To have learned Christ is to have heard Him and been taught by Him as the truth is in Jesus, in contrast to those who walk in vanity of mind with darkened understanding, alienated from the life of God through ignorance and blindness of heart. It is not merely enjoying the privileges of truth or learning doctrines about Him from human instructors, but receiving spiritual education from Himself, eating His flesh and drinking His blood, and copying His self-denying love and deep humility. Those who have so learned Him are converted, cleansed from pride, selfish ambition and hatred, and made like Him in character, gentle, meek, courteous and kind even to those of low standing. They put off the former corrupt conduct, are renewed in the spirit of the mind, and put on the new man created in righteousness and true holiness. That new life puts away lying, sinful anger, stealing and corrupt speech, and instead speaks truth, labors to give to the needy, edifies hearers, and is kind, tenderhearted and forgiving as God for Christ's sake forgives, walking in love and obedience to His commandments.
Context and Contrast
Ephesians 4 plainly reveals God's plan so that all His children may lay hold upon the truth, declaring the means He appointed to keep unity in His church so its members may reveal a healthy religious experience to the world. Learning Christ is bound up with living in unity and agreement, obeying God's commandments, and showing the truth of the gospel to the world through a consistent Christian life. Those united in Christ love and help one another, and their lives testify that God's power is working in them, bound together as one in Christ Jesus with life hid with Christ in God. Such learning conforms life to obedience to the commandments of God and unity in the faith of the Scriptures, practicing the golden rule of doing to others as they would have others do to them and bearing a living testimony that the Father loves them even as He loves His Son. It appreciates the great gift of God so that Christ has not died in vain, uses the provision made by heaven at infinite cost to draw souls to obedience to the law of God, cooperates with the great Master Worker as laborers together with God, becomes partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust, and magnifies the law of God and makes it honorable before the world by courtesy and unwavering fidelity, justice and mercy that demonstrate the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.
God gives different people appointed work and does not intend for one person to carry every responsibility or exercise sole control, but calls for shared service under God's direction. The chapter is solemn instruction of great importance to be brought into practical life, studied and obeyed, calling for speech that builds others up, kindness and forgiveness, love, and faithful service. Living the Bible makes believers strong in the Lord, while substituting personal ideas and opinions misleads others. Learning Christ leaves no place for hard-spiritedness, which comes from being strangers to the working of the Holy Spirit. It calls for a great reformation in life, words, works, and spiritual understanding, with daily breathing of the atmosphere of heaven and catching the inspiration of the angels in the heavenly courts.
Ephesians 4:1-32 is a warning every soul must heed while faith and works are needed in clear lines, light shines amid moral darkness, every ray of light substantiating truth is to be gathered, the banner of the third angel's message is borne aloft, the churches are set in order, and the door of unbelief is closed. In that time Satan's seducing power threatens to deceive even the elect, and failure to make straight paths for the feet turns the weak out of the way. Those who have learned Christ do not walk as other Gentiles and the unconverted walk in vanity of mind, with darkened understanding, alienated from the life of God through ignorance and blindness of heart, past feeling and given over to lasciviousness to work all uncleanness with greediness, living a life separate from God. To have learned Christ means to have heard Him and been taught by Him as the truth is in Jesus, yielding to repentance with faith, putting off concerning the former conversation the old man corrupt according to deceitful lusts, being renewed in the spirit of the mind, and putting on the new man created after God in righteousness and true holiness. Those in Christ do not represent that Gentile disposition, but put away lying and speak truth with neighbors as members one of another, are angry without sin and without letting the sun go down on wrath, give no place to the devil, steal no more but labor with the hands for what is good to give to the needy, let no corrupt communication proceed from the mouth but only what is good for edifying to minister grace to hearers, grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby believers are sealed unto the day of redemption, put away all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking with all malice, and are kind, tenderhearted and forgiving toward one another even as God for Christ's sake forgives.
Meaning of Learning Christ
To have learned Christ is to have heard Him and been taught by Him as the truth is in Jesus. It stands in contrast to walking as others walk in vanity of mind, with darkened understanding, alienated from the life of God through ignorance and blindness of heart, past feeling and given over to indulgence to work all uncleanness with greediness, living separate from God; those who are in Christ do not represent that disposition. Merely coming to enjoy the privileges of the banquet of truth is not learning Christ, for those who claim to believe and even teach the Word to others while working unrighteousness have not eaten the flesh and drunk the blood of the Son of God.
