Romans: Sin, Judgment, and Gospel Foundations: Praying Against the Wicked

Walking With God - 6

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: New Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2016-03-13

Synopsis: In this sermon, John Weaver continues his series on walking with the Lord by focusing on Ephesians 4:17-19. He emphasizes that believers must walk differently from the unsaved world, which is characterized by a darkened understanding, alienation from God, ignorance, and a hardened heart that leads to unrestrained sin. The sermon serves as a solemn warning and a call to examine one's life in light of the radical transformation that salvation brings.

[John Weaver] Ephesians chapter 4 and we're going to be reading today. From Ephesians chapter 4, beginning with verse 17 and reading through verse 32, however, we will never get past verse 19 today. Let me just tell you, we have been dealing with the entire series and the entire series is walking with the Lord. I'm going to review today happens to be the sixth part, although it's going to be the first of three messages. Each one of these messages, I think, are self-contained. But let me just say that I think not only this message, but the next two messages are going to be absolutely needed and necessary, especially if you're going to not only change your life, but help others as well. So I would encourage you to be faithful and to be here if you can, especially for the next two Sundays.

[John Weaver] And I know Scott will have a long drive. Jim won't have so far, but that's OK. But Ephesians chapter 4, look, if you would please, beginning with verse 17, the apostle said this, I say, therefore, and testify the Lord that you henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind. Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart, who, being past feeling, have given themselves over into lasciviousness to work all uncleanness with greediness.

[John Weaver] But you have not so learned Christ. If so, be that you have heard him and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus, that you put off concerning the former conversation, the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore, putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor, for he remembers one of another.

[John Weaver] Be ye angry and sin not. Let not the sun go down upon your wrath. Neither give place to the devil, let him that stole steal no more, but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

[John Weaver] And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed unto the day of your redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and glamour and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice. And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven you.

[John Weaver] Now, so far in this series, we have dealt with walking before the Lord and walking with the Lord. And I pointed out the fact how it's impossible to really walk with the Lord unless you walk before the Lord. And the word before literally means in the presence of or in the face of. We looked in the Bible, we saw how Enoch walked with the Lord, Abraham walked with the Lord, Jacob walked, a host of others as well. But God told Abram, walk thou before me and be thou perfect. In our study of Enoch, we also found that Enoch was translated that he should not see death. For before his translation, he had this testimony that he pleased God. And then we looked at verse six after verse five of Hebrews 11. But without faith, it's impossible to please him.

[John Weaver] For he that cometh to God must first believe that he is, and that he is a reward of those that diligently seek him. So I pointed out that absolutely fundamental and basic and foundational. If we're going to please the Lord, if we're going to walk with the Lord, we must absolutely walk in faith. And then, as I pointed out, we were walking in faith. The very next thing I dealt with was Ephesians 4, verses 1 through 7. where Paul is now telling us if we're going to walk pleasing to the Lord, we must walk worthy of our calling. And then in Ephesians chapter 4, verses 1 through 3 there, he actually tells us how we are to walk worthy of our calling. And by the way, when he says that we're to walk worthy of vocation, we're called. I showed you how the word vocation occurs ten times in the New Testament, and it actually refers to our salvation. So when he says walk worthy of your vocation, he's saying walk worthy of your calling, your salvation, wherewith you have been called, that is, unto salvation.

[John Weaver] And then he tells us that we're to walk worthy, how? In all lowliness and meekness and longsuffering, forbearing one another in love, and then thirdly, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. So we looked at A whole message on lowliness, an entire message on meekness, and I must point out again that meekness is not weakness. Meekness is not poor posture. Meekness does not equal cowardice. No.

[John Weaver] Moses was the meekest man on earth in his day, and you know what he did. Our Lord was meek, and yet he took the scourge of small accords and drove those money changers out of the temple. So, you must understand that meekness is disciplined strength under Christ. Those who are meek have been broken to yoke. That is, we wear the yoke of Christ and we're disciplined by Him.

[John Weaver] So, He tells us then that we are to endeavor to keep the unity that God has made in the bond of peace. And then I explain verses 4-7 in that light as well. What Paul does in Ephesians chapter 4, after telling us to walk worthily, now in verses 17 through verse 32, he tells us to walk differently. That is, we must walk in a different manner in our lives. We are different from the world. We are different from the ungodly. We're different from the heathen. And it must be made manifest. If we have really and truly been redeemed and justified and reconciled and sanctified, obviously then there must be a difference. So I want to call your attention to verse 17. We're going to look at verse 17, verse 18 and verse 19 today. So here is what the Apostle Paul is teaching us. When we are to walk pleasing unto the Lord, we must not only walk in faith, We must not only walk worthily, but now he tells us we must walk differently.

[John Weaver] So in verse 17, he says this, I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord that you henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their minds. Now, I want to call your attention to the word testify. He said he is testifying in the Lord. The word testify here is marturumai. It is actually from the Greek word martus. It is where we get our English word martyr. When you hear the word martyr, you automatically think of someone who has died for the faith.

[John Weaver] That is the connotation that we place with it today. But the word martyr originally just means and meant witness. Jesus Christ is called a faithful and true witness. Jesus Christ did not die for his faith as such. He died for his people. But he is a faithful and true martyr. You also have to remember this. The Apostle Paul in Romans 1 and verse 9 said, God is my witness. And the word witness there is martyr. God is my martyr. Though God has not died, he is just simply saying that God is a witness to his ministry.

[John Weaver] Now, when Paul says this, I therefore say in testifying of the Lord, the word testify actually means to take to record, to cite as a witness, to conjure, to beseech in God's name, and to testify solemnly. Now, when the Apostle Paul says, I am testifying. He is saying, basically, I'm bearing witness in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and I am ministering by his authority. And so the Apostle Paul, listen carefully, is not only testifying to them. He may also be testifying against them. You have to remember that a witness can be either for the defendant or against the defendant. So a witness then has a twofold opportunity. So the Apostle Paul is saying, I'm solemnly testifying to you. If you will listen to me, I'm going to be a witness for you and to you. If you don't witness, if you don't listen to me, then I'm going to end up being a witness against you. So in 2nd Corinthians 13 verse 2, don't turn there right now, but here's what Paul said.

[John Weaver] He's writing to these Corinthians and he says, I told you before and foretell you as if I were present the second time and being absent from you. Now I write them, which heretofore have sinned and to all other that if I come, I will not spare. What did he just say? I've already witnessed to you. I've been a witness for you, and if you haven't repented, When I get there, I'm going to be a witness against you. Now, he said basically the same thing in Second Corinthians, chapter 13, verse 10. He said, therefore, I write these things being absent, less being present.

[John Weaver] I should use sharpness according to the power which the Lord has given me to edification and not for destruction. So he said, I'm trying to be a witness to you. If you refuse to listen, I'm going to be a witness against you. So When Paul says in verse 17, this I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, he's saying here is a solemn witness that I'm giving to you. And here's that witness that you walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their minds. Now, the word Gentiles is the Greek word ethnos, which simply refers to nations or pagans or the heathens. So the Apostle Paul is testifying that we as Christians should be different in our walk, in our lives, from the ungodly, from the unsaved, and from the heathen. We are not like them in any way, and we should therefore be different from them, and that difference should be easily detected and manifested. The interesting thing is, in verses 17 through 19, after he tells us that we should walk differently here, he proceeds to tell us exactly how the unsaved walked.

[John Weaver] And that's very interesting. How did the heathen walk? How did the unsaved walk? Well, look, if you would please, in verse 17, he says this, I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord that you henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind. Now, I'm going to say that the vanity of the mind here is a very general description. He's going to delineate in verses 18 and 19. So he's giving you a broad term, say, here it is in generalized terminology, and then he's going to take that generalized term and he's going to descend into the specific. So how do they walk in the vanity of their mind? When you and I hear the word vanity, we normally think of that which is vain, that which is useless, that which is worthless, that which is a waste of time. The interesting thing is the word vanity. Not only means. That which is useless and worthless, but it means more than that. It actually means that which is devoid of truth.

[John Weaver] That which is perverse, depraved and inappropriate. Now listen carefully, you will find the word vanity and the word vain translated from different Hebrew words and sometimes different Greek words. But the very first time the word is translated as vanity in the Old Testament occurs in 2nd Kings chapter 17 verse 5. And I want you to hold Ephesians 4 and turn there because I want you to see what is included under the term vanity. Notice, if you would, Second Kings, chapter 17, and it's verse 15, Second Kings, chapter 17. And look, if you would please, at verse 15. Interestingly, Second Kings, 17 and verse 15.

[John Weaver] Now he's talking about Israel, what Israel did to God, the Bible says, and they rejected his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers. and his testimonies which he testified against them, watch, and they followed vanity and became vain and went after the heathen that were round about them concerning whom the Lord had charged them that they should not do like them. Now, the interesting thing is if you read the context, Israel has descended into idolatry. And when he says that they followed vanity, he's talking about idolatry. They followed idols. They became vain. That is, they became idolaters. And then he says, they went after the heathen that was round about them.

[John Weaver] So that means very obviously then, they worshipped Baal, they worshipped Ashtaroth, they worshipped all the false gods. So here, clearly, then the word vanity means far more than just simply that which is useless and worthless. It is true that idolatry is useless and worthless, but it's even more than that. It's perverse. It is depraved. So obviously, anyone who is involved in idolatry is also devoid of truth.

[John Weaver] Now, if you will turn into the New Testament to Second Peter, chapter two, and look, if you would please, at verse 18. You will see that the word vanity here from the Greek word. Also. Emphasizes perverseness. And depravity. Notice 2 Peter chapter two and look, if you would please, at verse 18. He's talking about these men who are devoid of truth. These wicked men, he says in verse 18, for when they speak great swelling words of vanity, watch, he's talking about vanity now.

[John Weaver] They allure through the lust of the flesh, through much wantedness, those that were clean escape from them who live in error. But notice if you would, vanity here is concerned with the lust of the flesh and wantedness. So the word vanity not only means that which is useless and worthless, it also includes idolatry. It includes being devoid of truth. It also includes being perverse and perverted as such.

[John Weaver] Now, Here's the interesting thing, since we're in Ephesians chapter four, just look back to Ephesians chapter two. I've pointed this out before. You and I should really understand how the unsaved walk. Because we were once that ourselves. So if you look in Ephesians chapter two, verses one through three, he says that you have the quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins. When in time past, you walk according to the course of this world. according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. Now, look what he says. Among whom also we all had our conversation or conduct in times past in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind and were by nature the children of wrath.

[John Weaver] And notice this, even as others. So Paul is saying we should really understand how the unsaved walk, because We used to walk that way ourselves. We walked in exactly the same manner. We lived in the lust of the eyes and the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. We were idolaters. We were children of wrath, even as others. And one of the problems that we encourage Christians is oftentimes. There are too many memories of our former lives, we remember too well what we used to be like.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to note something. The Apostle Paul goes on to tell us how we are different. Watch. I just read Ephesians 2, verses 1 through 3. Now look at verses 4 and 5. But God, who is rich in mercy for His great love wherein He loved us, even when we were dead in sin, Have quickness together with Christ, by grace you are saved. So notice what he says, here's what you were, but now God has intervened and God has supernaturally changed us. So if God then has given us his love, if God has quickened us, if he has given us life in Jesus Christ, by his grace we must absolutely live differently.

[John Weaver] We are not like the unsaved. So go back in your Bibles to Ephesians 4 now and look if you would at verses 18 and 19. We've already talked about vanity. Now he's going to break vanity down. Watch in verse 18. Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart. Now, just in verse 18, Paul speaks then of a darkened understanding, alienation from life, ignorance of mind, and blindness of heart.

[John Weaver] So I want us to consider these things one at a time. First of all, what is it like to be unsaved? What is it like to be a heathen? What is it like to be a pagan? Well, the Apostle Paul says, first of all, there is a darkened understanding. Well, the question should automatically arise. Well, how do understandings become darkened? What brings darkness to an understanding? And the answer is basically threefold. I want you to listen carefully. First of all, there is a judicial darkening of the mind or a judicial blindness of the mind. The word judicial simply refers to the law court of God. God is the judge. It is God who pronounces the sentence against the wicked and corrupt and perverse men. So a judicial darkening or a judicial blindness is usually imposed upon people for their rejection of God, His Son, His Word, and His truth.

[John Weaver] Now let me show you. I want you to hold Ephesians chapter 4. I want you to go back to Psalm 69. Then we're going to the book of Romans. Psalm 69 is a messianic psalm. It speaks of Jesus Christ. I'm not going to take the time to go through Psalm 69, but it is and it does have reference to Christ over and over. For instance, he will tell you in there, the zeal of my house, thine house has eaten me up, which is applied directly to Christ.

[John Weaver] They hated him and he not for anything that he had done. Then he says, look, if you would please, down to verse 21. They gave me also gall for my meat and my thirst. They gave me vinegar to drink. So all this happened to Jesus Christ on the cross. So let's begin looking at verse 22. Look what happens. Of course, you know, Israel rejected Christ. Watch carefully. He says in verse 22, here's the judicial sentence.

[John Weaver] Let their table become a snare before them. And that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. Let their eyes be darkened that they see not, and make their loins continually to shake. Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold upon them. Note if you would, he said in verse 23, let their eyes be darkened. And then in verse 24, pour out thine indignation upon them, and that by rightful anger take hold upon them.

[John Weaver] That is a judicial sentence. If you will look in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter one very quickly. Romans chapter one and look at verse 21. Romans chapter one and verse 21. In this passage, the Apostle Paul makes this exceedingly clear. Romans 1 verse 21. Listen carefully to what he says. Because that when they knew God. They glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations.

[John Weaver] That is, they went to idolatry and their foolish heart was darkened. That's a judicial sentence. If you would turn to Romans chapter 11 and look at verse. Seven Romans 11. And we'll read verses 7 through 10. Romans 11, look in verse 7. Here is a judicial blindness now, watch carefully. Romans 11, verse 7. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for, but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. according as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear unto this day. And David said, quoting from Psalm 69, let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and a recompense unto them, that their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back always.

[John Weaver] I say then, Have they stumbled? They should fall, God forbid, but rather through their fall. Salvation is coming to the Gentiles, for it broke them to jealousy. So what did God do? God sent a judicial blindness upon the people. So there was a judicial blindness.

