Be Renewed Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: Be Renewed-------------------------- Date: 9/20/2001 Keywords: "choice" "new self" "old self" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. Passage: Ephesians 4:17-24* 17. So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, 18. being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; 19. and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20. But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21. if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22. that, in reference to you former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23. and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24. and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Questions 1. If you will take a few minutes and write the passage above out in your own words, your time will be well spent.   2. It seems we have the ability to choose between an "old self" (verse 22) and a new one. How does Paul describe the character traits associated with each?   Practical help Perhaps Paul would not have passed a freshman college English class of today because he packs too much into one sentence. Actually, however, the problem is ours because he can say it in fewer words than we can. Remember that many of the people Paul was writing to had actually heard Jesus speak. But that wasn’t enough, they needed to see his life in context with His resurrection from the dead and be taught it’s significance. The same goes for you and me. We might begin to understand the story of Jesus from reading the gospel accounts (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), but then we also need the additional information that comes from the writings of Luke, Paul, and others. And for most of us, this means we need the help of others who have learned more to this point than we have. But unlike a formal study on any other subject, Paul desires that as our minds grow, our heart change as well. Your old self has made you believe that filling physical needs is the essence of life, but Jesus said: Matthew 6:31-33 31. "Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32. "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for you heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Pray and ask Jesus to be first in your life. Ask Him to renew the spirit of your mind which I think conveys the idea of not only changing your opinions but your attitudes. May we seek to love Him and what He stands for so much that all these other distractions just fall away. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2001 by eXXit *"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."