Learning doctrines about Christ from human instructors, and learning mere forms and rules, is not the same as learning Christ. To learn Christ is to receive spiritual education from Him Himself and to feel His converting power. It is to look constantly to Jesus, to see His self-denying love and deep humility, and to copy His example.
Learning Christ means becoming like Him in character and conduct, becoming more spiritually discerning by receiving truth and walking in the light. The one who has learned of Jesus is gentle, meek, courteous, and kind even to people of low standing, treating others respectfully, tenderly, courteously and righteously in words and actions, united with Christ by faith. Rough, sour, fault-finding behavior shows that His Spirit has not been learned, while truth received into the heart transforms character and manners so that outward courtesy is evidence of inward change. This likeness to Him is the necessary education for missionaries to enter doors now opening in all parts of the world, and those who have not so learned must begin now.
Learning Christ means being a continual learner in His school, where the character learned is meekness and lowliness of heart. It comes through earnest study of Scripture with a receptive heart, allowing the Spirit to impress the mind and bring fresh understanding and light, so that Bible truth is presented with sincerity and earnestness. Those who so learn are converted, prayerful, and closely connected with God. They are cleansed from pride, selfish ambition, vainglory, deceit, hatred and selfishness, and do not eagerly seek the highest place; without this learning even ministers who know doctrine will hinder rather than help the church, because cherished sin left in the heart will spring up again and ripen into rebellion.
New Life in Practice
Those taught the truth as it is in Jesus yield to repentance with faith, put off the former way of life, the old self corrupt according to deceitful lusts, are renewed in the spirit of the mind, and put on the new self created after God in righteousness and true holiness. This change is incompatible with the former life of darkened understanding, alienation from God, and corrupt desire. Mere enjoyment of the privileges of the banquet of truth, while claiming to believe and teaching the Word to others yet working unrighteousness, is not this learning, for such have not eaten the flesh and drunk the blood of the Son of God.
That new life puts away lying and speaks truth with neighbors, because believers are members one of another. It is angry without sinning, does not let the sun go down on wrath, and gives no place to the devil. It also steals no more but labors with the hands at what is good in order to have to give to the needy. It lets no corrupt communication proceed from the mouth but only what is good for edifying, to minister grace to the hearers. It grieves not the Holy Spirit of God by whom believers are sealed unto the day of redemption, puts away all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking with all malice, and is kind, tenderhearted and forgiving toward one another even as God for Christ's sake forgives, walking in love and faithful service.
Learning in this way is shown by love for God and fellow believers that testifies to the world that believers have been with Jesus and learned from Him. The truth received into the heart transforms character and manners, so that outward courtesy is evidence of inward change. One who has so learned is gentle, meek, courteous and kind even toward people of low standing, while rough, sour, fault-finding behavior shows His Spirit has not been learned.
This learning conforms life to obedience to God's commandments and to unity in the faith of the Scriptures, with life hid with Christ in God. It practices the golden rule of doing to others as they would have others do to them, bears living testimony that the Father loves believers even as He loves His Son, and shows the truth of the gospel to the world through a consistent Christian life of love, mutual help, and testimony that God's power is working within. Those so united become partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption in the world through lust, cooperate with the great Master Worker as laborers together with God to draw souls to obedience to His law at infinite cost, and magnify God's law as perfect and converting by courtesy and unwavering fidelity, justice and mercy.
This likeness to Him is the necessary education for missionaries to enter doors now opening in all parts of the world that a little while ago were closed. Those who have not so learned must begin right now. It is lived out by denying self, serving as Christ's own for His sake and God's glory, and weaving His grace, love, devotion, zeal, perseverance and energy into service, with prayerful, close connection with God that appeals effectively to souls. It spends no dollar needlessly and invests all that can be spared in His cause, refusing extravagance in anything while the cause of God is so needy.
Having so learned produces a different life seen in worship and character, not entering God's house in extravagant apparel and external display but in dress and spirit appropriate to the holy place. The constraining love of Christ triumphs over the promptings of the natural heart to produce unselfish love. Such faith is sustained by corresponding works, the soul is wrapped up in God taking no credit to self, and a higher standard marks believers as distinct from unbelievers. As a living epistle known and read of all men, the world witnesses this unselfish love, feels condemned for idolatry, and recognizes that the worshiper has learned of Jesus.