[John Weaver] Secondly, there is a retributive darkening or a retributive blindness where God always makes the penalty fit the crime. It's the lax talionis of Scripture. You don't have to turn there, but let me quote some verses. In Isaiah 9, in verse 19, God says, Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as fuel for the fire. No man shall spare his brother. Notice, through the wrath of the Lord is the land darkened. In other words, the people have sinned against God. God is sending a retributive justice and a retributive darkening upon them because of their sins. The same thing in Isaiah 24 verse 11.

[John Weaver] There's a crying for wine in the street. All joy is darkened. The mirth of the land is gone. In other words, there's no happiness. Why? Because of their sins. God is now punishing them for their sins. You'll find the same truth in Ezekiel 30 in verse 18. And so God is just saying there that there is not only a judicial darkening of the mind, there is a retributive darkening of the mind. And thirdly, I'm going to point out that there is what you and I would call a natural darkening of the mind. And when I say a natural darkening, I mean that darkening that comes in response to sin.

[John Weaver] That is, we actually reap that which we sow. And the more we indulge in sin, the darker the understanding becomes. Actually, the more you indulge in sin, and I'm going to say this another way, the dumber you become. In fact, in Isaiah chapter one, God even said that oxen were smarter than his people. Because the oxen was his crib. But he said, my people does not know and my people does not consider. So there is a natural darkening in response to sin.

[John Weaver] Albert Barnes said it like this. Listen carefully. A man who is intemperate has no just views of the government of the appetites. A man who is unjust has no perception of the loveliness of purity. A man who is avaricious or covetous has no just views of the beauty of benevolence. A man who indulges in low vices will weaken his mental powers and render himself incapable of intellectual effort. Indulgence in vice destroys the intellect as well as the body and unfits a man to appreciate the truth of a proposition in morals or in mathematics or the beauty of a poem as well as the truth and beauty of religion or Christianity. Nothing is more obvious than that indulgence in sin weakens the mental powers and renders them unfit for high intellectual effort.

[John Weaver] This is seen all over the heathen world now in the stolid, stupid mind, the perverted moral sense, the incapacity for profound or protracted mental effort as it was among the heathens whom Paul preached. And he says you can see it today just like you could then. So darkened understanding comes from spiritual blindness, and it can be a judicial darkening. It can be a retributive darkening. It can be a natural darkening.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look back in Ephesians chapter four, because he's already talked about that. We're not to walk in vanity like the heathen do. But notice, if you would please. He also says in verse 18, having the understanding darkened and then he says, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them. Now, it's bad enough to be alienated from the life of God, but it's even worse to be ignorant and alienated. The Greek word for alienation refers not just simply to alienation and estrangement, but it also includes being shut out from intimacy and fellowship. An unsaved man may confess and acknowledge that there is a God, and even intellectually believe in Him, but yet he's shut out from the life of God through his ignorance. Let me show you. I want you to hold Ephesians 4. Look back in your Bibles to Acts chapter 17. Acts chapter 17. The Apostle Paul is preaching on Mars Hill, and he's preaching to a bunch of heathen philosophers. They were very religious, but they were heathen philosophers.

[John Weaver] Notice, if you would, in Acts chapter 17, beginning there with verse 29, look what he says. He's telling these pagans, for as much then as we are the offspring of God, We ought not to think that the Godhead is likened to gold or silver or stone, graven by art and man's device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commanded all men everywhere to repent. Now note, he said, since we're the offspring of God, it's absolutely stupid to think that God is made out of gold or silver or some graven image or some graven idol.

[John Weaver] No, you see, the Athenians were heathen philosophers, a lot of them. They were very smart in one sense of the word, and they thought they knew God or the gods because they believed in the plurality of God. In fact, if you look at Acts chapter 17, beginning there with verse 22, here's what Paul says to them. Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars Hill and said, you men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you're too superstitious or literally too religious.

[John Weaver] Watch, he explains, for as I passed by and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To the unknown God, whom therefore you ignorantly worship, Him declare I unto you. So these Athenians then believed in a God or gods. They had altars to all their false gods. And in case they missed one, they even had an altar to the unknown God.

[John Weaver] Now, if you walk up to an Athenian and ask, do you believe in God? What's he going to say? Yes, I believe in God. I have 50 years of preaching. I have no idea how many people have told me I believe in God. And yet their lives were an absolute total wreck. I want to tell you something, and this may shock you, but believing in God does not make you a Christian. You say, how can that be? There are many people who believe in God intellectually who are totally ignorant of God.

[John Weaver] You know what James wrote in James 2 in verse 19? He said, thou believest in one God, thou doest well. The devils also believe and tremble. Wow. That's what I told a man one time. He told me he believed in God. And I said, you're not even as good as the devil. He said, what? I said, well, the devil believes, but he also trembles. And I don't see you trembling.

[John Weaver] I have to understand something. You have to pay close attention as to why men are alienated from God. He said they are alienated from God through the ignorance that is in them. Now listen, if the knowledge of God is life to the soul, then ignorance of God is death to the soul. Moreover, when we say that knowledge of God is life It is not just any knowledge. It certainly is not simply intellectual knowledge.

[John Weaver] I've known people that have memorized scriptures, gone to Bible schools, received theological degrees, and can argue rationally and intellectually on the existence and attributes of God. Such intellectual knowledge may be fine and wonderful, but it is not saving knowledge. There's a difference between an intellectual knowledge and a saving knowledge. Let me show you. I want you to hold Ephesians chapter 4, but look in your Bibles to John chapter 17. John chapter 17. I want you to see what our Lord says concerning life. John 17 is the high priestly prayer of our Lord. And he begins to pray and look what he says, John 17, beginning there in verse one.

[John Weaver] These words speak Jesus and lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hours come glorify thy son that thy son also may glorify thee. As thou has given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. Now, you want to know what eternal life is? Listen carefully. Eternal life is not living forever. If you define eternal life as living forever, then the unsaved would have it because they'll live forever in judgment or in retribution or in punishment. Eternal life is not just living forever. It is true that we are eternal beings. What is eternal life? Look at it. Verse 3, And this is life eternal, that they may know Thee, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. What is eternal life? It is a personal, intimate, relationship with God the Father through His Son, Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] Now, let me say this very plainly. If you do not have eternal life now in time and history, you're not going to get it when you die. Because eternal life is a personal, intimate relationship with God the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ. It is so strange that so many people who live ungodly lives want to go to heaven when they die. Why? They're not interested in having a personal intimate relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ now. What makes them think that when they die all of a sudden they're going to want that? Well, I can assure you punishment will make you think you would want that. That is for sure. But I'm just simply saying eternal life is something that we enjoy now. And we will enjoy it more fully in the presence of God the Father and God the Son. That is true.

[John Weaver] But notice what he said. Eternal life is knowledge. He said this is life eternal, that they may know thee, the one true and the living God. So it means knowing him not just intellectually, but knowing him personally in an intimate, personal, saving relationship.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look in your Bibles to Matthew 11. I can quote it, but I want you to see it. Look in Matthew 11 and verse 27. So you're going to ask me, how do I get this personal, intimate relationship? How do I get this knowledge? Well, look what our Lord says. Here's the answer. Matthew 11 and verse 27. Here it is. Matthew 11 and verse 27. Our Lord says this.

[John Weaver] All things are delivered unto me and my Father. And no man knoweth the Son, but the Father. Neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and whomsoever the Son will reveal Him." How do you get to know who Jesus Christ is? God reveals it to you. You remember when our Lord asked His disciples in Matthew 16, who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am? Well, they said, some say you're Elijah, some Elias, one of the prophets. But whom say ye that I am? And Peter said, art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And what did our Lord say?

[John Weaver] Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah, For thou art smarter than anyone else, thou hast figured this thing out for thyself." Is that what he said? No. He said, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood hath not revealed unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven. The only way that you can know who God the Father is, is that Jesus Christ reveals Him to you. The only way that you can know who Jesus Christ is, God the Father reveals Him unto you. So what God is telling us Through the Apostle Paul is this, man by nature is ignorant of God. His alienation from God comes from this ignorance. Our alienation, our ignorance, our blindness, all harks back to original sin. We sinned in Adam. We fell in Adam. We were cursed in Adam. It is through Adam, the first Adam, that we are deprived of the true light of God. And in the deprivation of that true light, there was nothing left but fearful darkness. Original sin is very easily proven. Romans 5 verse 12 says this, Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for they all have sinned.

[John Weaver] Some of you have Greek references right now, and it's interesting that you can find out that all have sinned is an Aries passive, which means it happened once and for all at one time. Well, when did all men sin once and for all at one time? And the answer is in Adam. Now, listen to what he said, wherefore is by one man sin into the world and death by sin. You say, I just don't believe in original sin. Hang on.

[John Weaver] Wait long enough and you will. Because death is the absolute proof of original sin. And if you don't believe it, just when you die, you will understand. It's just that simple. Because you die because of your sin.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to know what the apostle said. He said that we're alienated from the life of God through ignorance. Our ignorance is inexcusable. You've heard that old expression, ignorance is no excuse of the law. Let me tell you, ignorance is an excuse if you're talking about man's law. Because there are so many laws, everybody violates federal laws, state law, county laws, city laws every day. You can't possibly know them all. But when you hear that expression, ignorance is no excuse of the law, you're talking about God's law, because back then everybody had a Bible and everybody believed the Bible basically. And God's law is spelled out for you. Ignorance is no excuse of the law. You see, we have a duty, we have a responsibility to know God's law. We also have a duty and responsibility to know God. Why? We are his creatures. He created us. He is our creator. And by virtue of the fact that we are His creatures, we owe Him honor and glory. Moreover, we are sinners. And by virtue of the fact that we have sinned against Him, we owe Him repentance as well.

[John Weaver] When God saves us, we doubly owe God. Because we are no longer just His creatures. We are now His children. So let me just say this again. Our ignorance is inexcusable. How is it inexcusable? Let me just do this very quickly, because I want you to think about this. Our ignorance is inexcusable in a number of ways. Number one, God has revealed himself in creation. All you've got to do is read Psalm 19. Read Romans chapter one. The heavens declare the glory of God and show this and your work day in and day out, your speech not in unshowed knowledge. There is no voice nor language where their speech is not heard. In other words, the heavens declare the glory of God. Romans chapter one tells us very clearly that it demonstrates the power of God as well. So God has spoken in creation. Creation has enough light to condemn you, but not enough to convert you. God has also spoken through conscience. Romans chapter 2 verses 13 through 16. The Bible says, for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

[John Weaver] For when the Gentiles, that is the heathen, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these having not the law are along to themselves, which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bear witness either and their thoughts, meanwhile, either accusing or excusing one another. Now, notice what God says about the conscience. Your conscience can either condemn you or it can excuse you.

[John Weaver] I don't care if you go to the darkest Africa. You let one African take a spear and just run up to another one and and stab him in the heart and kill him. The rest of the tribe will take that murderer, tie him to an ant bed somewhere, pour honey on him, and let the ants eat him alive. I mean, they know that's wrong. As ignorant as they are, they know that's wrong.

[John Weaver] The problem with the conscience, the conscience can be seared, the conscience can be improperly taught. But there is a basic root of knowing something is right and something is wrong. You let an African defend himself from an attacker and in self-defense, he kills the attacker. They excuse him. They don't do anything. That's conscience. So God has spoken to us in creation. God has spoken to us in conscience. God has spoken to us through his commandments. The Bible says all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable. So obviously all of God's word happens to be commandments. And then the scripture tells us also in Hebrews chapter one, God has spoken to us in creation, in conscience, in commandments. He's spoken to us in Christ. The Bible says that God, who in sundry times and divers men are spoken to fathers in times past, hath in these last days spoken thus by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things. Now, Romans 1 in verse 20, the Apostle Paul says this just in light of creation.

[John Weaver] He says, so then they are without excuse. If you are without excuse before God just because of creation, think about your conscience. Think about the commandments. Think about Christ. Do you understand that on Judgment Day, no excuses will be accepted? You lived in God's creation and ignored it. You refused to listen to your conscience and you seared it. You had a Bible and you refused to read it. You heard the preaching of Jesus Christ and rejected it. You are without excuse. Even though you're alienated. From the life of God through the ignorance that is in you.

[John Weaver] Third, if you will look in your Bibles back in Ephesians chapter four, he says this that all of this stems from the blindness of the heart. He says in verse 18. Having the understanding darkened, being alien from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of the heart. Now listen carefully. Our ignorance, our alienation, our darkened understanding all flows from one corrupt fountain of blinded heart. Here is a truth that is not easily or readily received, but let me tell it to you, unless God opens our understanding We will never see the truth. It's just that simple. Let me show you. Hold Ephesians 4 very quickly and look in your Bibles to 2 Corinthians chapter 3. 2 Corinthians chapter 3 and let's begin reading there with verse 13. 2 Corinthians 3 verse 13.

[John Weaver] Here he is contrasting the old covenant and the new covenant. 2 Corinthians 3 verse 13. He says, not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished. Now, watch verse 14. Here's what the Bible says about them. But their minds were blinded. For until this day remained at the same veil, the same blind, untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament, which veil is done away in Christ. In other words, if they don't see Christ, the veil is still there. Watch. Nevertheless, he said in verse 15, but even in this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless, when it the heart shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now watch. Now the Lord is that spirit. And where the spirit of the Lord is, there's liberty. It's only the Holy Spirit that can open our eyes and let us see truth and have the veil removed. Since you're in 2nd Corinthians, look at 2nd Corinthians chapter 4, verses 3 and 4.

[John Weaver] Here he says it like this, But if our gospel be hid, it is hidden in them that are lost, in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest they should see, lest they should see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, whose image of God, and it should shine unto them. Notice if you would, unless God opens the eyes Unless God allows His light to shine, we'll never see.

[John Weaver] The blindness of the heart? Yes. Totally. Absolutely.

[John Weaver] Now, go back to Ephesians chapter 4, because very quickly, I want to deal with verse 19. I want you to see where all of this leads. If you are wondering what is wrong in America, if you are wondering what is wrong in families, in homes, if you are wondering what is wrong with people, why are they so crazy today? Why are they doing things that are so absolutely perverted and depraved? Well, here's the answer. Watch, if you would, verse 18.

