The Heart of the Problem

[ ] 8/2/2015 #1119 THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM Ephesians 4:17-24

INTRODUCTION: In our world today, heart problems are one of the leading causes of death. The Bible has much to say about the heart, but it is not the fleshy heart in our chest. The Bible uses the word "heart" according to the Holman Bible Dictionary as "the center of the physical, mental, and spiritual life of humans." In other words, our heart is the center of our inner man. It is the old sinful inner man that has the heart problem.

I. CONDITION OF THE LOST A. BLINDNESS OF THE LOST. (v. 17c, 18) In verse 18, Paul wrote of three conditions of lost people which result from the "blindness of their heart." The spiritual problem with man is a heart problem.

1. Understanding darkened. (v. 18) The understanding of the sinner is darkened because of the vanity of his mind. His life is empty because his mind is corrupted by inborn sin. The word "vanity" means "futility, emptiness, that which is wasted on nothing."

This does not mean that lost people are stupid or dumb. Many unbelievers accomplish a lot of good things in their lives. They give their money for good causes. Some work at helping needy people, etc. Sadly, if they leave God out of their lives, all their works are vanity or empty. It will not profit them in eternity. What a waste!

2. Alienated from the life of God. (v. 18) You cannot have life with God without having the life of God. Jesus said, "You must be born again." (John 3:3) The people who are without the life of God are separated from God. Paul spoke of such a person as being "dead in trespasses and sins." (Eph. 2:1) As the result of Adam's sin, "sin entered into the world, and death by sin." Spiritual death was passed upon all men, for all have sinned." (Rom. 5:12)

The good, moral, and religious person is spiritually dead if he/she has not received eternal life from Christ.

3. Ignorance that is in them. (v. 18) The reason people are alienated from the life of God is because of the ignorance that is in them. They do not know God as their Savior because of the blindness of their own hearts. The word "blindness" means "hardness." Their spiritual blindness is the result of their refusal to acknowledge and submit to God. (Rom. 1:19-21)

The preaching of the cross is foolishness to the lost. (1 Cor. 18) They are without knowledge of the Holy One. The reason is because they don't want to know Him. They love darkness rather than light. (John 3:19-20) Satan aids them in their blindness. (2 Cor. 4:3-4)

B. BEHAVIOR OF THE LOST. (v. 19) A person behaves according to what he believes. Lost people have not the life of God in them and the light of God to lead them. The thought behind "being past feeling" means to be beyond the ability to feel pain, to no longer be sensitive to pain. In the spiritual sense, it means to have no shame or to feel no guilt. As the sinner's heart becomes more callous and hardened to sin, his conscience is not troubled by his sin.

A hardened conscience will lead a person to more sin. The Greek word translated "lasciviousness" speaks of "sensuality, sexual obscenity." People who give their lives over to open sin have no shame and neither do they blush because of their sin. They "work all uncleanness with greediness." Hugh Hefner is a good example of a person who has used sexual obscenity for profit.

If it wasn't for God's restraining grace, as wicked as the human heart is, man would destroy himself. What if we all carried out the thoughts we have in our mind? The heart is desperately wicked. (Jer. 17:9-10) Jesus described the heart in Mark 7:21-23 by the deeds done by sinful man.

II. CONVERSION OF THE LOST A sinful man receives a "new heart" at conversion. He becomes a "new man." The Bible speaks of him as being born again. This is a spiritual birth.

A. NEW RELATIONSHIP. 1. Learning of Jesus. (v. 20) When a person gets saved, he has a new relationship with Jesus. A lost person is taught the ways of the world from his physical birth. His walk and his talk are like that of the world. But the person who is saved has learned from Christ. Peter wrote that we are to "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." (2 Pet. 3:18)

2. Life of Jesus. (v. 21) The saved man is to follow the example of the life of Jesus. We can never in this life be sinless or perfect as He is, but we can be developing Christlike character. Jesus is truth. (John 14:6) We learn from Jesus the will of God and how God would have us to live as Christians. All spiritual truth we learn comes through the life and teachings of Christ.

Peter stated it this way, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." (2 Peter 1:3-4)

At the moment of our spiritual birth, we become partakers of the newness of life that He provides. (Rom. 6:5) Any man who is in Christ is a new creation, old things pass away and all things become new. (2 Cor. 5:17) This is our new state in Christ. We are to reckon these things to be true by faith.

B. NEW RESPONSIBILITY. A. PROPER CLOTHING. 1. Removal of the old man. (v. 22) "put off . . . the old man" We have the responsibility to put off the former life of the old man and live for the glory of God. Paul spoke of discarding the old nature like a person would discard dirty old clothes. The old nature is "corrupt according to the deceitful lusts." It is to have no part with the Christian life. The old nature has been crucified with Christ. God has given us a new nature. We can walk in the newness of life that we have in Christ. (Rom. 6:4) The old man is discarded through confessing and repenting of sin.

The old nature of sin was crucified with Christ. God has put to death the old man and gives the believer a new nature.

The problem is that the old nature is still with us. We were all dressed in the garment of filthy rags of sin before we got saved. The old man is dirty, lustful, and corrupt. We had no other choice but to wear the rags of sin. We are to discard the old man as if we were taking off clothes. You must "reckon the old you is dead to sin and the new you is alive in Christ. (Romans 6:11) 2. Renewing of the mind. (v. 23) The lost sinner's mind is given over to lust, greed, and the futile and vain things of this world. The Christian must renew his mind daily. A changed life begins with a changed mind. When the thinking is changed, the life is changed. The renewed mind of the Christian will be focused on spiritual things. "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:2-3)

Paul said, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:2)

We must renew our thought life by reading and studying the Word of God. The Word of God renews the mind and strengthens our faith. Christians must think on the things of God.

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16)

The Word of God will keep us thinking right, living right, and growing up in Christ.

The thought behind the phrase "and be renewed" means to be continually renewed. It is a daily process of renewing one's mind. The Holy Spirit indwells and enlightens the believer so he can think more like Christ would think.

3. Robed in the new man. (v. 24) "put on the new man" We are to discard the old man and "put on" the new man who is "created in righteousness and true holiness." We were created a new creature at the time of our spiritual birth. (2 Cor. 5:17) We "put on" the new man yielding to and walking in the Spirit. (Gal. 5:16) The Holy Spirit produces the fruit of the Spirit that is becoming to the new man. In Colossians 3:10 Paul wrote, "And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." (Colossians 3:10)

B. PROPER CONDUCT. Paul exhorted the believers to "walk not as other Gentiles walk." (v. 17) In Romans 13:14, Paul stated how we can have proper conduct. "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof." (Romans 13:14) Our attitude and behavior will continue to change as we discard sinful thoughts and sinful habits and put on the clothing of righteousness. Our conduct will become more Christlike. In verses 25-32, Paul spoke about proper conduct. There are some things which should not be in a Christian's life such as lying, uncontrolled anger, stealing, and corrupt talk.

Conclusion: The saved person must guard his heart. "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23) We become what we think in attitude and action. As a Christian, we should desire to be more like Christ. We are to put on the new man "created in righteousness and true holiness."

The lost person needs a new heart. God described the heart as being "deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked." (Jeremiah 17:9) For a person to enter heaven, he must be born again. (John 3:3) A person is given a new heart, a new nature at the moment of salvation. If you are without Christ, turn to Him in faith and repentance. He will give you a new heart!