This document discusses Ephesians 4:17-24 and the need for Christians to shed their "graveclothes" and old sinful ways of living. It notes that as unbelievers, we all wore the same "graveclothes" and followed our sinful nature, but now as believers we must take off the old and put on righteousness. Specifically, it states that we must: 1) no longer walk as darkened and ignorant gentiles, 2) shed our hardened hearts, and 3) stop giving into sensuality and impurity, instead putting on the new self created in God's holiness. The document urges readers to examine if they are still holding onto old sins, and to remove those "graveclothes"

1. Title Layout

2. EPHESIANS 4:17-24
“Take Off the
Graveclothes”

3. I don’t have anything to wear!
•Ever heard this, when there’s a
closet full of clothes?
•We tend to classify people by
what they wear daily…
•We also choose attire based on daily plans
•As un-believers we all wore the same
spiritual clothes-- graveclothes

4. Graveclothes…
•They were natural, meaning in them,
we did whatever our carnal natures
wanted to do
•Sometimes, we’re tempted to put
them back on, they were comfortable…
•Now that we are re-born, we need to
take the old ones off and put on
Grace-clothes!!

5. 17 "So this I say, and affirm together with the
Lord, that you walk no longer just as the
Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their
mind, 18 being darkened in their
understanding, excluded from the life of
God because of the ignorance that is in
them, because of the hardness of their
heart; 19 and they, having become callous,
have given themselves over to sensuality,

6. for the practice of every kind of impurity
with greediness. 20 But you did not learn
Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have
heard Him and have been taught in Him,
just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference
to your former manner of life, you lay aside
the old self, which is being corrupted in
accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and

7. that you be renewed in the spirit of your
mind, 24 and put on the new self, which
in the likeness of God has been created in
righteousness and holiness of the truth.”
Ephesians 4:17-24, NASB

8. A. The Graveclothes
•Vs 17-19 urge us to “no longer walk”
like the lost Gentiles
•You’ve heard the phrase, “pet sins”?
•Don’t think you’re the only one
•The Apostle Paul admitted the
same struggle in the book of
Romans

9. “14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I
am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. 15 For
what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am
not practicing what I would like to do, but I am
doing the very thing I hate.”
Romans 7:14-15, NASB

10. Walk like the Gentiles…?
•1) Having their understanding darkened
•‘Understanding’, ‘ignorance’ point to
the mind—thought derives action
•When Paul wrote this, the mind was
thought to be Divine in Greek society
•This world has lots of knowledge, but
very little wisdom

11. Walk like the Gentiles…?
•2) Blindness of their heart
•NIV, KJV, others use blindness in
stead of the word “hardness” in V18
•The Greek word, ‘porosis’ (from ‘poros’, or
stone) means both-- also stupid and callous
•Medical term with a nuance- Paul is saying
they choose to remain blind

12. Walk like the Gentiles…?
•3) Given themselves over to
lewdness, to work all
uncleanness with greediness
•Sums up the 21st Century mindset
•Politicians, judges, only care for
their power
•2500 years ago Jeremiah said this

13. “Were they ashamed because of the abomination
they have done?
They were not even ashamed at all;
They did not even know how to blush.
Therefore they shall fall among those who fall;
At the time that I punish them,
They shall be cast down,” says the Lord.
Jeremiah 6:15, NASB

14. B. The Grace Clothes
•Vs 20-24 tell us how to “suit up”
•What is it to “learn” Christ?
•The better we know the Word,
the more we can know Him
•The lost man is spiritually ignorant, the
Christian “knows” based on learning
•As Christians, he haven’t just changed our
minds, we have totally changed citizenship
•Lazarus, John 11

15. “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creature; the old things passed away; behold,
new things have come.
2 Corinthians 5:17, NASB

16. Take Home…
•Are you still holding onto your
old Graveclothes?
•Still hiding pet sins?
•Take them off and burn them!
•If you’re a new creation, you’ve
no reason to go back to them!