[John Weaver] He says, having the understanding dark and being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart. Now watch who being past feeling. have given themselves over to lasciviousness to work all uncleanness with greediness. First, the Apostle says such individuals are past feeling. You know what past feeling means in this light? The Greek word literally means to cease to feel pain or grief. It means to become insensible to or to become calloused.

[John Weaver] I've had calluses on my hands. I still have calluses on my hands. And for many, many years, as Alice can testify, I've had thick skin. You say, what do you mean by that? You know, I can cut myself and I don't even feel it. I happen to look down. Oh, there's blood. Where'd that blood come from? Well, barbed wire caught me. I didn't know it. Now, if you push deep enough, I won't feel it, but I mean, I'm just simply saying there are times that I've had my hands and and the calluses all didn't feel pain. Here it is. Spiritually speaking.

[John Weaver] It does not grieve these people. It does not upset the unsaved that they have no fellowship with the one true, the living God. When you try to reach out to them, they're insensible to it. It's when you try to reason with them or witness to them or testify to them, it's like water off a duck's back. Why? Because they're callous. They're insensitive to the truth. It does not hurt them.

[John Weaver] It does not convict them. They're past feeling. They've thrown off all sense of shame and remorse. You know, it's almost impossible today to shame some people. Most folks will never blush at anything. Now, watch what he said, look in verse 19, who being past feeling. Have given themselves over to lasciviousness. What is lasciviousness? The word refers to unbridled lusts, to excess, to licentiousness, to lasciviousness, to wantonness, to outrageness, to shamelessness, to insolence. Wow, they've given themselves over to lasciviousness.

[John Weaver] John Calvin said it like this, listen carefully. Having destroyed the sensibilities of the heart and outlayed the themes of remorse, they abandoned themselves to all manner of iniquity. We are by nature corrupt and prone to evil. Nay, we are wholly inclined to evil. Those who are destitute of the Spirit of Christ give loose reins to self-indulgence, till fresh offenses, producing others in constant succession, bring down upon them the wrath of God. The voice of God proclaimed by an accusing conscience Still continues to be heard, but instead of producing its proper effects, appears rather to harden them against all admonition on account of such obstinacy. They deserve to be altogether forsaken by God. Wow. So he says. Who being past feeling have given themselves over to lasciviousness.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to watch. Watch carefully. He goes further, he says, who have given themselves over unto lasciviousness to work all uncleanness with greediness. Notice, if you would, to work. This clearly indicates their voluntariness in sinning, their volunteering to sin. It indicates the power of sin over them. It indicates they're willing slaves to their sin. They love their sin. They enjoy their sin. They want to continue in their sin. It is their intense desire to work all uncleanness and to commit every unclean lust and to live in continued commission of uncleanness in every sort of way with greediness. They want it. And they want more and more of it. They're never, ever satisfied.

[John Weaver] Let me tell you something. This is one illustration. You should never even consider. Pornography. And if you see it, you should immediately turn away from it. By the way, do you know what the word pornography literally means? For now, it was the Greek word for fornication. Graphic. Is the Greek word for writing pornography is fornication writing. That's what it is. The problem is this. And here's what God is saying in Ephesians, chapter four and verse 19, you get started on one sin and pretty soon that's insufficient.

[John Weaver] You have to go here. Then that's insufficient. Then you have to go here. Then that's insufficient. Then you keep going and keep going until you're absolutely down on the bottom. You get started with pornography, pretty soon that's not going to satisfy you. You're going to learn to work all uncleanness with greediness. You're going to want more and more and more because you're a sinner, because of your wicked heart. And so God is saying here very clearly, That this is what the evil, wicked, unsaved man does, whether he admits it or not, whether he likes it or not. That's his life. Men don't think anything about going out and getting drunk. They don't think anything about raping, robbing, pillaging, plundering, stealing. That's their lifestyle. It's what they do. And the more they do it, the more they want of it.

[John Weaver] Now, let me show you something. I want you to look back in Ephesians 4 and verse 19, who being past feeling have given themselves over into lasciviousness to work all uncleanness with greediness.

[John Weaver] Now, if you read Romans 1 and verse 24, you will find that these wicked people, the Bible says, and God gave them up to uncleanness. Wow. Well, now here's my question. Did God give them up or did they give themselves over? And the answer is, Both. Their giving themselves over is the punishment in kind. God gave them up and said, basically, if you want it, you can have it. And what God did was simply withdraw His grace and His hand, and thus their sin was made their punishment. They willingly gave themselves over to it. They willingly become the slaves of sin. They willingly enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. They willingly become captives to their sin and cease to fight against it. And as Paul says in Ephesians 4 verse 19, they work all uncleanness with greediness. It was God's judgment in giving them up.

[John Weaver] But it's what they willed and what they wanted and what they desired. And God says, OK, you can have it. The fundamental thought in verse 19, look at it, who being past feeling have given themselves over into lasciviousness to work all uncleanness with greediness. The fundamental thought is this. The unsaved acknowledge no restraint. the insolent acting out of whatever they desire, whatever their caprices are, they do so gladly and willingly and readily.

[John Weaver] Now, what does Paul say? Watch. Look back in verse 17. This I say, therefore, and testify of the Lord, that you henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walked in the vanity of their minds. What did he say? You don't walk like this. You walk differently. Let me spell this out for you. We cannot live. We cannot walk. We cannot talk. We cannot even act or think the way the ungodly do.

[John Weaver] I was in a motel this past week on Tuesday night. And I wanted something chocolate. So, I went around, there's a little vending machine, I put the money in for one little piece of chocolate candy, and I hit the button. And I got two bars. The first thought that hit my mind was this, well, that's probably what it should have cost to begin with because you always pay more when you get out of the vending machine.

[John Weaver] Secondly, I really didn't want the candy anyhow. So it was night, so I just took that extra bar in my room. And when I went to check out the next morning and I carried that bar up there, I said, when I went to your vending machine last night, I got two bars for the price of one. I said, so I paid for one bar and I ate it. I said, I didn't pay for this one. So you may either have it or you may give it back to the vending machine. owner, I said, but I don't want it.

[John Weaver] And the lady looked at me kind of funny. And I said, Well, if I'm going to become a thief, it's not gonna be for a dollar, I can assure you. It's gonna be for a lot of gossip. I can't be bought that cheaply, I can assure you. So I'll let you have it back.

[John Weaver] Now, the point I'm trying to make is we're not Wallace. We cannot be lawless. We do not walk to please ourselves. It is true that we are sinners. There is not one person in this room that is not a sinner. There is not one person in this room that does not fall short in a number of ways. I have my sins. You have your sins. But the truth of the matter is this. We hate our sins. Our sins grieve the Lord and we know it.

[John Weaver] And it grieves us as well. And we confess our sins and we acknowledge our sins and we mourn over our sins and we turn from our sins and we pray to be delivered from our sins. And we seek God for repentance and we cannot and we will not return to our old ways and our old lives. We have to live differently. Now, here's my question. How do we live differently? How do we change our lives?

[John Weaver] That's the next two messages. But I want to just give you something for your little meditation this week, if you look in verse 20. And that'll be our text next week, verse 2021, he says, but you have not so learned Christ has ever dawned upon you. That you must learn Christ. Learn how to live and act in a godly manner. Walk worthily, yes, but walk differently. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to thee this day.

[John Weaver] We thank you for your word. We thank you for teaching us how to not to live, as well as teaching us how to live. We ask, Father, for your help and your blessing in the name of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen. Amen.

Walking With God - 6

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	5221618134410
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Sin, Judgment, and Gospel Foundations: Praying Against the Wicked
Genre	Sermon
Date	2016-03-13
Dictation Name
Book	Book 146: Walking With God — Chapter 6
Source Timed Segments	83

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Review of the Series

Weaver reviews the series on walking with the Lord, emphasizing the need to walk in faith, walk worthily, and now walk differently, as outlined in Ephesians 4:17-32.

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 4:17-32

Ephesians chapter 4, and we're going to be reading today from Ephesians chapter 4, beginning with verse 17 and reading through verse 32. However, we will never get past verse 19 today. Let me just tell you, we have been dealing with the entire series, and the entire series is "Walking with the Lord." I'm going to review today; this happens to be the sixth part, although it's going to be the first of three messages. Each one of these messages, I think, are self-contained. But let me just say that I think not only this message, but the next two messages are going to be absolutely needed and necessary, especially if you're going to not only change your life, but help others as well. So I would encourage you to be faithful and to be here if you can, especially for the next two Sundays.

The Solemn Testimony of the Apostle

Paul testifies in the Lord, using the Greek word 'marturomai' (related to martyr/witness), indicating a solemn witness that can be for or against the hearers.

So in verse 17, he says this: "I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind." Now, I want to call your attention to the word "testify." He said he is testifying in the Lord. The word "testify" here is marturomai. It is actually from the Greek word martus. It is where we get our English word "martyr." When you hear the word "martyr," you automatically think of someone who has died for the faith. That is the connotation that we place with it today. But the word "martyr" originally just means and meant "witness." Jesus Christ is called a faithful and true witness. Jesus Christ did not die for his faith as such. He died for his people. But he is a faithful and true martyr. You also have to remember this. The Apostle Paul in Romans 1 and verse 9 said, "God is my witness." And the word "witness" there is martyr. "God is my martyr." Though God has not died, he is just simply saying that God is a witness to his ministry.

Now, when Paul says this, "I therefore say and testify in the Lord," the word "testify" actually means to take to record, to cite as a witness, to conjure, to beseech in God's name, and to testify solemnly. Now, when the Apostle Paul says, "I am testifying," he is saying, basically, I'm bearing witness in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and I am ministering by his authority. And so the Apostle Paul, listen carefully, is not only testifying to them. He may also be testifying against them. You have to remember that a witness can be either for the defendant or against the defendant. So a witness then has a twofold opportunity. So the Apostle Paul is saying, I'm solemnly testifying to you. If you will listen to me, I'm going to be a witness for you and to you. If you don't witness—if you don't listen to me, then I'm going to end up being a witness against you. So in 2 Corinthians 13 verse 2, don't turn there right now, but here's what Paul said.

He's writing to these Corinthians and he says,

Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 13:2, 10

"I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare."

What did he just say? I've already witnessed to you. I've been a witness for you, and if you haven't repented, when I get there, I'm going to be a witness against you. Now, he said basically the same thing in 2 Corinthians, chapter 13, verse 10. He said, "Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction."

So he said, I'm trying to be a witness to you. If you refuse to listen, I'm going to be a witness against you. So when Paul says in verse 17, "This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord," he's saying here is a solemn witness that I'm giving to you. And here's that witness: that you walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their minds. Now, the word "Gentiles" is the Greek word ethnos, which simply refers to nations or pagans or the heathens. So the Apostle Paul is testifying that we as Christians should be different in our walk, in our lives, from the ungodly, from the unsaved, and from the heathen. We are not like them in any way, and we should therefore be different from them, and that difference should be easily detected and manifested. The interesting thing is, in verses 17 through 19, after he tells us that we should walk differently here, he proceeds to tell us exactly how the unsaved walked.

The Vanity of the Unsaved Mind

The unsaved walk in the vanity of their mind, which means not only uselessness but also perverseness, depravity, and being devoid of truth, often linked to idolatry.

And that's very interesting. How did the heathen walk? How did the unsaved walk? Well, look, if you would please, in verse 17, he says this: "I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind." Now, I'm going to say that the vanity of the mind here is a very general description. He's going to delineate in verses 18 and 19. So he's giving you a broad term, say, here it is in generalized terminology, and then he's going to take that generalized term and he's going to descend into the specific. So how do they walk in the vanity of their mind? When you and I hear the word "vanity," we normally think of that which is vain, that which is useless, that which is worthless, that which is a waste of time. The interesting thing is the word "vanity" not only means that which is useless and worthless, but it means more than that. It actually means that which is devoid of truth.

That which is perverse, depraved, and inappropriate. Now listen carefully, you will find the word "vanity" and the word "vain" translated from different Hebrew words and sometimes different Greek words. But the very first time the word is translated as "vanity" in the Old Testament occurs in 2 Kings chapter 17 verse 15. And I want you to hold Ephesians 4 and turn there because I want you to see what is included under the term "vanity." Notice, if you would, 2 Kings, chapter 17, and it's verse 15. 2 Kings, chapter 17. And look, if you would please, at verse 15. Interestingly, 2 Kings 17 and verse 15.

Now he's talking about Israel, what Israel did to God. The Bible says, "And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them, that they should not do like them." Now, the interesting thing is if you read the context, Israel has descended into idolatry. And when he says that they followed vanity, he's talking about idolatry. They followed idols. They became vain. That is, they became idolaters. And then he says, they went after the heathen that were round about them.

So that means very obviously then, they worshipped Baal, they worshipped Ashtaroth, they worshipped all the false gods. So here, clearly then, the word "vanity" means far more than just simply that which is useless and worthless. It is true that idolatry is useless and worthless, but it's even more than that. It's perverse. It is depraved. So obviously, anyone who is involved in idolatry is also devoid of truth.

Now, if you will turn into the New Testament to 2 Peter, chapter two, and look, if you would please, at verse 18. You will see that the word "vanity" here from the Greek word also emphasizes perverseness and depravity. Notice 2 Peter chapter two and look, if you would please, at verse 18. He's talking about these men who are devoid of truth. These wicked men, he says in verse 18,

Scripture Reading — 2 Peter 2:18

"For when they speak great swelling words of vanity," watch, he's talking about vanity now. "They allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error."

But notice if you would, vanity here is concerned with the lust of the flesh and wantonness. So the word "vanity" not only means that which is useless and worthless, it also includes idolatry. It includes being devoid of truth. It also includes being perverse and perverted as such.

Now, here's the interesting thing, since we're in Ephesians chapter four, just look back to Ephesians chapter two. I've pointed this out before. You and I should really understand how the unsaved walk, because we were once that ourselves. So if you look in Ephesians chapter two, verses one through three, he says, "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience." Now, look what he says. "Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath."

Darkened Understanding and Alienation from God

The unsaved have a darkened understanding due to judicial, retributive, and natural blindness, and are alienated from the life of God through ignorance.

