The Futility of the Mind-God's View of Human Thinking
Ephesians 4:17-19
Futile: Having no useful (in our context-eternal) result.
Remember: Because of the fall of man, all human thinking, apart from Jesus Christ, is rooted in the lie.
Genesis 1:26-2:25 Man was created to live in totally dependence on the Abundance of the Good God. His very life was to be the outflow of the Goodness of God in every area.
Genesis 2:17, 3:1-24 The death that God had warned our first parents of was the death of that Relationship with the God of Ultimate Provision and Safety.
That death is manifested in two ways:
1. God is not to be trusted! Gen 3:1 & 4-5 Next step-There is no God.
2. Man must become his own God, or make one, or find one. Man was not created to go it alone!!! He continually is seeking that which he has lost, but as the old saying goes, he looks for love, security, and supply in all the wrong places.
Hebrews 2:14-15 In the context of this text, that being Christ becoming Man, we find that He came to deliver his people from the fear of death, a fear that has held them in bondage all their “lifetime”. Even the word “lifetime” is a concession to this bondage. Eternal life doesn’t have a time!!! Death reveals the ultimate futility of threescore and ten!!!
Ephesians 4:17-19 This portion is the Apostle Paul’s Inspired description of the control center of fallen man-the mind. In the context, the Apostle has given us a most glorious description of what God has done for us In Christ Jesus. He is proceeding to show us the practical change in behavior that faith in the Riches in Christ Jesus, our Inheritance, should bring about.
But first, the contrast. Here is who we once were.
Romans 1:21-22 This is why the Wrath of God is revealed against ungodly man:
1. Man does not Glorify God as God, that is, acknowledge God for Who He Is, living in willing dependence upon Him.
2. Man is unthankful!!!
3. This ignoring of God’s eternal power & glory led all men into futility in their thinking and foolishness in all their behavior. Any “God empty” thought or behavior is that of a fool!!!
Back to Ephesians 4, Paul’s expanded explanation of this utter futility. Here’s what a futile mind looks like in God’s eyes. Remember, we aren’t just talking about the brain. This is heart stuff, the control center of man.
1. ”Their understanding is darkened”-no Divine/eternal light in their environment. No God Resource and Supply. The “why/fair” question hovers over all their days.
2. “Because of the ignorance that is in them, they are alienated from the Life of God”. It’s not that man needs more information about or evidence of God. It is that man doesn’t have the understanding nor intelligence to see the Life of God that is in front of his very nose.
3. “Because of the hardening of their heart.” This speaks of the deadness of the heart of fallen man toward God. Instead of dependence upon the Good God, man craves independence. Therefore, human history is strewn with destroyed relationships.
4. “Who being past feeling.” Not only is humanity largely incapable of feeling/understanding the hearts of others, they also foundationally don’t know and understand their own feelings. And most of all, there is no feeling/groping after God even though He is not far from any of us. (Acts 17:24-29)
Here is the behavioral result of such a futile mind/control center:
1. Licentiousness/Lawlessness-Man is a law unto his own self, governed by his own passions. God’s law is for the purpose of Relationship—first with Him and then with each other. Man is the determination of law, in society first, but ultimately for himself. Speed limits are made to be broken, you know!
2. All uncleanness—Matthew 23:27 Don’t just think of the “bad guys” of Romans 1:24. The Pharisaical heart is unclean! We inherently condemn vigorously what is most assuredly lurking in our own hearts.
3. With greediness—It’s all about me. We live in the age of the idolatry of self. We are our own god. Everything should serve us, our comfort and welfare. Romans 12:1 is an earth shattering concept.
Colossians 3:1-7 This passage sets the stage for the next portion of our study, and the encouraging part of our study. It teaches us two things:
1. When we come to Christ, God doesn’t give us an immediate lobotomy!!! It’s not that we immediately
think right thoughts all of the time and never are lawless or unclean or greedy any more. But a process begins. Our location changes—we no longer live in that futile environment. (vs 7)
2. We are to be involved in putting to death “our members” which are on the earth. (vs 5) Members speaks of every part of us that was in the world and went after the world and its pleasures—in a word, our flesh.
3. And here is how we put those members to death: “Set your mind on things above…..for your life is hidden with Christ in God.” For our Christ is sitting at the right hand of God and all power has been given unto Him! (Vs 2-3) Or as Ephesians 4:20 so simply says “But you have not so learned Christ”
Next time: Learning Christ, the mind renewal process!
