“New Nature, Finer Fruit”
Eph. 4:22-32, 5:1-2,8-10 June 25, 2006 Play audio Play video
Renewal - Outdoors & Internal
* renewal of physical and spiritual ‘nature’ (1Thess
5:23; Jn 3:3,5; Eph 4:23f; Col 3:10)
* New creation in Christ; rid of offences, given new
heart & spirit (Gal 6:15; 2Cor 5:17; Ezek 11:19; 18:31)
1. Colour
* green leaf more flourishing than white one
* not darkened or confused, without sensitivity, but
light in the Lord, know truth / right & wrong (Eph 4:17ff; 5:8;
4:21; Jn 18:37)
2. Temperature
* reproductive drive reflected in heat
* impure lusts / greed exclude the ungodly from the
Kingdom (4:19; 5:5)
* find out what pleases the Lord, pursue His will
(5:10,17)
3. Tender
* frozen soil tough for roots / fork to use
* those ignorant of God are separated due to hardened
heart, shut mind (4:18)
* anger / harshness symptomatic of wall up against
God, give Devil a foothold (4:26f,31)
* Jesus absorbed our guilt, blotted out our
transgressions (5:2, 4:32, Ps 51:1,9)
4. Aroma
* difference between flowers and sewage plant
* old self corrupted, rotten by desires, foul speech
(4:22,29)
* speech ought to be helpful, thankful; fragrant
offering (4:29; 5:2,4; 2Cor 2:15f)
5. Fruit
* darkness fruitless, shameful, leads to ruin (5:11f,
18)
* new self fruit good, right, true; overflow of good
heart (4:24,28f; 5:1f,9; Mt 12:33ff)