So I want us to consider these things one at a time. First of all, what is it like to be unsaved? What is it like to be a heathen? What is it like to be a pagan? Well, the Apostle Paul says, first of all, there is a darkened understanding. Well, the question should automatically arise: Well, how do understandings become darkened? What brings darkness to an understanding? And the answer is basically threefold. I want you to listen carefully. First of all, there is a judicial darkening of the mind or a judicial blindness of the mind. The word "judicial" simply refers to the law court of God. God is the judge. It is God who pronounces the sentence against the wicked and corrupt and perverse men. So a judicial darkening or a judicial blindness is usually imposed upon people for their rejection of God, His Son, His Word, and His truth.

Now let me show you. I want you to hold Ephesians chapter 4. I want you to go back to Psalm 69. Then we're going to the book of Romans. Psalm 69 is a messianic psalm. It speaks of Jesus Christ. I'm not going to take the time to go through Psalm 69, but it is and it does have reference to Christ over and over. For instance, he will tell you in there, "The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up," which is applied directly to Christ.

They hated him without a cause. Then he says, look, if you would please, down to verse 21: "They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink." So all this happened to Jesus Christ on the cross. So let's begin looking at verse 22. Look what happens. Of course, you know, Israel rejected Christ. Watch carefully. He says in verse 22, here's the judicial sentence.

"Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake. Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them." Note if you would, he said in verse 23, "Let their eyes be darkened." And then in verse 24, "Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold upon them." That is a judicial sentence. If you will look in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter one very quickly. Romans chapter one and look at verse 21. Romans chapter one and verse 21. In this passage, the Apostle Paul makes this exceedingly clear. Romans 1 verse 21. Listen carefully to what he says. "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations."

That is, they went to idolatry,

Scripture Reading — Romans 1:21

"and their foolish heart was darkened."

That's a judicial sentence. If you would turn to Romans chapter 11 and look at verse 7. Romans 11, and we'll read verses 7 through 10. Romans 11, look in verse 7. Here is a judicial blindness now, watch carefully. Romans 11, verse 7: "What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded (according as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway."

"I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy." So what did God do? God sent a judicial blindness upon the people. So there was a judicial blindness. Secondly, there is a retributive darkening or a retributive blindness where God always makes the penalty fit the crime. It's the lex talionis of Scripture. You don't have to turn there, but let me quote some verses. In Isaiah 9, in verse 19, God says, "Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother." Notice, through the wrath of the Lord is the land darkened. In other words, the people have sinned against God. God is sending a retributive justice and a retributive darkening upon them because of their sins. The same thing in Isaiah 24 verse 11.

There's a crying for wine in the street; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone. In other words, there's no happiness. Why? Because of their sins. God is now punishing them for their sins. You'll find the same truth in Ezekiel 30 in verse 18. And so God is just saying there that there is not only a judicial darkening of the mind, there is a retributive darkening of the mind. And thirdly, I'm going to point out that there is what you and I would call a natural darkening of the mind. And when I say a natural darkening, I mean that darkening that comes in response to sin.

That is, we actually reap that which we sow. And the more we indulge in sin, the darker the understanding becomes. Actually, the more you indulge in sin, and I'm going to say this another way, the dumber you become. In fact, in Isaiah chapter one, God even said that oxen were smarter than his people. Because the ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. So there is a natural darkening in response to sin. Albert Barnes said it like this. Listen carefully. "A man who is intemperate has no just views of the government of the appetites. A man who is unjust has no perception of the loveliness of purity. A man who is avaricious or covetous has no just views of the beauty of benevolence. A man who indulges in low vices will weaken his mental powers and render himself incapable of intellectual effort. Indulgence in vice destroys the intellect as well as the body and unfits a man to appreciate the truth of a proposition in morals or in mathematics or the beauty of a poem as well as the truth and beauty of religion or Christianity. Nothing is more obvious than that indulgence in sin weakens the mental powers and renders them unfit for high intellectual effort."

This is seen all over the heathen world now in the stolid, stupid mind, the perverted moral sense, the incapacity for profound or protracted mental effort as it was among the heathens whom Paul preached. And he says you can see it today just like you could then. So darkened understanding comes from spiritual blindness, and it can be a judicial darkening. It can be a retributive darkening. It can be a natural darkening.

Now, I want you to look back in Ephesians chapter four, because he's already talked about that. We're not to walk in vanity like the heathen do. But notice, if you would please, he also says in verse 18, "having the understanding darkened," and then he says, "being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them." Now, it's bad enough to be alienated from the life of God, but it's even worse to be ignorant and alienated. The Greek word for alienation refers not just simply to alienation and estrangement, but it also includes being shut out from intimacy and fellowship. An unsaved man may confess and acknowledge that there is a God, and even intellectually believe in Him, but yet he's shut out from the life of God through his ignorance. Let me show you. I want you to hold Ephesians 4. Look back in your Bibles to Acts chapter 17. Acts chapter 17. The Apostle Paul is preaching on Mars Hill, and he's preaching to a bunch of heathen philosophers. They were very religious, but they were heathen philosophers.

The Nature of Saving Knowledge

Eternal life is knowing God personally through Jesus Christ, not mere intellectual belief; this knowledge is revealed by God, not attained by human effort.

"These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: as thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him." Now, you want to know what eternal life is? Listen carefully. Eternal life is not living forever. If you define eternal life as living forever, then the unsaved would have it because they'll live forever in judgment or in retribution or in punishment. Eternal life is not just living forever. It is true that we are eternal beings. What is eternal life? Look at it. Verse 3, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." What is eternal life? It is a personal, intimate relationship with God the Father through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Now, let me say this very plainly. If you do not have eternal life now in time and history, you're not going to get it when you die. Because eternal life is a personal, intimate relationship with God the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ. It is so strange that so many people who live ungodly lives want to go to heaven when they die. Why? They're not interested in having a personal intimate relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ now. What makes them think that when they die all of a sudden they're going to want that? Well, I can assure you punishment will make you think you would want that. That is for sure. But I'm just simply saying eternal life is something that we enjoy now. And we will enjoy it more fully in the presence of God the Father and God the Son. That is true.

But notice what he said. Eternal life is knowledge. He said, "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God." So it means knowing him not just intellectually, but knowing him personally in an intimate, personal, saving relationship. Now, I want you to look in your Bibles to Matthew 11. I can quote it, but I want you to see it. Look in Matthew 11 and verse 27. So you're going to ask me, "How do I get this personal, intimate relationship? How do I get this knowledge?" Well, look what our Lord says. Here's the answer. Matthew 11 and verse 27. Here it is. Matthew 11 and verse 27. Our Lord says this.

"All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him." How do you get to know who Jesus Christ is? God reveals it to you. You remember when our Lord asked His disciples in Matthew 16,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 16:13-17

"Who do men say that I the Son of man am?"

Well, they said,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 16:13-17

"Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets."

But whom say ye that I am? And Peter said,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 16:13-17

"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."

And what did our Lord say?

Scripture Reading — Matthew 16:13-17

"Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."

The only way that you can know who God the Father is, is that Jesus Christ reveals Him to you. The only way that you can know who Jesus Christ is, God the Father reveals Him unto you. So what God is telling us through the Apostle Paul is this: man by nature is ignorant of God. His alienation from God comes from this ignorance. Our alienation, our ignorance, our blindness, all harks back to original sin. We sinned in Adam. We fell in Adam. We were cursed in Adam. It is through Adam, the first Adam, that we are deprived of the true light of God. And in the deprivation of that true light, there was nothing left but fearful darkness. Original sin is very easily proven. Romans 5 verse 12 says this: "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."

The Inexcusable Ignorance of Man

Man's ignorance is inexcusable because God has revealed Himself through creation, conscience, commandments, and Christ, leaving all without excuse.

When God saves us, we doubly owe God. Because we are no longer just His creatures. We are now His children. So let me just say this again. Our ignorance is inexcusable. How is it inexcusable? Let me just do this very quickly, because I want you to think about this. Our ignorance is inexcusable in a number of ways. Number one, God has revealed himself in creation. All you've got to do is read Psalm 19. Read Romans chapter one. "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard." In other words, the heavens declare the glory of God. Romans chapter one tells us very clearly that it demonstrates the power of God as well. So God has spoken in creation. Creation has enough light to condemn you, but not enough to convert you. God has also spoken through conscience. Romans chapter 2 verses 13 through 16. The Bible says, "For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified."

"For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another." Now, notice what God says about the conscience. Your conscience can either condemn you or it can excuse you. I don't care if you go to the darkest Africa. You let one African take a spear and just run up to another one and stab him in the heart and kill him. The rest of the tribe will take that murderer, tie him to an ant bed somewhere, pour honey on him, and let the ants eat him alive. I mean, they know that's wrong. As ignorant as they are, they know that's wrong.

The problem with the conscience, the conscience can be seared, the conscience can be improperly taught. But there is a basic root of knowing something is right and something is wrong. You let an African defend himself from an attacker and in self-defense, he kills the attacker. They excuse him. They don't do anything. That's conscience. So God has spoken to us in creation. God has spoken to us in conscience. God has spoken to us through his commandments. The Bible says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable." So obviously all of God's word happens to be commandments. And then the scripture tells us also in Hebrews chapter one, God has spoken to us in creation, in conscience, in commandments. He's spoken to us in Christ. The Bible says that "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things." Now, Romans 1 in verse 20, the Apostle Paul says this just in light of creation.

He says, "So that they are without excuse." If you are without excuse before God just because of creation, think about your conscience. Think about the commandments. Think about Christ. Do you understand that on Judgment Day, no excuses will be accepted? You lived in God's creation and ignored it. You refused to listen to your conscience and you seared it. You had a Bible and you refused to read it. You heard the preaching of Jesus Christ and rejected it. You are without excuse. Even though you're alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in you.

Blindness of Heart and Its Consequences

All spiritual blindness flows from a corrupt heart; only the Holy Spirit can remove the veil and open eyes to the truth.

Third, if you will look in your Bibles back in Ephesians chapter four, he says this: that all of this stems from the blindness of the heart. He says in verse 18, "Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart." Now listen carefully. Our ignorance, our alienation, our darkened understanding all flows from one corrupt fountain of blinded heart. Here is a truth that is not easily or readily received, but let me tell it to you: unless God opens our understanding, we will never see the truth. It's just that simple. Let me show you. Hold Ephesians 4 very quickly and look in your Bibles to 2 Corinthians chapter 3. 2 Corinthians chapter 3 and let's begin reading there with verse 13. 2 Corinthians 3 verse 13.

Here he is contrasting the old covenant and the new covenant. 2 Corinthians 3 verse 13. He says,

Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 3:13-17

"And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished."

Now, watch verse 14. Here's what the Bible says about them.

Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 3:13-17

"But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ."

In other words, if they don't see Christ, the veil is still there. Watch. Nevertheless, he said in verse 15,

Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 3:13-17

"But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away."

Now watch.

Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 3:13-17

"Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."

It's only the Holy Spirit that can open our eyes and let us see truth and have the veil removed. Since you're in 2 Corinthians, look at 2 Corinthians chapter 4, verses 3 and 4.

Here he says it like this: "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." Notice if you would, unless God opens the eyes, unless God allows His light to shine, we'll never see. The blindness of the heart? Yes. Totally. Absolutely.

Now, go back to Ephesians chapter 4, because very quickly, I want to deal with verse 19. I want you to see where all of this leads. If you are wondering what is wrong in America, if you are wondering what is wrong in families, in homes, if you are wondering what is wrong with people, why are they so crazy today? Why are they doing things that are so absolutely perverted and depraved? Well, here's the answer. Watch, if you would, verse 18. He says, "Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart." Now watch: "Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." First, the Apostle says such individuals are past feeling. You know what "past feeling" means in this light? The Greek word literally means to cease to feel pain or grief. It means to become insensible to or to become calloused.

Past Feeling and Given Over to Sin

The unsaved become calloused, past feeling, and give themselves over to lasciviousness, working all uncleanness with greediness, as both their choice and God's judgment.

I've had calluses on my hands. I still have calluses on my hands. And for many, many years, as Alice can testify, I've had thick skin. You say, "What do you mean by that?" You know, I can cut myself and I don't even feel it. I happen to look down. Oh, there's blood. Where'd that blood come from? Well, barbed wire caught me. I didn't know it. Now, if you push deep enough, I won't feel it, but I mean, I'm just simply saying there are times that I've had my hands and the calluses all didn't feel pain. Here it is. Spiritually speaking.

It does not grieve these people. It does not upset the unsaved that they have no fellowship with the one true, the living God. When you try to reach out to them, they're insensible to it. It's when you try to reason with them or witness to them or testify to them, it's like water off a duck's back. Why? Because they're callous. They're insensitive to the truth. It does not hurt them.

It does not convict them. They're past feeling. They've thrown off all sense of shame and remorse. You know, it's almost impossible today to shame some people. Most folks will never blush at anything. Now, watch what he said, look in verse 19: "Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness." What is lasciviousness? The word refers to unbridled lusts, to excess, to licentiousness, to lasciviousness, to wantonness, to outrageousness, to shamelessness, to insolence. Wow, they've given themselves over to lasciviousness.

John Calvin said it like this, listen carefully. "Having destroyed the sensibilities of the heart and outlawed the themes of remorse, they abandoned themselves to all manner of iniquity. We are by nature corrupt and prone to evil. Nay, we are wholly inclined to evil. Those who are destitute of the Spirit of Christ give loose reins to self-indulgence, till fresh offenses, producing others in constant succession, bring down upon them the wrath of God. The voice of God proclaimed by an accusing conscience still continues to be heard, but instead of producing its proper effects, appears rather to harden them against all admonition on account of such obstinacy. They deserve to be altogether forsaken by God." Wow. So he says, "Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness."

Now, I want you to watch. Watch carefully. He goes further, he says, "Who have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." Notice, if you would, "to work." This clearly indicates their voluntariness in sinning, their volunteering to sin. It indicates the power of sin over them. It indicates they're willing slaves to their sin. They love their sin. They enjoy their sin. They want to continue in their sin. It is their intense desire to work all uncleanness and to commit every unclean lust and to live in continued commission of uncleanness in every sort of way with greediness. They want it. And they want more and more of it. They're never, ever satisfied.

