Ephesians Part 25

Beginning in verse 20, Paul draws a sharp contrast to the self-centered secular society that the Ephesians were immersed in: 

“But you have not so learned Christ.” 

Here, the tone shifts from warning to reminder. Unlike those who do not look to God for direction, whose minds are darkened and whose hearts are hardened, we have been taught a different way. The words learned, heard and taught evoke the image of a school, a place of disciplined instruction and transformation. We are not self-taught in righteousness; we are students in the school of Christ. As Paul reminds us in earlier chapters of Ephesians (1–3), we have learned eternal truths: that God manifested in the person of Jesus Christ, that He lived a perfect life, died for our sins, was resurrected, and now sits at the right hand of the Father as our Lord and Savior. He is the firstborn among many brothers and sisters, and through Him, we are being shaped into the sons and daughters of God. These are not abstract doctrines—they are living truths that must be continually remembered.

Verse 21 continues, “If indeed you have heard Him.” There is something deeply personal in this phrase. The truth has a unique quality—it resonates with those who are truly listening. As Jesus said in John 8:31-32, 

“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 

To hear Him, we must make room for Him in our daily lives and live in His Word. What do we study? When do we study? Where do we study? Who do we share our learning and faith with? These are questions that determine whether we are merely aware of God or actively walking with Him.

Paul adds, “and have been taught by Him.” Just as the disciples sat at Jesus’ feet and learned from His words, and just as Paul was taught directly by Christ through revelation, so we too are taught by Him when we open Scripture with a humble heart. The Word of God teaches, convicts, and transforms us. When we read it not just for knowledge but to shape and develop relationship, we become true disciples—students who seek to imitate their Teacher. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:1–11, the gospel he preached was not his own invention, but what he himself had received and been taught by Christ.

In verse 22, Paul introduces a vivid command to put off “the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.” This imagery of putting off and putting on is like changing garments, an act that represents transformation. The old man is our former self, corrupted by sin and shaped by worldly desires. In 1 Corinthians 15:12–58, Paul reminds us that resurrection follows death. The corruptible must die before the incorruptible can rise. Just as Christ was raised from the dead, so must our old selves die so that we might live anew in Him. As he writes, 

“As we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man” (1 Corinthians 15:49).

This transformation is the essence of Galatians 2:20—

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” 

Paul let “Saul” die, just as Simon became Peter, and Jacob became Israel, “the one who struggles with God.” Each underwent an identity change that mirrored their spiritual transformation. The same must happen within each believer: the old nature must die so that the new, Spirit-led person may live. The battle between flesh and spirit is constant, as Galatians 5:16–18 describes.

This inner conflict has been likened to the story of the two wolves from Cherokee wisdom—one representing anger, envy, greed, arrogance and pride; the other representing peace, joy, love, humility and compassion. Which wolf wins? The one you feed. Each day, we choose which nature to nurture. Romans 6 and 7 describe this ongoing struggle between the old man bound by sin, decaying and mortal, and the new man, renewed and alive through the Spirit of God.

Paul notes that the old self is “corrupted according to deceitful lusts.” These desires often appear good, but they are fleeting and deceptive. They feed the ego but starve the soul. What God offers, by contrast, is lasting joy and righteousness. The lusts of the flesh are temporary and insatiable; they can never fill the emptiness within. Only transformation through Christ can bring fulfillment and eternal life.  

Verse 23 brings us to the heart of the passage: 

“Be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” 

This renewal is not a one-time event but a continual process. The Spirit of God works within us to reshape our thoughts, desires and values until they align with His own. Our minds must be retrained—unlearning the old patterns of sin and learning to think with the mind of Christ. This renewal is the foundation for the command that follows in verse 24: 

“Put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”

This is not merely self-improvement; it is divine recreation. The “new man” is the person God designed us to be from the beginning, restored to His image. Zechariah 3:3–5 offers a vivid parallel: Joshua the high priest stood before God in filthy garments, accused by Satan, but God commanded that his filthy clothes be removed and replaced with clean, rich robes. These garments symbolized righteousness—God’s own covering over human weakness. In the same way, when we put on the new man, we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

We can easily grasp this analogy. We wear different clothes for different occasions—to show respect, to signify belonging, or to fulfill a role. A uniform identifies who we are and what we represent. In the same way, putting on the new man is like putting on a spiritual uniform—it identifies us as God’s people, His representatives, His children. When others see our actions, our words and our demeanor, they should recognize whose we are.

UYA Team | uya@ucg.org  

United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of the young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.