To have learned Christ is to have heard Him and been taught by Him as the truth is in Jesus, in contrast to those who walk in vanity of mind with darkened understanding, alienated from the life of God through ignorance and blindness of heart.
It is not merely enjoying the privileges of truth or learning doctrines about Him from human instructors, but receiving spiritual education from Himself, eating His flesh and drinking His blood, and copying His self-denying love and deep humility.
Those who have so learned Him are converted, cleansed from pride, selfish ambition and hatred, and made like Him in character, gentle, meek, courteous and kind even to those of low standing.
They put off the former corrupt conduct, are renewed in the spirit of the mind, and put on the new man created in righteousness and true holiness.
That new life puts away lying, sinful anger, stealing and corrupt speech, and instead speaks truth, labors to give to the needy, edifies hearers, and is kind, tenderhearted and forgiving as God for Christ's sake forgives, walking in love and obedience to His commandments.
Context and Contrast
Ephesians 4 plainly reveals God's plan so that all His children may lay hold upon the truth, declaring the means He appointed to keep unity in His church so its members may reveal a healthy religious experience to the world. Learning Christ is bound up with living in unity and agreement, obeying God's commandments, and showing the truth of the gospel to the world through a consistent Christian life. Those united in Christ love and help one another, and their lives testify that God's power is working in them, bound together as one in Christ Jesus with life hid with Christ in God. Such learning conforms life to obedience to the commandments of God and unity in the faith of the Scriptures, practicing the golden rule of doing to others as they would have others do to them and bearing a living testimony that the Father loves them even as He loves His Son. It appreciates the great gift of God so that Christ has not died in vain, uses the provision made by heaven at infinite cost to draw souls to obedience to the law of God, cooperates with the great Master Worker as laborers together with God, becomes partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust, and magnifies the law of God and makes it honorable before the world by courtesy and unwavering fidelity, justice and mercy that demonstrate the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.
God gives different people appointed work and does not intend for one person to carry every responsibility or exercise sole control, but calls for shared service under God's direction. The chapter is solemn instruction of great importance to be brought into practical life, studied and obeyed, calling for speech that builds others up, kindness and forgiveness, love, and faithful service. Living the Bible makes believers strong in the Lord, while substituting personal ideas and opinions misleads others. Learning Christ leaves no place for hard-spiritedness, which comes from being strangers to the working of the Holy Spirit. It calls for a great reformation in life, words, works, and spiritual understanding, with daily breathing of the atmosphere of heaven and catching the inspiration of the angels in the heavenly courts.
Ephesians 4:1-32 is a warning every soul must heed while faith and works are needed in clear lines, light shines amid moral darkness, every ray of light substantiating truth is to be gathered, the banner of the third angel's message is borne aloft, the churches are set in order, and the door of unbelief is closed. In that time Satan's seducing power threatens to deceive even the elect, and failure to make straight paths for the feet turns the weak out of the way. Those who have learned Christ do not walk as other Gentiles and the unconverted walk in vanity of mind, with darkened understanding, alienated from the life of God through ignorance and blindness of heart, past feeling and given over to lasciviousness to work all uncleanness with greediness, living a life separate from God. To have learned Christ means to have heard Him and been taught by Him as the truth is in Jesus, yielding to repentance with faith, putting off concerning the former conversation the old man corrupt according to deceitful lusts, being renewed in the spirit of the mind, and putting on the new man created after God in righteousness and true holiness. Those in Christ do not represent that Gentile disposition, but put away lying and speak truth with neighbors as members one of another, are angry without sin and without letting the sun go down on wrath, give no place to the devil, steal no more but labor with the hands for what is good to give to the needy, let no corrupt communication proceed from the mouth but only what is good for edifying to minister grace to hearers, grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby believers are sealed unto the day of redemption, put away all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking with all malice, and are kind, tenderhearted and forgiving toward one another even as God for Christ's sake forgives.
Meaning of Learning Christ
To have learned Christ is to have heard Him and been taught by Him as the truth is in Jesus. It stands in contrast to walking as others walk in vanity of mind, with darkened understanding, alienated from the life of God through ignorance and blindness of heart, past feeling and given over to indulgence to work all uncleanness with greediness, living separate from God; those who are in Christ do not represent that disposition. Merely coming to enjoy the privileges of the banquet of truth is not learning Christ, for those who claim to believe and even teach the Word to others while working unrighteousness have not eaten the flesh and drunk the blood of the Son of God.