Let me tell you something. This is one illustration. You should never even consider pornography. And if you see it, you should immediately turn away from it. By the way, do you know what the word "pornography" literally means? Porneia was the Greek word for fornication. Graphic is the Greek word for writing. Pornography is fornication writing. That's what it is. The problem is this. And here's what God is saying in Ephesians, chapter four and verse 19: you get started on one sin and pretty soon that's insufficient.

You have to go here. Then that's insufficient. Then you have to go here. Then that's insufficient. Then you keep going and keep going until you're absolutely down on the bottom. You get started with pornography, pretty soon that's not going to satisfy you. You're going to learn to work all uncleanness with greediness. You're going to want more and more and more because you're a sinner, because of your wicked heart. And so God is saying here very clearly that this is what the evil, wicked, unsaved man does, whether he admits it or not, whether he likes it or not. That's his life. Men don't think anything about going out and getting drunk. They don't think anything about raping, robbing, pillaging, plundering, stealing. That's their lifestyle. It's what they do. And the more they do it, the more they want of it.

Now, let me show you something. I want you to look back in Ephesians 4 and verse 19: "Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." Now, if you read Romans 1 and verse 24, you will find that these wicked people, the Bible says, "God also gave them up to uncleanness." Wow. Well, now here's my question. Did God give them up or did they give themselves over? And the answer is, both. Their giving themselves over is the punishment in kind. God gave them up and said, basically, if you want it, you can have it. And what God did was simply withdraw His grace and His hand, and thus their sin was made their punishment. They willingly gave themselves over to it. They willingly become the slaves of sin. They willingly enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. They willingly become captives to their sin and cease to fight against it. And as Paul says in Ephesians 4 verse 19, they work all uncleanness with greediness. It was God's judgment in giving them up.

But it's what they willed and what they wanted and what they desired. And God says, OK, you can have it. The fundamental thought in verse 19, look at it: "Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." The fundamental thought is this: the unsaved acknowledge no restraint. The insolent acting out of whatever they desire, whatever their caprices are, they do so gladly and willingly and readily.

The Call to Walk Differently

Believers must not walk like the unsaved; they hate their sin, confess it, and seek deliverance, living in a manner that reflects their new life in Christ.

Now, what does Paul say? Watch. Look back in verse 17. "This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind." What did he say? You don't walk like this. You walk differently. Let me spell this out for you. We cannot live. We cannot walk. We cannot talk. We cannot even act or think the way the ungodly do.

I was in a motel this past week on Tuesday night. And I wanted something chocolate. So, I went around, there's a little vending machine, I put the money in for one little piece of chocolate candy, and I hit the button. And I got two bars. The first thought that hit my mind was this: well, that's probably what it should have cost to begin with because you always pay more when you get out of the vending machine. Secondly, I really didn't want the candy anyhow. So it was night, so I just took that extra bar in my room. And when I went to check out the next morning and I carried that bar up there, I said, "When I went to your vending machine last night, I got two bars for the price of one." I said, "So I paid for one bar and I ate it. I said, I didn't pay for this one. So you may either have it or you may give it back to the vending machine owner, but I don't want it."

And the lady looked at me kind of funny. And I said, "Well, if I'm going to become a thief, it's not gonna be for a dollar, I can assure you. It's gonna be for a lot more than that. I can't be bought that cheaply, I can assure you. So I'll let you have it back."

Now, the point I'm trying to make is we're not lawless. We cannot be lawless. We do not walk to please ourselves. It is true that we are sinners. There is not one person in this room that is not a sinner. There is not one person in this room that does not fall short in a number of ways. I have my sins. You have your sins. But the truth of the matter is this: we hate our sins. Our sins grieve the Lord and we know it.

And it grieves us as well. And we confess our sins and we acknowledge our sins and we mourn over our sins and we turn from our sins and we pray to be delivered from our sins. And we seek God for repentance and we cannot and we will not return to our old ways and our old lives. We have to live differently. Now, here's my question. How do we live differently? How do we change our lives?

Study Guide

Major Themes

Walking Differently from the World

Summary: Believers are called to live in a manner that is distinctly different from the unsaved, reflecting their new nature in Christ.

Evidence: Paul says, 'that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind' (Ephesians 4:17).

The Depravity of the Unsaved Mind

Summary: The unsaved mind is characterized by vanity, darkened understanding, alienation from God, ignorance, and blindness of heart.

Evidence: Ephesians 4:17-18 describes the unsaved as walking in vanity, having understanding darkened, and being alienated from the life of God.

The Nature of True Knowledge of God

Summary: Eternal life is not mere intellectual belief but a personal, intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ, revealed by God Himself.

Evidence: John 17:3 defines eternal life as knowing God and Jesus Christ; Matthew 11:27 shows that this knowledge is revealed by the Son.

The Inexcusability of Human Ignorance

Summary: God has revealed Himself sufficiently through creation, conscience, Scripture, and Christ, leaving humanity without excuse for their ignorance.

Evidence: Romans 1:20 states that men are without excuse because God's invisible attributes are clearly seen in creation.

The Hardening Effects of Sin

Summary: Sin leads to a calloused heart, being past feeling, and a progressive descent into greater uncleanness and greediness for sin.

Evidence: Ephesians 4:19 describes the unsaved as past feeling, given over to lasciviousness, working all uncleanness with greediness.

The Believer's Hatred of Sin

Summary: True believers hate their sin, grieve over it, confess it, and seek deliverance, demonstrating a changed life.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'we hate our sins... we confess our sins and we acknowledge our sins and we mourn over our sins and we turn from our sins.'

Key Arguments

Paul's testimony is a solemn witness with authority

Summary: The word 'testify' (marturomai) implies a solemn witness in the Lord's name, which can be for or against the hearers depending on their response.

Evidence: Weaver explains the Greek word and cites 2 Corinthians 13:2, 10 to show Paul's role as a witness.

Vanity includes idolatry and perverseness

Summary: The term 'vanity' goes beyond uselessness to include idolatry and moral depravity, as seen in 2 Kings 17:15 and 2 Peter 2:18.

Evidence: Weaver references 2 Kings 17:15 where vanity is linked to idolatry, and 2 Peter 2:18 where it is associated with lusts of the flesh.

Darkened understanding has judicial, retributive, and natural causes

Summary: God judicially blinds those who reject truth, retributively darkens as punishment, and sin naturally dulls the mind.

Evidence: Weaver cites Psalm 69:22-24, Romans 1:21, Romans 11:7-10 for judicial blindness; Isaiah 9:19 for retributive; and quotes Albert Barnes on natural darkening.

Alienation from God is due to ignorance

Summary: The unsaved are shut out from intimacy with God because of ignorance, which is inexcusable given God's revelation.

Evidence: Weaver explains the Greek word for alienation and references Acts 17:29-30 to show ignorance of God.

Saving knowledge is revealed, not intellectual

Summary: True knowledge of God is a personal relationship revealed by the Father and the Son, not merely intellectual assent.

Evidence: Weaver cites John 17:3, Matthew 11:27, and Matthew 16:17 to show that knowledge of God is revealed.

Original sin is the root of spiritual blindness

Summary: All humanity sinned in Adam, resulting in death and spiritual darkness, as proven by universal death.

Evidence: Weaver references Romans 5:12 and explains the aorist passive 'all have sinned' as a once-for-all event in Adam.

Sin leads to a hardened heart and insatiable lust

Summary: Being past feeling results in giving oneself over to lasciviousness and working all uncleanness with greediness, a cycle of increasing sin.

Evidence: Weaver expounds Ephesians 4:19 and quotes John Calvin on the hardening effects of sin.

God's judgment and human will both operate in giving over to sin

Summary: God gives people up to their sin as judgment, but they also willingly give themselves over, making sin both punishment and choice.

Evidence: Weaver compares Ephesians 4:19 with Romans 1:24 and explains the dual agency.

Scripture References

Ephesians 4:17-32

Context: The primary text for the sermon, read in full at the beginning, focusing on walking differently from the unsaved.

Hebrews 11:5-6

Context: Referenced in the review of the series, showing that Enoch pleased God by faith, and without faith it is impossible to please Him.

Ephesians 4:1-7

Context: Previously covered in the series, teaching that believers must walk worthy of their calling with lowliness, meekness, and unity.

2 Corinthians 13:2, 10

Context: Used to illustrate Paul's role as a witness who can testify for or against the Corinthians.

2 Kings 17:15

Context: Shows that vanity is associated with idolatry, as Israel followed vanity and became vain.

2 Peter 2:18

Context: Demonstrates that vanity is linked to lusts of the flesh and wantonness.

Ephesians 2:1-5

Context: Reminds believers that they once walked like the unsaved but have been quickened by God's mercy and grace.

Psalm 69:22-24

Context: A messianic psalm where judicial blindness is pronounced as a sentence on those who reject Christ.

Romans 1:21

Context: Shows that when men knew God but did not glorify Him, their foolish hearts were darkened as a judicial act.

Romans 11:7-10

Context: Describes God giving Israel a spirit of slumber and darkened eyes as a judicial blindness.

Isaiah 9:19

Context: Illustrates retributive darkening where the land is darkened through the wrath of the Lord.

Acts 17:22-30

Context: Paul's sermon on Mars Hill, showing that the Athenians were religious but ignorant of the true God.

James 2:19

Context: Points out that even demons believe in God and tremble, showing that intellectual belief is insufficient.

John 17:1-3

Context: Defines eternal life as knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ, emphasizing personal relationship.

Matthew 11:27

Context: Teaches that no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son reveals Him.

Matthew 16:13-17

Context: Peter's confession of Christ is revealed by the Father, not by flesh and blood.

Romans 5:12

Context: Establishes original sin, showing that death passed upon all men because all sinned in Adam.

Psalm 19:1-3

Context: Declares that the heavens reveal God's glory, leaving man without excuse.

Romans 2:13-16

Context: Shows that conscience bears witness to God's law written on the heart, either accusing or excusing.

2 Corinthians 3:13-17

Context: Explains that a veil remains on the heart until one turns to the Lord, and only the Spirit gives liberty.

Historical References

Albert Barnes

Context: Quoted on how indulgence in vice destroys the intellect and renders a person incapable of high intellectual effort.

John Calvin

Context: Quoted on how those who destroy the sensibilities of the heart abandon themselves to iniquity and are hardened by an accusing conscience.

Important Quotes

I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind

Significance: This is the key verse of the sermon, establishing the command for believers to live differently from the unsaved world.

Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart

Significance: Summarizes the spiritual condition of the unsaved, which is the focus of the exposition.

Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness

Significance: Describes the ultimate outcome of a hardened heart, leading to unrestrained sin.

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent

Significance: Defines eternal life as a personal relationship with God, central to the argument against mere intellectual belief.

But ye have not so learned Christ

Significance: Introduces the contrast between the believer and the world, pointing to the next message in the series.

A man who is intemperate has no just views of the government of the appetites. A man who is unjust has no perception of the loveliness of purity.

Significance: Albert Barnes' quote illustrating how sin darkens the understanding in specific areas of life.

Having destroyed the sensibilities of the heart and outlawed the themes of remorse, they abandoned themselves to all manner of iniquity.

Significance: John Calvin's description of the hardening process that leads to being past feeling.

Discussion Questions

What does it mean to 'walk differently' from the world, and how can we practically live this out in our daily lives?

Context: Based on the command in Ephesians 4:17 to not walk as other Gentiles walk.

How does the concept of 'vanity' in Scripture go beyond mere uselessness to include idolatry and moral perverseness?

Context: From the discussion of 2 Kings 17:15 and 2 Peter 2:18.

In what ways can a person's understanding become darkened, and how can we guard against this in our own lives?

Context: From the explanation of judicial, retributive, and natural darkening.

What is the difference between intellectual knowledge of God and saving knowledge, and why is this distinction crucial?

Context: Based on John 17:3 and Matthew 11:27.

Why is human ignorance of God inexcusable, and how does this affect our evangelism?

Context: From the discussion of God's revelation in creation, conscience, commandments, and Christ.

What does it mean to be 'past feeling,' and what are the warning signs that someone is heading in that direction?

Context: From the exposition of Ephesians 4:19.

How does the cycle of sin described in Ephesians 4:19 ('working all uncleanness with greediness') manifest in modern culture?

Context: From the application of the verse to contemporary issues like pornography.

How can we cultivate a genuine hatred for sin and a desire for holiness in our walk with God?

Context: From the concluding remarks about the believer's response to sin.

Applications

Examine your walk for worldliness

Summary: Believers must honestly assess whether their lives are distinctly different from the unsaved world in thought, speech, and action.

Evidence: Paul commands, 'walk not as other Gentiles walk' (Ephesians 4:17).

Guard against a darkened understanding

Summary: Avoid sin and rejection of truth, which lead to judicial, retributive, and natural darkening of the mind.

Evidence: Weaver explains the threefold darkening and warns that sin makes one 'dumber.'

Pursue personal, intimate knowledge of God

Summary: Seek a saving relationship with God through Christ, not mere intellectual belief, recognizing that this knowledge is revealed by God.

Evidence: Eternal life is defined as knowing God (John 17:3), and this knowledge comes by revelation (Matthew 11:27).

Respond to God's revelation without excuse

Summary: Acknowledge that God has made Himself known through creation, conscience, Scripture, and Christ, and respond in repentance and faith.

Evidence: Romans 1:20 says men are without excuse; Weaver emphasizes the duty to know God as Creator and sinner.

Avoid the hardening spiral of sin

Summary: Recognize that indulging in sin leads to a calloused heart and an insatiable desire for more sin; flee from the first steps of temptation.

Evidence: Ephesians 4:19 describes being past feeling and working uncleanness with greediness; Weaver warns about pornography as an example.

Cultivate a hatred for sin

Summary: As a believer, grieve over sin, confess it, and seek deliverance, demonstrating a changed life that hates what God hates.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'we hate our sins... we confess our sins and we acknowledge our sins and we mourn over our sins.'

Learn Christ to live differently

Summary: Understand that living a godly life requires learning Christ—His character, teachings, and example—as the foundation for transformation.

Evidence: Ephesians 4:20 says, 'But ye have not so learned Christ,' which Weaver introduces as the next topic.

