Together in Christ: 'This Is Not Christlike!' — Ephesians 4:20-22

Monday, May 12, 2025

But [living immorally] isn't what you learned about Christ. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.

— Ephesians 4:20-22 NLT

Key Thought

Two of the things Paul made clear in His teaching about Jesus were these: the cost Jesus paid to redeem us from sin and what that means for our lives as His followers:

For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. [1]
. . .
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! [2]

As we seek to become more like Jesus, we want to continually throw off our old sinful nature corrupted by out-of-control desires and the devil's lies. Having been re-born as God's child, Jesus poured the Holy Spirit out on us and into us. [3] The Spirit works God's transformation in us as we throw off the old sinful nature and develop the fruit of the Spirit, [4] striving for full maturity in Christ. [5] Instead of living in the tattered and filthy rags of our past, we live into the future clothed in Christ as we become His presence in our world. [6] God wants us to know that we can leave our filthy rags of sin behind [7] and be clothed in the righteous of Christ [8] as we share His grace with the world that needs to know His love!

[1] 2 Corinthians 5:21.
[2] 2 Corinthians 5:17.
[3] John 3:3-7; Titus 3:3-7.
[4] Galatians 5:16-26.
[5] 2 Corinthians 3:17-18.
[6] Galatians 3:26-29; Colossians 3:12.
[7] Romans 5:6-11.
[8] Galatians 3:27; Job 29:14; Isaiah 61:10.

Today's Prayer

Thank You, God, for the Good News of Jesus. I rejoice that You have helped me throw away and bury my filthy rags of corruption and sin. I praise You for giving me a new and holy life because of Jesus' sacrifice for my sins — a life without fault and free from any basis of accusation against me. [A] Now I ask for the Holy Spirit's help to bury those filthy rags as I deepen my relationship with You and draw near to You as my Father, Savior, and God. Thank You. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

[A] Colossians 1:22 and Romans 8:1-2.

Related Scripture Readings

  • 2 Corinthians 5:11-21
  • Ephesians 2:1-10

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Illustration

Illustration of Ephesians 4:20-22 NLT — But [living immorally] isn't what you learned about Christ. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.

About This Devotional

Together in Christ is a daily devotional that focuses on what Scripture teaches about godly living in relationships.

'Together in Christ' is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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