I have something from the Lord to tell you. I warn you: Don’t continue living like those who don’t believe. Their thoughts are worth nothing. They have no understanding, and they know nothing because they refuse to listen. So, they cannot have the life that God gives.
Ephesians 4:17-18 ERV
Here is a solemn appeal to every Christian, ‘Do not live like the unbelievers’. We are to put off every trace of our past life, as if it were muddy clothes. Let us put on the virtues and excellency of the Lord Jesus Christ. Basically, there should be a corresponding change in our lives, both inward and outwardly when we put our faith in Jesus Christ.
Prior to his encounter with Jesus, Peter was a fisherman who lived a life guided by his own impulses and desires. However, after he met Jesus, his life was completely transformed.
Apostle Peter became one of Jesus’ closest disciples and went on to play a crucial role in the early church. He preached fearlessly, even in the face of persecution and imprisonment. He was also instrumental in bringing many people to faith in Christ.
Throughout his letters, Peter emphasizes the importance of moral purity, humility, and service to others. He urges believers to reject the values and attitudes of the world and to live in a manner that is pleasing to God. He emphasizes this in 1 Peter 2:11.
Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.
1 Peter 2:11 NIV
We must not continue to live like the unbelievers. Such kind of life is futile. It is an empty, purposeless, and fruitless life. It is a life without understanding; a life that cannot understand spiritual truths. Because of its rejection of the knowledge of the true God, it suffers blindness. A life alienated from God, a life at a great distance from God. A life with a hardened heart. It rejects the light of the word of God.
Any person that lives like this cannot have the life that God gives. A spiritual life, a life of grace, faith, and holiness. A life infused by the Spirit of God and guided by the word of God. It is a life that the power of God supports and secures, a life that acts according to the will of God, and a life that is directed to His glory.
Overall, Ephesians 4:17-18 is a powerful reminder that our lives as believers should reflect the reality of our new identity in Christ, and that we should actively seek to live in a way that honors God and testifies to the power of His grace.