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Clean Transcript

Walking With God - 6

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Ephesians chapter 4, and we're going to be reading today from Ephesians chapter 4, beginning with verse 17 and reading through verse 32. However, we will never get past verse 19 today. Let me just tell you, we have been dealing with the entire series, and the entire series is "Walking with the Lord." I'm going to review today; this happens to be the sixth part, although it's going to be the first of three messages. Each one of these messages, I think, are self-contained. But let me just say that I think not only this message, but the next two messages are going to be absolutely needed and necessary, especially if you're going to not only change your life, but help others as well. So I would encourage you to be faithful and to be here if you can, especially for the next two Sundays.
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And I know Scott will have a long drive. Jim won't have so far, but that's OK. But Ephesians chapter 4, look, if you would please, beginning with verse 17. The apostle said this: "I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness."
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"But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another."
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"Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."
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"And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
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Now, so far in this series, we have dealt with walking before the Lord and walking with the Lord. And I pointed out the fact how it's impossible to really walk with the Lord unless you walk before the Lord. And the word "before" literally means "in the presence of" or "in the face of." We looked in the Bible, we saw how Enoch walked with the Lord, Abraham walked with the Lord, Jacob walked, a host of others as well. But God told Abram, "Walk thou before me, and be thou perfect." In our study of Enoch, we also found that Enoch was translated that he should not see death; for before his translation, he had this testimony, that he pleased God. And then we looked at verse six after verse five of Hebrews 11: "But without faith it is impossible to please him."
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"For he that cometh to God must first believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." So I pointed out that absolutely fundamental and basic and foundational, if we're going to please the Lord, if we're going to walk with the Lord, we must absolutely walk in faith. And then, as I pointed out, we were walking in faith. The very next thing I dealt with was Ephesians 4, verses 1 through 7, where Paul is now telling us if we're going to walk pleasing to the Lord, we must walk worthy of our calling. And then in Ephesians chapter 4, verses 1 through 3 there, he actually tells us how we are to walk worthy of our calling. And by the way, when he says that we're to walk worthy of vocation, we're called—I showed you how the word "vocation" occurs ten times in the New Testament, and it actually refers to our salvation. So when he says "walk worthy of your vocation," he's saying walk worthy of your calling, your salvation, wherewith you have been called, that is, unto salvation.
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And then he tells us that we're to walk worthy, how? "In all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love," and then thirdly, "endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." So we looked at a whole message on lowliness, an entire message on meekness, and I must point out again that meekness is not weakness. Meekness is not poor posture. Meekness does not equal cowardice. No.
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Moses was the meekest man on earth in his day, and you know what he did. Our Lord was meek, and yet he took the scourge of small cords and drove those money changers out of the temple. So, you must understand that meekness is disciplined strength under Christ. Those who are meek have been broken to yoke. That is, we wear the yoke of Christ and we're disciplined by Him.
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So, He tells us then that we are to endeavor to keep the unity that God has made in the bond of peace. And then I explain verses 4-7 in that light as well. What Paul does in Ephesians chapter 4, after telling us to walk worthily, now in verses 17 through verse 32, he tells us to walk differently. That is, we must walk in a different manner in our lives. We are different from the world. We are different from the ungodly. We're different from the heathen. And it must be made manifest. If we have really and truly been redeemed and justified and reconciled and sanctified, obviously then there must be a difference. So I want to call your attention to verse 17. We're going to look at verse 17, verse 18, and verse 19 today. So here is what the Apostle Paul is teaching us. When we are to walk pleasing unto the Lord, we must not only walk in faith, we must not only walk worthily, but now he tells us we must walk differently.
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So in verse 17, he says this: "I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind." Now, I want to call your attention to the word "testify." He said he is testifying in the Lord. The word "testify" here is marturomai. It is actually from the Greek word martus. It is where we get our English word "martyr." When you hear the word "martyr," you automatically think of someone who has died for the faith.
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That is the connotation that we place with it today. But the word "martyr" originally just means and meant "witness." Jesus Christ is called a faithful and true witness. Jesus Christ did not die for his faith as such. He died for his people. But he is a faithful and true martyr. You also have to remember this. The Apostle Paul in Romans 1 and verse 9 said, "God is my witness." And the word "witness" there is martyr. "God is my martyr." Though God has not died, he is just simply saying that God is a witness to his ministry.
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Now, when Paul says this, "I therefore say and testify in the Lord," the word "testify" actually means to take to record, to cite as a witness, to conjure, to beseech in God's name, and to testify solemnly. Now, when the Apostle Paul says, "I am testifying," he is saying, basically, I'm bearing witness in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and I am ministering by his authority. And so the Apostle Paul, listen carefully, is not only testifying to them. He may also be testifying against them. You have to remember that a witness can be either for the defendant or against the defendant. So a witness then has a twofold opportunity. So the Apostle Paul is saying, I'm solemnly testifying to you. If you will listen to me, I'm going to be a witness for you and to you. If you don't witness—if you don't listen to me, then I'm going to end up being a witness against you. So in 2 Corinthians 13 verse 2, don't turn there right now, but here's what Paul said.
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He's writing to these Corinthians and he says, "I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare." What did he just say? I've already witnessed to you. I've been a witness for you, and if you haven't repented, when I get there, I'm going to be a witness against you. Now, he said basically the same thing in 2 Corinthians, chapter 13, verse 10. He said, "Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction."
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So he said, I'm trying to be a witness to you. If you refuse to listen, I'm going to be a witness against you. So when Paul says in verse 17, "This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord," he's saying here is a solemn witness that I'm giving to you. And here's that witness: that you walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their minds. Now, the word "Gentiles" is the Greek word ethnos, which simply refers to nations or pagans or the heathens. So the Apostle Paul is testifying that we as Christians should be different in our walk, in our lives, from the ungodly, from the unsaved, and from the heathen. We are not like them in any way, and we should therefore be different from them, and that difference should be easily detected and manifested. The interesting thing is, in verses 17 through 19, after he tells us that we should walk differently here, he proceeds to tell us exactly how the unsaved walked.
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And that's very interesting. How did the heathen walk? How did the unsaved walk? Well, look, if you would please, in verse 17, he says this: "I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind." Now, I'm going to say that the vanity of the mind here is a very general description. He's going to delineate in verses 18 and 19. So he's giving you a broad term, say, here it is in generalized terminology, and then he's going to take that generalized term and he's going to descend into the specific. So how do they walk in the vanity of their mind? When you and I hear the word "vanity," we normally think of that which is vain, that which is useless, that which is worthless, that which is a waste of time. The interesting thing is the word "vanity" not only means that which is useless and worthless, but it means more than that. It actually means that which is devoid of truth.
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That which is perverse, depraved, and inappropriate. Now listen carefully, you will find the word "vanity" and the word "vain" translated from different Hebrew words and sometimes different Greek words. But the very first time the word is translated as "vanity" in the Old Testament occurs in 2 Kings chapter 17 verse 15. And I want you to hold Ephesians 4 and turn there because I want you to see what is included under the term "vanity." Notice, if you would, 2 Kings, chapter 17, and it's verse 15. 2 Kings, chapter 17. And look, if you would please, at verse 15. Interestingly, 2 Kings 17 and verse 15.
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Now he's talking about Israel, what Israel did to God. The Bible says, "And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them, that they should not do like them." Now, the interesting thing is if you read the context, Israel has descended into idolatry. And when he says that they followed vanity, he's talking about idolatry. They followed idols. They became vain. That is, they became idolaters. And then he says, they went after the heathen that were round about them.
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So that means very obviously then, they worshipped Baal, they worshipped Ashtaroth, they worshipped all the false gods. So here, clearly then, the word "vanity" means far more than just simply that which is useless and worthless. It is true that idolatry is useless and worthless, but it's even more than that. It's perverse. It is depraved. So obviously, anyone who is involved in idolatry is also devoid of truth.
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Now, if you will turn into the New Testament to 2 Peter, chapter two, and look, if you would please, at verse 18. You will see that the word "vanity" here from the Greek word also emphasizes perverseness and depravity. Notice 2 Peter chapter two and look, if you would please, at verse 18. He's talking about these men who are devoid of truth. These wicked men, he says in verse 18, "For when they speak great swelling words of vanity," watch, he's talking about vanity now.
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"They allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error." But notice if you would, vanity here is concerned with the lust of the flesh and wantonness. So the word "vanity" not only means that which is useless and worthless, it also includes idolatry. It includes being devoid of truth. It also includes being perverse and perverted as such.
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Now, here's the interesting thing, since we're in Ephesians chapter four, just look back to Ephesians chapter two. I've pointed this out before. You and I should really understand how the unsaved walk, because we were once that ourselves. So if you look in Ephesians chapter two, verses one through three, he says, "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience." Now, look what he says. "Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath."
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And notice this, "even as others." So Paul is saying we should really understand how the unsaved walk, because we used to walk that way ourselves. We walked in exactly the same manner. We lived in the lust of the eyes and the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. We were idolaters. We were children of wrath, even as others. And one of the problems that we encounter as Christians is oftentimes there are too many memories of our former lives; we remember too well what we used to be like.
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Now, I want you to note something. The Apostle Paul goes on to tell us how we are different. Watch. I just read Ephesians 2, verses 1 through 3. Now look at verses 4 and 5. "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)." So notice what he says: here's what you were, but now God has intervened and God has supernaturally changed us. So if God then has given us his love, if God has quickened us, if he has given us life in Jesus Christ, by his grace we must absolutely live differently.
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We are not like the unsaved. So go back in your Bibles to Ephesians 4 now and look if you would at verses 18 and 19. We've already talked about vanity. Now he's going to break vanity down. Watch in verse 18: "Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart." Now, just in verse 18, Paul speaks then of a darkened understanding, alienation from life, ignorance of mind, and blindness of heart.
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So I want us to consider these things one at a time. First of all, what is it like to be unsaved? What is it like to be a heathen? What is it like to be a pagan? Well, the Apostle Paul says, first of all, there is a darkened understanding. Well, the question should automatically arise: Well, how do understandings become darkened? What brings darkness to an understanding? And the answer is basically threefold. I want you to listen carefully. First of all, there is a judicial darkening of the mind or a judicial blindness of the mind. The word "judicial" simply refers to the law court of God. God is the judge. It is God who pronounces the sentence against the wicked and corrupt and perverse men. So a judicial darkening or a judicial blindness is usually imposed upon people for their rejection of God, His Son, His Word, and His truth.
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Now let me show you. I want you to hold Ephesians chapter 4. I want you to go back to Psalm 69. Then we're going to the book of Romans. Psalm 69 is a messianic psalm. It speaks of Jesus Christ. I'm not going to take the time to go through Psalm 69, but it is and it does have reference to Christ over and over. For instance, he will tell you in there, "The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up," which is applied directly to Christ.
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They hated him without a cause. Then he says, look, if you would please, down to verse 21: "They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink." So all this happened to Jesus Christ on the cross. So let's begin looking at verse 22. Look what happens. Of course, you know, Israel rejected Christ. Watch carefully. He says in verse 22, here's the judicial sentence.
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"Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake. Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them." Note if you would, he said in verse 23, "Let their eyes be darkened." And then in verse 24, "Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold upon them."
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That is a judicial sentence. If you will look in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter one very quickly. Romans chapter one and look at verse 21. Romans chapter one and verse 21. In this passage, the Apostle Paul makes this exceedingly clear. Romans 1 verse 21. Listen carefully to what he says. "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations."
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That is, they went to idolatry, "and their foolish heart was darkened." That's a judicial sentence. If you would turn to Romans chapter 11 and look at verse 7. Romans 11, and we'll read verses 7 through 10. Romans 11, look in verse 7. Here is a judicial blindness now, watch carefully. Romans 11, verse 7: "What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded (according as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway."
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"I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy." So what did God do? God sent a judicial blindness upon the people. So there was a judicial blindness.
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Secondly, there is a retributive darkening or a retributive blindness where God always makes the penalty fit the crime. It's the lex talionis of Scripture. You don't have to turn there, but let me quote some verses. In Isaiah 9, in verse 19, God says, "Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother." Notice, through the wrath of the Lord is the land darkened. In other words, the people have sinned against God. God is sending a retributive justice and a retributive darkening upon them because of their sins. The same thing in Isaiah 24 verse 11.
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There's a crying for wine in the street; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone. In other words, there's no happiness. Why? Because of their sins. God is now punishing them for their sins. You'll find the same truth in Ezekiel 30 in verse 18. And so God is just saying there that there is not only a judicial darkening of the mind, there is a retributive darkening of the mind. And thirdly, I'm going to point out that there is what you and I would call a natural darkening of the mind. And when I say a natural darkening, I mean that darkening that comes in response to sin.
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That is, we actually reap that which we sow. And the more we indulge in sin, the darker the understanding becomes. Actually, the more you indulge in sin, and I'm going to say this another way, the dumber you become. In fact, in Isaiah chapter one, God even said that oxen were smarter than his people. Because the ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. So there is a natural darkening in response to sin.
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Albert Barnes said it like this. Listen carefully. "A man who is intemperate has no just views of the government of the appetites. A man who is unjust has no perception of the loveliness of purity. A man who is avaricious or covetous has no just views of the beauty of benevolence. A man who indulges in low vices will weaken his mental powers and render himself incapable of intellectual effort. Indulgence in vice destroys the intellect as well as the body and unfits a man to appreciate the truth of a proposition in morals or in mathematics or the beauty of a poem as well as the truth and beauty of religion or Christianity. Nothing is more obvious than that indulgence in sin weakens the mental powers and renders them unfit for high intellectual effort."
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This is seen all over the heathen world now in the stolid, stupid mind, the perverted moral sense, the incapacity for profound or protracted mental effort as it was among the heathens whom Paul preached. And he says you can see it today just like you could then. So darkened understanding comes from spiritual blindness, and it can be a judicial darkening. It can be a retributive darkening. It can be a natural darkening.
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Now, I want you to look back in Ephesians chapter four, because he's already talked about that. We're not to walk in vanity like the heathen do. But notice, if you would please, he also says in verse 18, "having the understanding darkened," and then he says, "being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them." Now, it's bad enough to be alienated from the life of God, but it's even worse to be ignorant and alienated. The Greek word for alienation refers not just simply to alienation and estrangement, but it also includes being shut out from intimacy and fellowship. An unsaved man may confess and acknowledge that there is a God, and even intellectually believe in Him, but yet he's shut out from the life of God through his ignorance. Let me show you. I want you to hold Ephesians 4. Look back in your Bibles to Acts chapter 17. Acts chapter 17. The Apostle Paul is preaching on Mars Hill, and he's preaching to a bunch of heathen philosophers. They were very religious, but they were heathen philosophers.
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Notice, if you would, in Acts chapter 17, beginning there with verse 29, look what he says. He's telling these pagans, "Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent." Now note, he said, since we're the offspring of God, it's absolutely stupid to think that God is made out of gold or silver or some graven image or some graven idol.
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No, you see, the Athenians were heathen philosophers, a lot of them. They were very smart in one sense of the word, and they thought they knew God or the gods because they believed in the plurality of God. In fact, if you look at Acts chapter 17, beginning there with verse 22, here's what Paul says to them. "Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious"—or literally, too religious.
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Watch, he explains, "For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you." So these Athenians then believed in a God or gods. They had altars to all their false gods. And in case they missed one, they even had an altar to the unknown God.
