneration. However, rejecting God's laws in our conscience hinders the flow of life into our spirit. The key to experiencing supernatural life is responding positively to our conscience, which can lead to a re-orientation of our spirit by the Spirit of Christ.
A New Life
By Ernest O'Neill0MAT 16:25JHN 14:26ROM 12:2GAL 5:1EPH 4:23Ernest O'Neill preaches about the possibility of changing our lives by breaking free from the thought patterns and behaviors that have controlled us for years. He emphasizes the need to awaken our spirits, which have been overshadowed by worldly influences, and to listen to God's calling for a new and transformed life. O'Neill highlights the importance of losing our current way of living in order to find a deeper, more fulfilling existence through God's guidance and renewal of our thoughts, aspirations, and actions.
Constancy
By Mary Wilder Tileston0PRO 3:5JHN 10:272CO 5:17GAL 2:20EPH 4:23Mary Wilder Tileston emphasizes the importance of being renewed in the spirit of our minds and putting on the new man, created in righteousness and true holiness after God. She encourages believers to be constant, courageous, and to persevere in their journey towards perfection, offering the most acceptable sacrifice to God. Tileston highlights the need to hear and learn from Christ, becoming His disciple and allowing His nature to replace our own, making life's challenges easier and transgressions harder. Trusting in the Lord and resisting His enemy become natural as His nature grows within us.
Retaining the Risen Lord
By C.H. Spurgeon0JHN 17:17ROM 12:2ROM 13:142CO 3:182CO 4:16EPH 4:23EPH 6:11PHP 4:8COL 2:8COL 3:10Greek Word Studies delves into the meaning of 'renewed' (ananeoo), emphasizing the process of making new or renovating inwardly through spiritual vitality. The distinction between 'neos' and 'kainos' is explored, highlighting the temporal and qualitative aspects of newness. The sermon focuses on the continual renewal of the believer's mind by the Spirit of God, leading to a complete change in thinking and a shift towards holiness. Various Bible verses are examined to illustrate the concept of renewal and transformation in the mind, emphasizing the importance of feeding on sound doctrine and truth to resist the attacks of the enemy and align with God's will.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind - Their old mode of living was to be abandoned; a new one to be assumed. The mind is to be renovated; and not only its general complexion, but the very spirit of it; all its faculties and powers must be thoroughly, completely, and universally renewed. Plautus uses a similar expression describing deep distress, and answerable to our phrase innermost soul: - Paupertas, pavor territat mentem animi. Poverty and dread alarm my innermost soul. Epid., l. 519.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
be renewed--The Greek (ananeousthai) implies "the continued renewal in the youth of the new man." A different Greek word (anakainousthai) implies "renewal from the old state." in the spirit of your mind--As there is no Greek for "in," which there is at Eph 4:17, "in the vanity of their mind," it is better to translate, "By the Spirit of your mind," that is, by your new spiritual nature; the restored and divinely informed leading principle of the mind. The "spirit" of man in New Testament is only then used in its proper sense, as worthy of its place and governing functions, when it is one spirit with the Lord. The natural, or animal man, is described as "not having the Spirit" (Jde 1:19) [ALFORD]. Spirit is not in this sense attributed to the unregenerate (Th1 5:23).
John Gill Bible Commentary
Wherefore putting away lying,.... Which is one of the deeds of the old man, and a branch of the former conversation agreeable to him: a lie is a voluntary disagreement of the mind and speech, with a design to deceive; it is to speak that which is false, contrary to truth shining in the mind; and it is spoken knowingly and willingly, and with a design to impose upon others; hence a man may speak what is false, and not be a liar, if he does not know it to be so; and hence parables, fables, tropes, figures, hyperboles, &c. are not lies, because they are not used to deceive, but to illustrate and enforce truth: there are several sorts of lies; there is an officious lie, which is told for the service of others, but this is not lawful; for evil is not to be done, that good may come of it; and a man may as well tell a lie to serve himself, as another; and any other sin by the same rule may be allowed of, and tolerated; besides, it is not lawful to lie for God, and therefore not for a creature: and there is a jocose lie; this ought not to be encouraged; all appearance of evil should be abstained from; every idle word must be accounted for; and hereby also an evil habit of lying may be acquired: and there is a lie which is in itself directly hurtful, and injurious; as is every false thing, said with a design to deceive: and there are religious lies, and liars; some practical ones, as those who do not sincerely worship God, and who are dissolute in their lives, and their practice is not according to their profession; and there are others who are guilty of doctrinal lies, as antichrist and his followers, who are given up to believe a lie; and such who deny the deity, incarnation, Messiahship, work, office, grace, righteousness, and sacrifice of Christ; and who profess themselves to be Christians, and are not: the springs and causes of lying are a corrupt heart and the lusts of it, which prompt unto it; such as covetousness, malice, and the fear of men; and also a tempting devil, the father of lies; and who is a lying spirit, in the hearts and mouths of men; this is a vice which ought to be put away, especially by professors of religion; the effects of it are sad; it brings infamy, disgrace, and discredit, upon particular persons; and has brought judgments upon nations, where it has in general obtained; and has been the cause of corporeal diseases and death; and even makes men liable to the lake of fire and brimstone, which is the second death: it is a sin exceeding sinful; it is a breach of God's law; an aping of the devil; it is against the light of nature, and is destructive of civil society, and very abominable in the sight of God: wherefore speak every man truth with his neighbour; both with respect to civil and religious affairs, in common conversation, in trade and business, and in all things relating to God and men: for we are members one of another; as men, are all of one blood, descended from one man, and so are related one to another; and as in civil society, belong to one body politic; and in a religious sense, members of the same mystical body, the church; of which Christ, who is the truth itself, is the head; and therefore should not attempt to deceive one another by lying, since there is such a near relation and close union of one to another.