The Darkened Mind – Eph 4:17-19

[Eph 4:17-19; Titus 3:5; Jn 1:6-9; Rom 1:18-20]

There should be a difference between the outward life of a Christian, and that of a sinner. Here is a review of the reasons why we should not walk as worldly people walk. When we become carnal, we are no longer led by the Spirit of God, but are controlled by the flesh.

Don’t walk the way unsaved people walk. Paul tells us why:

• their minds are darkened because they believe lies and have not received the truth

• they are spiritually dead

• they have surrendered themselves to do all kinds of sin

Eph. 4:17 (NKJV) – This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,

Walk: to tread all around, i.e. walk, to live, follow as a companion, be occupied with, walk (about).

Futility: vanity, nothingness, worthlessness, used in Romans 8:20 to show the emptiness of the present in contrast with the living fullness of the future (Eph 4:17); 2Pet 2:18).

The thought is not that unregenerate minds are empty. It is that they are filled with things that lead to nothing spiritual.

Mind: the intellect, thinking.

God hates sin, and in verse 17, He gives us a direct order to not act like worldly people.

[4:18] having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;

Understanding: through the mind. Understanding, intellect, intellectual faculty, mind. An operation of the understanding, thought, imagination, to think.¹

Darkened: to obscure, incomprehensible.

Alienated: to estrange away.

Ignorance: lack of true knowledge, an ignorance which leads to stupid actions, with refusal to take responsibility for foolish decisions. Someone who is unable to relate, oblivious to the program, and too proud to be wrong.

Blindness: stupidity or callousness.

Heart: the thoughts or feelings (mind).

Paul says in verse 18, that unbelievers are “alienated from the life of God.” They are separated because they have not accepted the Author of life. Refusing to accept Jesus is called “ignorance.” It is ignorance to keep rejecting the only answer to your problems. This is because of the “blindness of the heart.”

(Now as a side note, rabbit trail, etc.)

Many have taught that we need to be born-again because we have been born only of the flesh, and now need to be born of the Spirit. That is an incorrect description of “born-again.” It leaves out an important detail and leads to confusion. It is like saying we do not have a spirit until we accept Christ.

If we didn’t have a spirit – the body of flesh would be lifeless. But it could better be explained that we are “born anew,” or “born from above,” (both non-biblical). Some Bible study tells me to call this “regeneration.”

Titus 3:5 (NASB) –He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

Regeneration: also, “renewal” (see, Rom 12:2).

We are born into this world spiritually alive. Humans reproduce the flesh, but only the Author of life can supply the spirit. We see this when we read about John the Baptist;

John 1:6-9 (NKJV) – There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. [7] This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. [8] He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. [9] That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

Who is the light? Jesus! Do you see it? God through Jesus, “the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.” Mankind is illuminated when we come into the world as living creatures, human beings. This is why I believe little children go to heaven when they die.

Now this begs the question, “When does darkness come in?” I believe the answer is in the first chapters of Romans. Chapter one deals with the Gentiles, and chapter two concerns the Jews. Chapter three shows there is no difference because “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23).

Rom 1:18-19 (KJV) – For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness, [19] because that which may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.

Hold^[2722] katecho (kat-e’-cho) from 2596, “kata” down, or against, and 2192, “echo” to hold. to hold down (hold fast). Other translations say, “suppress.” Which is to restrain, or oppress.

Do you see it? What do they hold (or suppress) in unrighteousness? The truth! Every man knows the truth. God has put within the spirit of every man a knowledge that there is a God. People of the world try to substitute wooden gods, stone gods, even cows for their true God in order to try to fill the vacuum. Men know there is a God.

Rom 1:20 (NKJV) –For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

People can understand the invisible things of God by the visible things He has created.

Back to Ephesians 4:19

[4:19] who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

Past feeling^[524] to become apathetic – has the idea of one’s skin becoming so callused and insensitive that it’s no longer feels pain.

Lewdness^[766] also translated licentiousness: The bad man usually tries to hide his sin; but the man who has this in his soul does not care how much he shocks public opinion so long as he can gratify his desires. This is sin that flaunts itself, throwing off all restraint and having no sense of shame or fear.

Uncleanness^[167] is a broad word, mostly with reference to sexual behavior. Impurity, with greediness – insatiably dirty-minded, can’t wait for the next opportunity to be lewd, or detestable.

Unbelievers never seem to fulfill or satisfy their appetite for the works of darkness.

Proclamation:

Thank God, I have experienced the miracle of being raised from the dead. My life is not futile, but full of purpose. My mind is filled with the light of God’s Word, and my heart has the fullness of God’s life.

I give my body to God as an instrument of righteousness (Rom 6:13), and not to sin for the satisfaction of my own selfish lusts. In every way, I am different from the unbeliever. Glory to God, amen.

God bless you my friend,

— Dwight Hammond

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¹Zodhiates, Spiros. Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible–NASB (Chattanooga: AMG, 1984; rev. ed. 1990), 1822.