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Now, if you walk up to an Athenian and ask, "Do you believe in God?" what's he going to say? "Yes, I believe in God." I have 50 years of preaching. I have no idea how many people have told me, "I believe in God." And yet their lives were an absolute total wreck. I want to tell you something, and this may shock you, but believing in God does not make you a Christian. You say, "How can that be?" There are many people who believe in God intellectually who are totally ignorant of God.
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You know what James wrote in James 2 in verse 19? He said, "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." Wow. That's what I told a man one time. He told me he believed in God. And I said, "You're not even as good as the devil." He said, "What?" I said, "Well, the devil believes, but he also trembles. And I don't see you trembling."
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You have to understand something. You have to pay close attention as to why men are alienated from God. He said they are alienated from God through the ignorance that is in them. Now listen, if the knowledge of God is life to the soul, then ignorance of God is death to the soul. Moreover, when we say that knowledge of God is life, it is not just any knowledge. It certainly is not simply intellectual knowledge.
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I've known people that have memorized scriptures, gone to Bible schools, received theological degrees, and can argue rationally and intellectually on the existence and attributes of God. Such intellectual knowledge may be fine and wonderful, but it is not saving knowledge. There's a difference between an intellectual knowledge and a saving knowledge. Let me show you. I want you to hold Ephesians chapter 4, but look in your Bibles to John chapter 17. John chapter 17. I want you to see what our Lord says concerning life. John 17 is the high priestly prayer of our Lord. And he begins to pray and look what he says, John 17, beginning there in verse one.
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"These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: as thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him." Now, you want to know what eternal life is? Listen carefully. Eternal life is not living forever. If you define eternal life as living forever, then the unsaved would have it because they'll live forever in judgment or in retribution or in punishment. Eternal life is not just living forever. It is true that we are eternal beings. What is eternal life? Look at it. Verse 3, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." What is eternal life? It is a personal, intimate relationship with God the Father through His Son, Jesus Christ.
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Now, let me say this very plainly. If you do not have eternal life now in time and history, you're not going to get it when you die. Because eternal life is a personal, intimate relationship with God the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ. It is so strange that so many people who live ungodly lives want to go to heaven when they die. Why? They're not interested in having a personal intimate relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ now. What makes them think that when they die all of a sudden they're going to want that? Well, I can assure you punishment will make you think you would want that. That is for sure. But I'm just simply saying eternal life is something that we enjoy now. And we will enjoy it more fully in the presence of God the Father and God the Son. That is true.
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But notice what he said. Eternal life is knowledge. He said, "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God." So it means knowing him not just intellectually, but knowing him personally in an intimate, personal, saving relationship.
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Now, I want you to look in your Bibles to Matthew 11. I can quote it, but I want you to see it. Look in Matthew 11 and verse 27. So you're going to ask me, "How do I get this personal, intimate relationship? How do I get this knowledge?" Well, look what our Lord says. Here's the answer. Matthew 11 and verse 27. Here it is. Matthew 11 and verse 27. Our Lord says this.
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"All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him." How do you get to know who Jesus Christ is? God reveals it to you. You remember when our Lord asked His disciples in Matthew 16, "Who do men say that I the Son of man am?" Well, they said, "Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets." But whom say ye that I am? And Peter said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." And what did our Lord say?
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"Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." The only way that you can know who God the Father is, is that Jesus Christ reveals Him to you. The only way that you can know who Jesus Christ is, God the Father reveals Him unto you. So what God is telling us through the Apostle Paul is this: man by nature is ignorant of God. His alienation from God comes from this ignorance. Our alienation, our ignorance, our blindness, all harks back to original sin. We sinned in Adam. We fell in Adam. We were cursed in Adam. It is through Adam, the first Adam, that we are deprived of the true light of God. And in the deprivation of that true light, there was nothing left but fearful darkness. Original sin is very easily proven. Romans 5 verse 12 says this: "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."
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Some of you have Greek references right now, and it's interesting that you can find out that "all have sinned" is an aorist passive, which means it happened once and for all at one time. Well, when did all men sin once and for all at one time? And the answer is in Adam. Now, listen to what he said, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin." You say, "I just don't believe in original sin." Hang on.
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Wait long enough and you will. Because death is the absolute proof of original sin. And if you don't believe it, just when you die, you will understand. It's just that simple. Because you die because of your sin.
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Now, I want you to know what the apostle said. He said that we're alienated from the life of God through ignorance. Our ignorance is inexcusable. You've heard that old expression, "Ignorance is no excuse of the law." Let me tell you, ignorance is an excuse if you're talking about man's law. Because there are so many laws, everybody violates federal laws, state law, county laws, city laws every day. You can't possibly know them all. But when you hear that expression, "Ignorance is no excuse of the law," you're talking about God's law, because back then everybody had a Bible and everybody believed the Bible basically. And God's law is spelled out for you. Ignorance is no excuse of the law. You see, we have a duty, we have a responsibility to know God's law. We also have a duty and responsibility to know God. Why? We are his creatures. He created us. He is our creator. And by virtue of the fact that we are His creatures, we owe Him honor and glory. Moreover, we are sinners. And by virtue of the fact that we have sinned against Him, we owe Him repentance as well.
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When God saves us, we doubly owe God. Because we are no longer just His creatures. We are now His children. So let me just say this again. Our ignorance is inexcusable. How is it inexcusable? Let me just do this very quickly, because I want you to think about this. Our ignorance is inexcusable in a number of ways. Number one, God has revealed himself in creation. All you've got to do is read Psalm 19. Read Romans chapter one. "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard." In other words, the heavens declare the glory of God. Romans chapter one tells us very clearly that it demonstrates the power of God as well. So God has spoken in creation. Creation has enough light to condemn you, but not enough to convert you. God has also spoken through conscience. Romans chapter 2 verses 13 through 16. The Bible says, "For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified."
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"For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another." Now, notice what God says about the conscience. Your conscience can either condemn you or it can excuse you.
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I don't care if you go to the darkest Africa. You let one African take a spear and just run up to another one and stab him in the heart and kill him. The rest of the tribe will take that murderer, tie him to an ant bed somewhere, pour honey on him, and let the ants eat him alive. I mean, they know that's wrong. As ignorant as they are, they know that's wrong.
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The problem with the conscience, the conscience can be seared, the conscience can be improperly taught. But there is a basic root of knowing something is right and something is wrong. You let an African defend himself from an attacker and in self-defense, he kills the attacker. They excuse him. They don't do anything. That's conscience. So God has spoken to us in creation. God has spoken to us in conscience. God has spoken to us through his commandments. The Bible says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable." So obviously all of God's word happens to be commandments. And then the scripture tells us also in Hebrews chapter one, God has spoken to us in creation, in conscience, in commandments. He's spoken to us in Christ. The Bible says that "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things." Now, Romans 1 in verse 20, the Apostle Paul says this just in light of creation.
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He says, "So that they are without excuse." If you are without excuse before God just because of creation, think about your conscience. Think about the commandments. Think about Christ. Do you understand that on Judgment Day, no excuses will be accepted? You lived in God's creation and ignored it. You refused to listen to your conscience and you seared it. You had a Bible and you refused to read it. You heard the preaching of Jesus Christ and rejected it. You are without excuse. Even though you're alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in you.
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Third, if you will look in your Bibles back in Ephesians chapter four, he says this: that all of this stems from the blindness of the heart. He says in verse 18, "Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart." Now listen carefully. Our ignorance, our alienation, our darkened understanding all flows from one corrupt fountain of blinded heart. Here is a truth that is not easily or readily received, but let me tell it to you: unless God opens our understanding, we will never see the truth. It's just that simple. Let me show you. Hold Ephesians 4 very quickly and look in your Bibles to 2 Corinthians chapter 3. 2 Corinthians chapter 3 and let's begin reading there with verse 13. 2 Corinthians 3 verse 13.
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Here he is contrasting the old covenant and the new covenant. 2 Corinthians 3 verse 13. He says, "And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished." Now, watch verse 14. Here's what the Bible says about them. "But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ." In other words, if they don't see Christ, the veil is still there. Watch. Nevertheless, he said in verse 15, "But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away." Now watch. "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." It's only the Holy Spirit that can open our eyes and let us see truth and have the veil removed. Since you're in 2 Corinthians, look at 2 Corinthians chapter 4, verses 3 and 4.
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Here he says it like this: "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." Notice if you would, unless God opens the eyes, unless God allows His light to shine, we'll never see.
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The blindness of the heart? Yes. Totally. Absolutely.
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Now, go back to Ephesians chapter 4, because very quickly, I want to deal with verse 19. I want you to see where all of this leads. If you are wondering what is wrong in America, if you are wondering what is wrong in families, in homes, if you are wondering what is wrong with people, why are they so crazy today? Why are they doing things that are so absolutely perverted and depraved? Well, here's the answer. Watch, if you would, verse 18.
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He says, "Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart." Now watch: "Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." First, the Apostle says such individuals are past feeling. You know what "past feeling" means in this light? The Greek word literally means to cease to feel pain or grief. It means to become insensible to or to become calloused.
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I've had calluses on my hands. I still have calluses on my hands. And for many, many years, as Alice can testify, I've had thick skin. You say, "What do you mean by that?" You know, I can cut myself and I don't even feel it. I happen to look down. Oh, there's blood. Where'd that blood come from? Well, barbed wire caught me. I didn't know it. Now, if you push deep enough, I won't feel it, but I mean, I'm just simply saying there are times that I've had my hands and the calluses all didn't feel pain. Here it is. Spiritually speaking.
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It does not grieve these people. It does not upset the unsaved that they have no fellowship with the one true, the living God. When you try to reach out to them, they're insensible to it. It's when you try to reason with them or witness to them or testify to them, it's like water off a duck's back. Why? Because they're callous. They're insensitive to the truth. It does not hurt them.
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It does not convict them. They're past feeling. They've thrown off all sense of shame and remorse. You know, it's almost impossible today to shame some people. Most folks will never blush at anything. Now, watch what he said, look in verse 19: "Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness." What is lasciviousness? The word refers to unbridled lusts, to excess, to licentiousness, to lasciviousness, to wantonness, to outrageousness, to shamelessness, to insolence. Wow, they've given themselves over to lasciviousness.
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John Calvin said it like this, listen carefully. "Having destroyed the sensibilities of the heart and outlawed the themes of remorse, they abandoned themselves to all manner of iniquity. We are by nature corrupt and prone to evil. Nay, we are wholly inclined to evil. Those who are destitute of the Spirit of Christ give loose reins to self-indulgence, till fresh offenses, producing others in constant succession, bring down upon them the wrath of God. The voice of God proclaimed by an accusing conscience still continues to be heard, but instead of producing its proper effects, appears rather to harden them against all admonition on account of such obstinacy. They deserve to be altogether forsaken by God." Wow. So he says, "Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness."
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Now, I want you to watch. Watch carefully. He goes further, he says, "Who have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." Notice, if you would, "to work." This clearly indicates their voluntariness in sinning, their volunteering to sin. It indicates the power of sin over them. It indicates they're willing slaves to their sin. They love their sin. They enjoy their sin. They want to continue in their sin. It is their intense desire to work all uncleanness and to commit every unclean lust and to live in continued commission of uncleanness in every sort of way with greediness. They want it. And they want more and more of it. They're never, ever satisfied.
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Let me tell you something. This is one illustration. You should never even consider pornography. And if you see it, you should immediately turn away from it. By the way, do you know what the word "pornography" literally means? Porneia was the Greek word for fornication. Graphic is the Greek word for writing. Pornography is fornication writing. That's what it is. The problem is this. And here's what God is saying in Ephesians, chapter four and verse 19: you get started on one sin and pretty soon that's insufficient.
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You have to go here. Then that's insufficient. Then you have to go here. Then that's insufficient. Then you keep going and keep going until you're absolutely down on the bottom. You get started with pornography, pretty soon that's not going to satisfy you. You're going to learn to work all uncleanness with greediness. You're going to want more and more and more because you're a sinner, because of your wicked heart. And so God is saying here very clearly that this is what the evil, wicked, unsaved man does, whether he admits it or not, whether he likes it or not. That's his life. Men don't think anything about going out and getting drunk. They don't think anything about raping, robbing, pillaging, plundering, stealing. That's their lifestyle. It's what they do. And the more they do it, the more they want of it.
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Now, let me show you something. I want you to look back in Ephesians 4 and verse 19: "Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness."
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Now, if you read Romans 1 and verse 24, you will find that these wicked people, the Bible says, "God also gave them up to uncleanness." Wow. Well, now here's my question. Did God give them up or did they give themselves over? And the answer is, both. Their giving themselves over is the punishment in kind. God gave them up and said, basically, if you want it, you can have it. And what God did was simply withdraw His grace and His hand, and thus their sin was made their punishment. They willingly gave themselves over to it. They willingly become the slaves of sin. They willingly enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. They willingly become captives to their sin and cease to fight against it. And as Paul says in Ephesians 4 verse 19, they work all uncleanness with greediness. It was God's judgment in giving them up.
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But it's what they willed and what they wanted and what they desired. And God says, OK, you can have it. The fundamental thought in verse 19, look at it: "Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." The fundamental thought is this: the unsaved acknowledge no restraint. The insolent acting out of whatever they desire, whatever their caprices are, they do so gladly and willingly and readily.
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Now, what does Paul say? Watch. Look back in verse 17. "This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind." What did he say? You don't walk like this. You walk differently. Let me spell this out for you. We cannot live. We cannot walk. We cannot talk. We cannot even act or think the way the ungodly do.
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I was in a motel this past week on Tuesday night. And I wanted something chocolate. So, I went around, there's a little vending machine, I put the money in for one little piece of chocolate candy, and I hit the button. And I got two bars. The first thought that hit my mind was this: well, that's probably what it should have cost to begin with because you always pay more when you get out of the vending machine.
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Secondly, I really didn't want the candy anyhow. So it was night, so I just took that extra bar in my room. And when I went to check out the next morning and I carried that bar up there, I said, "When I went to your vending machine last night, I got two bars for the price of one." I said, "So I paid for one bar and I ate it. I said, I didn't pay for this one. So you may either have it or you may give it back to the vending machine owner, but I don't want it."
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And the lady looked at me kind of funny. And I said, "Well, if I'm going to become a thief, it's not gonna be for a dollar, I can assure you. It's gonna be for a lot more than that. I can't be bought that cheaply, I can assure you. So I'll let you have it back."
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Now, the point I'm trying to make is we're not lawless. We cannot be lawless. We do not walk to please ourselves. It is true that we are sinners. There is not one person in this room that is not a sinner. There is not one person in this room that does not fall short in a number of ways. I have my sins. You have your sins. But the truth of the matter is this: we hate our sins. Our sins grieve the Lord and we know it.
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And it grieves us as well. And we confess our sins and we acknowledge our sins and we mourn over our sins and we turn from our sins and we pray to be delivered from our sins. And we seek God for repentance and we cannot and we will not return to our old ways and our old lives. We have to live differently. Now, here's my question. How do we live differently? How do we change our lives?
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That's the next two messages. But I want to just give you something for your little meditation this week, if you look in verse 20. And that'll be our text next week, verse 20 and 21. He says, "But ye have not so learned Christ." Has it ever dawned upon you that you must learn Christ? Learn how to live and act in a godly manner. Walk worthily, yes, but walk differently. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to thee this day.
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We thank you for your word. We thank you for teaching us how not to live, as well as teaching us how to live. We ask, Father, for your help and your blessing in the name of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen. Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-06T00:25:53Z

