What happens if I don’t put on the new self? (continued)

It allows spiritual laziness to continue.

• II Peter 1:5

It implies that some sins are okay.

• John 9:28-34 – Is it possible for members of local churches to have this sinful attitude?
• I John 3:7 – The one who practices righteousness is righteous! Wearing a label doesn’t make you righteous.

How to change

Think of yourself as a new person.

• Ephesians 4:23-24
• Romans 6:2, 11
• Colossians 3:2-3

Shape your environment so it will help shape you.

• Deuteronomy 6:6-9
• Proverbs 5:8; 7:7-8, 25

• Love them when they are unlovable.
• Commit to lifelong companionship.
• Find delight in them.

• The core of a person’s conduct is a person’s attitude.

  • Coaches know this and key on it.

  • Motivational speakers are all about attitude.

  • Our attitudes are important to God – and should be important to us.

    • They drive our actions.
      • Our attitude is the engine that drives us.
    • Change attitude to change action.

• Attitude is not the only thing – Christianity is not all attitude.

  • Does God want our hearts or our obedience?

    • He wants our hearts first and the obedience that follows!

  • How about under the Mosaic Law? Circumcision of the heart:

    • Obedience: Leviticus 26:1-2, 14-16; Deuteronomy 27:9-10; 28:58-63

    • Attitude (hearts): Jeremiah 9:24; Leviticus 26:40-43; Numbers 15:38-40; Deuteronomy 4:7-9, 29-31, 39-40

      • God wants hearts that are devoted to Him.

    • Poetry: Proverbs 21:3; Psalms 119:2, 7, 10-11, 32, 34, 36, 58, 69, 80, 111-112, 145

      • It is better to live righteously than to sacrifice!

    • Prophecy: Isaiah 1:13-20; Joel 2:12-13; Deuteronomy 13:1; Jeremiah 3:7-10

    • Law: Deuteronomy 10:14-22; 13:1-4; 30:6-14

    • New Testament: Romans 10:13; Mark 12:28-34

• What happened to the heart?

  • Levitical jurisprudence – Deuteronomy 16:18-20; 17:8-13

    • God gave the Levites leeway.

    • The Pharisees ran with it!

    • Leviticus 19:18 – Case in point.

      • Matthew 5:43

Put on the New Self

• Ephesians 4:17-24 – “lay aside the old self … put on the new self”

  • Being a Christian means more than going to church on Sundays! It is a total transformation to serving God.

  • I Peter 1:15-16 – Be holy!

  • We must lay aside bad habits and start good ones.

• Romans 6:3-13 – “walk in newness of life … our old self was crucified with Him”

  • Baptism is the start of a new life in Christ. It is not an end in itself.

• Colossians 3:1-11 – “laid aside the old self … put on the new self”

  • We must put aside our old ways. We can’t make excuses and say, “This is just who I am.”

  • We must continually change for the better.

• Galatians 2:11-14 – This is a good example of the change Jesus demands in our lives.

What happens if I don’t put on the new self?

My soul is doomed

• II Peter 2:20-22

It’s hypocrisy and it ruins my credibility

• Romans 2:1-3, 21-24
• Hypocrisy among Christians causes onlookers to blaspheme. There may be no quicker way to ruin our influence with others!

Good leadership includes humility.

• Exodus 4:14-16; 6:13; 7:1, 8-13, 19; 8:6, 17 – Aaron was in an active leadership role. The first three plagues were done directly through him.
• Aaron was the first high priest. Exodus 28:1
• Numbers 12:1-9 – Even as a leader, you can’t do anything you want.
• Leviticus 10:1-3 – Aaron’s sons were killed by God because of their sin.
• There is always someone above you!
• I Peter 5:1-4 – Elders can’t lord it over the flock! They must lead with humility.
• Ephesians 6:5-9
• Ephesians 5:22-25 – Husbands and wives.
• Ephesians 6:1-4 – Parents and children.

Don’t compromise on the important stuff.

• Exodus 32:1-6 – The golden calf. Aaron may have been trying to pretend that in worshiping the golden calf, they were worshiping the one true God, but he should have never compromised on this point.
• Don’t try to be the cool parent that compromises on what is important for your children!

I can serve God despite past sin.

• Numbers 16:20-22 – Good leadership from Moses and Aaron!
• Numbers 20:23-29 – The death of Aaron.
• Aaron did a lot of wrong, but also served God in many good ways.
• Psalms 106:16
• Hebrews 5:1-4
• We can move past our sins just as Aaron did.
• Galatians 6:1