Ephesians 4:17-19
Futile: Having no useful (in our context-eternal) result.
Remember: Because of the fall of man, all human thinking, apart from Jesus Christ, is rooted in the lie.
Genesis 1:26-2:25 Man was created to live in totally dependence on the Abundance of the Good God. His very life was to be the outflow of the Goodness of God in every area.
Genesis 2:17, 3:1-24 The death that God had warned our first parents of was the death of that Relationship with the God of Ultimate Provision and Safety.
That death is manifested in two ways:
1. God is not to be trusted! Gen 3:1 & 4-5 Next step-There is no God.
2. Man must become his own God, or make one, or find one. Man was not created to go it alone!!! He continually is seeking that which he has lost, but as the old saying goes, he looks for love, security, and supply in all the wrong places.
Hebrews 2:14-15 In the context of this text, that being Christ becoming Man, we find that He came to deliver his people from the fear of death, a fear that has held them in bondage all their “lifetime”. Even the word “lifetime” is a concession to this bondage. Eternal life doesn’t have a time!!! Death reveals the ultimate futility of threescore and ten!!!
Ephesians 4:17-19 This portion is the Apostle Paul’s Inspired description of the control center of fallen man-the mind. In the context, the Apostle has given us a most glorious description of what God has done for us In Christ Jesus. He is proceeding to show us the practical change in behavior that faith in the Riches in Christ Jesus, our Inheritance, should bring about.
But first, the contrast. Here is who we once were.
Romans 1:21-22 This is why the Wrath of God is revealed against ungodly man:
1. Man does not Glorify God as God, that is, acknowledge God for Who He Is, living in willing dependence upon Him.
2. Man is unthankful!!!
3. This ignoring of God’s eternal power & glory led all men into futility in their thinking and foolishness in all their behavior. Any “God empty” thought or behavior is that of a fool!!!
Back to Ephesians 4, Paul’s expanded explanation of this utter futility. Here’s what a futile mind looks like in God’s eyes. Remember, we aren’t just talking about the brain. This is heart stuff, the control center of man.
1. ”Their understanding is darkened”-no Divine/eternal light in their environment. No God Resource and Supply. The “why/fair” question hovers over all their days.
2. “Because of the ignorance that is in them, they are alienated from the Life of God”. It’s not that man needs more information about or evidence of God. It is that man doesn’t have the understanding nor intelligence to see the Life of God that is in front of his very nose.
3. “Because of the hardening of their heart.” This speaks of the deadness of the heart of fallen man toward God. Instead of dependence upon the Good God, man craves independence. Therefore, human history is strewn with destroyed relationships.
4. “Who being past feeling.” Not only is humanity largely incapable of feeling/understanding the hearts of others, they also foundationally don’t know and understand their own feelings. And most of all, there is no feeling/groping after God even though He is not far from any of us. (Acts 17:24-29)
Here is the behavioral result of such a futile mind/control center:
1. Licentiousness/Lawlessness-Man is a law unto his own self, governed by his own passions. God’s law is for the purpose of Relationship—first with Him and then with each other. Man is the determination of law, in society first, but ultimately for himself. Speed limits are made to be broken, you know!
2. All uncleanness—Matthew 23:27 Don’t just think of the “bad guys” of Romans 1:24. The Pharisaical heart is unclean! We inherently condemn vigorously what is most assuredly lurking in our own hearts.
3. With greediness—It’s all about me. We live in the age of the idolatry of self. We are our own god. Everything should serve us, our comfort and welfare. Romans 12:1 is an earth shattering concept.
Colossians 3:1-7 This passage sets the stage for the next portion of our study, and the encouraging part of our study. It teaches us two things:
1. When we come to Christ, God doesn’t give us an immediate lobotomy!!! It’s not that we immediately
think right thoughts all of the time and never are lawless or unclean or greedy any more. But a process begins. Our location changes—we no longer live in that futile environment. (vs 7)
2. We are to be involved in putting to death “our members” which are on the earth. (vs 5) Members speaks of every part of us that was in the world and went after the world and its pleasures—in a word, our flesh.
3. And here is how we put those members to death: “Set your mind on things above…..for your life is hidden with Christ in God.” For our Christ is sitting at the right hand of God and all power has been given unto Him! (Vs 2-3) Or as Ephesians 4:20 so simply says “But you have not so learned Christ”
Next time: Learning Christ, the mind renewal process!