A group of village elders visiting America for the first time saw an elderly woman step into an elevator. The doors closed, it went up — and when it came back down, out stepped a beautiful young woman. One elder turned to the other and said, "We've got to get our wives in that machine."

We have been made new in Christ. But living that out is something else entirely. It's a daily decision.

In this message from our series "Fullness," Pastor Ron opens Ephesians 4:17–29 and walks through the contrast between the old man and the new man — what we were, and what we're called to become through four practical put-offs and put-ons.

The Old Man — Futile, Hard, Past Feeling: Before Christ, we walked in the futility of our minds, like a desert mirage — appearing to promise satisfaction but delivering nothing. We were darkened, alienated from God, and through repeated sin, our hearts hardened until we were past feeling entirely.

Put Off the Old, Put On the New: Because we still live in the same fallen flesh, there is a constant war in our members — just as Paul describes in Romans 7. The Christian life is a daily decision to put off the old man and put on the new.

Four Vices Replaced by Virtues: Lying → Truth (Satan is the father of lies; we should reflect our Father); Anger → Love (be angry and sin not — but don't let the sun go down on your wrath); Stealing → Giving (labor not just for yourself, but to give to those in need); Corrupt words → Edifying words (truthing in love, seasoned with grace).