Walking With God - 6

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

In this sermon, John Weaver continues his series on walking with the Lord by focusing on Ephesians 4:17-19. He emphasizes that believers must walk differently from the unsaved world, which is characterized by a darkened understanding, alienation from God, ignorance, and a hardened heart that leads to unrestrained sin. The sermon serves as a solemn warning and a call to examine one's life in light of the radical transformation that salvation brings.

Introduction and Review of the Series

Weaver reviews the series on walking with the Lord, emphasizing the need to walk in faith, walk worthily, and now walk differently, as outlined in Ephesians 4:17-32.

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 4:17-32

Ephesians chapter 4, and we're going to be reading today from Ephesians chapter 4, beginning with verse 17 and reading through verse 32. However, we will never get past verse 19 today. Let me just tell you, we have been dealing with the entire series, and the entire series is "Walking with the Lord." I'm going to review today; this happens to be the sixth part, although it's going to be the first of three messages. Each one of these messages, I think, are self-contained. But let me just say that I think not only this message, but the next two messages are going to be absolutely needed and necessary, especially if you're going to not only change your life, but help others as well. So I would encourage you to be faithful and to be here if you can, especially for the next two Sundays.

The Solemn Testimony of the Apostle

Paul testifies in the Lord, using the Greek word 'marturomai' (related to martyr/witness), indicating a solemn witness that can be for or against the hearers.

He's writing to these Corinthians and he says,

Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 13:2, 10

"I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare."

The Vanity of the Unsaved Mind

The unsaved walk in the vanity of their mind, which means not only uselessness but also perverseness, depravity, and being devoid of truth, often linked to idolatry.

Scripture Reading — 2 Peter 2:18

"For when they speak great swelling words of vanity," watch, he's talking about vanity now. "They allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error."

Darkened Understanding and Alienation from God

The unsaved have a darkened understanding due to judicial, retributive, and natural blindness, and are alienated from the life of God through ignorance.

That is, they went to idolatry,

Scripture Reading — Romans 1:21

"and their foolish heart was darkened."

The Nature of Saving Knowledge

Eternal life is knowing God personally through Jesus Christ, not mere intellectual belief; this knowledge is revealed by God, not attained by human effort.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 16:13-17

"Who do men say that I the Son of man am?"

Well, they said,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 16:13-17

"Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets."

But whom say ye that I am? And Peter said,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 16:13-17

"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."

And what did our Lord say?

Scripture Reading — Matthew 16:13-17

"Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."

The Inexcusable Ignorance of Man

Man's ignorance is inexcusable because God has revealed Himself through creation, conscience, commandments, and Christ, leaving all without excuse.

Blindness of Heart and Its Consequences

All spiritual blindness flows from a corrupt heart; only the Holy Spirit can remove the veil and open eyes to the truth.

Here he is contrasting the old covenant and the new covenant. 2 Corinthians 3 verse 13. He says,

Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 3:13-17

"And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished."

Now, watch verse 14. Here's what the Bible says about them.

Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 3:13-17

"But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ."

In other words, if they don't see Christ, the veil is still there. Watch. Nevertheless, he said in verse 15,

Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 3:13-17

"But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away."

Now watch.

Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 3:13-17

"Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."

It's only the Holy Spirit that can open our eyes and let us see truth and have the veil removed. Since you're in 2 Corinthians, look at 2 Corinthians chapter 4, verses 3 and 4.

Past Feeling and Given Over to Sin

The unsaved become calloused, past feeling, and give themselves over to lasciviousness, working all uncleanness with greediness, as both their choice and God's judgment.

The Call to Walk Differently

Believers must not walk like the unsaved; they hate their sin, confess it, and seek deliverance, living in a manner that reflects their new life in Christ.

Walking With God - 6

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	5221618134410
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Sin, Judgment, and Gospel Foundations: Praying Against the Wicked
Genre	Sermon
Date	2016-03-13
Dictation Name
Book	Book 146: Walking With God — Chapter 6
Source Timed Segments	83

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Review of the Series: Weaver reviews the series on walking with the Lord, emphasizing the need to walk in faith, walk worthily, and now walk differently, as outlined in Ephesians 4:17-32.
The Solemn Testimony of the Apostle: Paul testifies in the Lord, using the Greek word 'marturomai' (related to martyr/witness), indicating a solemn witness that can be for or against the hearers.
The Vanity of the Unsaved Mind: The unsaved walk in the vanity of their mind, which means not only uselessness but also perverseness, depravity, and being devoid of truth, often linked to idolatry.
Darkened Understanding and Alienation from God: The unsaved have a darkened understanding due to judicial, retributive, and natural blindness, and are alienated from the life of God through ignorance.
The Nature of Saving Knowledge: Eternal life is knowing God personally through Jesus Christ, not mere intellectual belief; this knowledge is revealed by God, not attained by human effort.
The Inexcusable Ignorance of Man: Man's ignorance is inexcusable because God has revealed Himself through creation, conscience, commandments, and Christ, leaving all without excuse.
Blindness of Heart and Its Consequences: All spiritual blindness flows from a corrupt heart; only the Holy Spirit can remove the veil and open eyes to the truth.
Past Feeling and Given Over to Sin: The unsaved become calloused, past feeling, and give themselves over to lasciviousness, working all uncleanness with greediness, as both their choice and God's judgment.
The Call to Walk Differently: Believers must not walk like the unsaved; they hate their sin, confess it, and seek deliverance, living in a manner that reflects their new life in Christ.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Paul's testimony is a solemn witness with authority

The word 'testify' (marturomai) implies a solemn witness in the Lord's name, which can be for or against the hearers depending on their response.

Weaver explains the Greek word and cites 2 Corinthians 13:2, 10 to show Paul's role as a witness.

Vanity includes idolatry and perverseness

The term 'vanity' goes beyond uselessness to include idolatry and moral depravity, as seen in 2 Kings 17:15 and 2 Peter 2:18.

Weaver references 2 Kings 17:15 where vanity is linked to idolatry, and 2 Peter 2:18 where it is associated with lusts of the flesh.

Darkened understanding has judicial, retributive, and natural causes

God judicially blinds those who reject truth, retributively darkens as punishment, and sin naturally dulls the mind.

Weaver cites Psalm 69:22-24, Romans 1:21, Romans 11:7-10 for judicial blindness; Isaiah 9:19 for retributive; and quotes Albert Barnes on natural darkening.

Alienation from God is due to ignorance

The unsaved are shut out from intimacy with God because of ignorance, which is inexcusable given God's revelation.

Weaver explains the Greek word for alienation and references Acts 17:29-30 to show ignorance of God.

Saving knowledge is revealed, not intellectual

True knowledge of God is a personal relationship revealed by the Father and the Son, not merely intellectual assent.

Weaver cites John 17:3, Matthew 11:27, and Matthew 16:17 to show that knowledge of God is revealed.

Original sin is the root of spiritual blindness

All humanity sinned in Adam, resulting in death and spiritual darkness, as proven by universal death.

Weaver references Romans 5:12 and explains the aorist passive 'all have sinned' as a once-for-all event in Adam.

Sin leads to a hardened heart and insatiable lust

Being past feeling results in giving oneself over to lasciviousness and working all uncleanness with greediness, a cycle of increasing sin.

Weaver expounds Ephesians 4:19 and quotes John Calvin on the hardening effects of sin.

God's judgment and human will both operate in giving over to sin

God gives people up to their sin as judgment, but they also willingly give themselves over, making sin both punishment and choice.

Weaver compares Ephesians 4:19 with Romans 1:24 and explains the dual agency.

Scripture References

Ephesians 4:17-32: The primary text for the sermon, read in full at the beginning, focusing on walking differently from the unsaved.
Hebrews 11:5-6: Referenced in the review of the series, showing that Enoch pleased God by faith, and without faith it is impossible to please Him.
Ephesians 4:1-7: Previously covered in the series, teaching that believers must walk worthy of their calling with lowliness, meekness, and unity.
2 Corinthians 13:2, 10: Used to illustrate Paul's role as a witness who can testify for or against the Corinthians.
2 Kings 17:15: Shows that vanity is associated with idolatry, as Israel followed vanity and became vain.
2 Peter 2:18: Demonstrates that vanity is linked to lusts of the flesh and wantonness.
Ephesians 2:1-5: Reminds believers that they once walked like the unsaved but have been quickened by God's mercy and grace.
Psalm 69:22-24: A messianic psalm where judicial blindness is pronounced as a sentence on those who reject Christ.
Romans 1:21: Shows that when men knew God but did not glorify Him, their foolish hearts were darkened as a judicial act.
Romans 11:7-10: Describes God giving Israel a spirit of slumber and darkened eyes as a judicial blindness.
Isaiah 9:19: Illustrates retributive darkening where the land is darkened through the wrath of the Lord.
Acts 17:22-30: Paul's sermon on Mars Hill, showing that the Athenians were religious but ignorant of the true God.
James 2:19: Points out that even demons believe in God and tremble, showing that intellectual belief is insufficient.
John 17:1-3: Defines eternal life as knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ, emphasizing personal relationship.
Matthew 11:27: Teaches that no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son reveals Him.
Matthew 16:13-17: Peter's confession of Christ is revealed by the Father, not by flesh and blood.
Romans 5:12: Establishes original sin, showing that death passed upon all men because all sinned in Adam.
Psalm 19:1-3: Declares that the heavens reveal God's glory, leaving man without excuse.
Romans 2:13-16: Shows that conscience bears witness to God's law written on the heart, either accusing or excusing.
2 Corinthians 3:13-17: Explains that a veil remains on the heart until one turns to the Lord, and only the Spirit gives liberty.

Historical References

Albert Barnes: Quoted on how indulgence in vice destroys the intellect and renders a person incapable of high intellectual effort.
John Calvin: Quoted on how those who destroy the sensibilities of the heart abandon themselves to iniquity and are hardened by an accusing conscience.

Important Quotes

I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind

This is the key verse of the sermon, establishing the command for believers to live differently from the unsaved world.

Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart

Summarizes the spiritual condition of the unsaved, which is the focus of the exposition.

Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness

Describes the ultimate outcome of a hardened heart, leading to unrestrained sin.

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent

Defines eternal life as a personal relationship with God, central to the argument against mere intellectual belief.

But ye have not so learned Christ

Introduces the contrast between the believer and the world, pointing to the next message in the series.

A man who is intemperate has no just views of the government of the appetites. A man who is unjust has no perception of the loveliness of purity.

Albert Barnes' quote illustrating how sin darkens the understanding in specific areas of life.

Having destroyed the sensibilities of the heart and outlawed the themes of remorse, they abandoned themselves to all manner of iniquity.

John Calvin's description of the hardening process that leads to being past feeling.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

What does it mean to 'walk differently' from the world, and how can we practically live this out in our daily lives?

[Context]

Based on the command in Ephesians 4:17 to not walk as other Gentiles walk.

[Question]

How does the concept of 'vanity' in Scripture go beyond mere uselessness to include idolatry and moral perverseness?

[Context]

From the discussion of 2 Kings 17:15 and 2 Peter 2:18.

[Question]

In what ways can a person's understanding become darkened, and how can we guard against this in our own lives?

[Context]

From the explanation of judicial, retributive, and natural darkening.

[Question]

What is the difference between intellectual knowledge of God and saving knowledge, and why is this distinction crucial?

[Context]

Based on John 17:3 and Matthew 11:27.

[Question]

Why is human ignorance of God inexcusable, and how does this affect our evangelism?

[Context]

From the discussion of God's revelation in creation, conscience, commandments, and Christ.

[Question]

What does it mean to be 'past feeling,' and what are the warning signs that someone is heading in that direction?

[Context]

From the exposition of Ephesians 4:19.

[Question]

How does the cycle of sin described in Ephesians 4:19 ('working all uncleanness with greediness') manifest in modern culture?

[Context]

From the application of the verse to contemporary issues like pornography.

[Question]

How can we cultivate a genuine hatred for sin and a desire for holiness in our walk with God?

[Context]

From the concluding remarks about the believer's response to sin.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T14:56:55Z