Learning doctrines about Christ from human instructors, and learning mere forms and rules, is not the same as learning Christ. To learn Christ is to receive spiritual education from Him Himself and to feel His converting power. It is to look constantly to Jesus, to see His self-denying love and deep humility, and to copy His example.
Learning Christ means becoming like Him in character and conduct, becoming more spiritually discerning by receiving truth and walking in the light. The one who has learned of Jesus is gentle, meek, courteous, and kind even to people of low standing, treating others respectfully, tenderly, courteously and righteously in words and actions, united with Christ by faith. Rough, sour, fault-finding behavior shows that His Spirit has not been learned, while truth received into the heart transforms character and manners so that outward courtesy is evidence of inward change. This likeness to Him is the necessary education for missionaries to enter doors now opening in all parts of the world, and those who have not so learned must begin now.
Learning Christ means being a continual learner in His school, where the character learned is meekness and lowliness of heart. It comes through earnest study of Scripture with a receptive heart, allowing the Spirit to impress the mind and bring fresh understanding and light, so that Bible truth is presented with sincerity and earnestness. Those who so learn are converted, prayerful, and closely connected with God. They are cleansed from pride, selfish ambition, vainglory, deceit, hatred and selfishness, and do not eagerly seek the highest place; without this learning even ministers who know doctrine will hinder rather than help the church, because cherished sin left in the heart will spring up again and ripen into rebellion.
New Life in Practice
Those taught the truth as it is in Jesus yield to repentance with faith, put off the former way of life, the old self corrupt according to deceitful lusts, are renewed in the spirit of the mind, and put on the new self created after God in righteousness and true holiness. This change is incompatible with the former life of darkened understanding, alienation from God, and corrupt desire. Mere enjoyment of the privileges of the banquet of truth, while claiming to believe and teaching the Word to others yet working unrighteousness, is not this learning, for such have not eaten the flesh and drunk the blood of the Son of God.
That new life puts away lying and speaks truth with neighbors, because believers are members one of another. It is angry without sinning, does not let the sun go down on wrath, and gives no place to the devil. It also steals no more but labors with the hands at what is good in order to have to give to the needy. It lets no corrupt communication proceed from the mouth but only what is good for edifying, to minister grace to the hearers. It grieves not the Holy Spirit of God by whom believers are sealed unto the day of redemption, puts away all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking with all malice, and is kind, tenderhearted and forgiving toward one another even as God for Christ's sake forgives, walking in love and faithful service.
Learning in this way is shown by love for God and fellow believers that testifies to the world that believers have been with Jesus and learned from Him. The truth received into the heart transforms character and manners, so that outward courtesy is evidence of inward change. One who has so learned is gentle, meek, courteous and kind even toward people of low standing, while rough, sour, fault-finding behavior shows His Spirit has not been learned.
This learning conforms life to obedience to God's commandments and to unity in the faith of the Scriptures, with life hid with Christ in God. It practices the golden rule of doing to others as they would have others do to them, bears living testimony that the Father loves believers even as He loves His Son, and shows the truth of the gospel to the world through a consistent Christian life of love, mutual help, and testimony that God's power is working within. Those so united become partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption in the world through lust, cooperate with the great Master Worker as laborers together with God to draw souls to obedience to His law at infinite cost, and magnify God's law as perfect and converting by courtesy and unwavering fidelity, justice and mercy.
This likeness to Him is the necessary education for missionaries to enter doors now opening in all parts of the world that a little while ago were closed. Those who have not so learned must begin right now. It is lived out by denying self, serving as Christ's own for His sake and God's glory, and weaving His grace, love, devotion, zeal, perseverance and energy into service, with prayerful, close connection with God that appeals effectively to souls. It spends no dollar needlessly and invests all that can be spared in His cause, refusing extravagance in anything while the cause of God is so needy.
Having so learned produces a different life seen in worship and character, not entering God's house in extravagant apparel and external display but in dress and spirit appropriate to the holy place. The constraining love of Christ triumphs over the promptings of the natural heart to produce unselfish love. Such faith is sustained by corresponding works, the soul is wrapped up in God taking no credit to self, and a higher standard marks believers as distinct from unbelievers. As a living epistle known and read of all men, the world witnesses this unselfish love, feels condemned for idolatry, and recognizes that the worshiper has learned of Jesus.