Righteousness and Holiness, 26 July 20926
26 07 26 Filed in: Sermons | Ephesians: Our True Identity
Righteousness and Holiness
Ephesians: Finding Our True Identity
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
July 26, 2026
Ephesians 4:17-24
Series Big Idea: For followers of Jesus, we find our true identity in Christ.
Big Idea: Followers of Jesus are made new, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness
History is filled with many great stories of transformation. There’s Pinocchio going from a doll to a boy, the Ugly Duckling becoming a beautiful swan, and one of my favorites, a little rag-wearing orphan named Annie finding herself as the adopted daughter of a prestigious family. I once was…now I am…
It reminds me of a song. Maybe you’ve heard it. I once was lost, but now I’m found. Was blind but now I see.
Followers of Jesus are made new by the power of God. Your world is different when you go from lost to found. Transformation occurs when you go from blindness to sight. It is impossible to follow Christ and not be different.
As we continue our study of Paul’s letter to first-century Christians he says,
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. (Ephesians 4:17)
Everything begins with our mind. We must think differently from the world. We have purpose and meaning. Don’t keep up with the Jones’. Don’t do what everyone’s doing. Culture is filled with lies. Fools are everywhere. The way of the world, the flesh, and the devil leads to death, though it can be so shiny and attractive on the outside. Sin distorts and destroys.
They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. (Ephesians 4:18)
I can’t imagine separation from God. That’s essentially the definition of hell…and we all get to make the choice. You can’t follow God and the world. I think we all try, but it’s impossible. Jesus said,
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. (Matthew 6:24a)
We not only change our thinking, but our citizenship. We belong to Jesus, not the world. Back to Ephesians…
Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. (Ephesians 4:19)
This is what happens when we reject God. Fortunately this is no longer relevant in our pure, generous culture, right?
It’s amazing how relevant this verse is 2000 years later! Our world is obsessed with money, pleasure, and power. Paul says, “Having lost all sensitivity” and sometimes it seems people have lost their minds! What is the fruit of following the world? Addiction, abuse, anxiety, fear, dissatisfaction, pain, regret,…
That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. (Ephesians 4:20-21)
Throughout this letter Paul talks about being in Christ, in him, in Jesus. A few weeks ago I referenced being on his team, wearing his uniform. This is not the result of a hobby or casual relationship, but rather radical commitment. God’s not looking for part-time lovers. He said,
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (Mark 12:30)
An hour on Sunday isn’t enough. Following Jesus is a lifestyle.
It’s that time of year when I hear whistles blowing and coaches yelling outside my office. The UF football team is prepping for the upcoming season. Imagine a player saying to the coach, “I’ll give you an hour a week.” You can’t be committed to a college sports team in one hour a week…and the same can be said for following Jesus. We need to be in Christ. With Christ. Following Christ.
Now here’s where we see the before and after story.
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24)
Put off your old self. Put on the new self. You’re not that old person anymore. You’re a new creation!
It’s like switching teams, taking off the old uniform and joining a new one.
The fancy word is sanctification. It’s the process becoming like God in true righteousness and holiness. You could say there are three phases.
Positional sanctification or justification is when we say yes to Jesus and are saved by God’s grace. For most of us, this is a past event.
Progressive sanctification is what we’ve been talking about today, growing in holiness, a present process.
Final sanctification or glorification is when we die, enter eternity with God, and are conformed to the image of Jesus.
Last year, I was introduced to the incredible work of Welcome to a New Life in Findlay whose mission is to provide mentorship and resources for adults who are involved in the Hancock County criminal justice system, helping them to achieve crime-free, drug-free, productive lives. I’ve heard several before-and-after stories from their staff and today I’m thrilled to welcome one of their clients to briefly share their story.
So What?
The message today is not about trying harder, do better, improve yourself. It’s about being transformed by knowing Christ. The order Paul gives is
a. You learned Christ (20)
b. You were taught in Christ (21)
c. Your mind is being made new (23)
d. Therefore, you can live differently through surrender to the Holy Spirit (24)
We are told to put off the old self and put on the new self. We were once in Adam with distorted desires and self-centered thinking. Now we are in Christ, new creatures recreated in God’s image, living like Jesus in righteousness and holiness.
If you haven’t said yes to Jesus, today can be your spiritual birthday, the most important day of your life. The simple prayer is, “Jesus, I give you my life.”
If you’ve said yes to Jesus, how is your journey? I know you’re not perfect, but are you growing? Are you being sanctified? Are you living more like Jesus in righteousness and holiness today than a year ago?
If not, your next step may be to join a small group, begin serving, develop daily habits of prayer and studying the Bible, or filling your mind with media created to help you become like Jesus.
It’s hard to be in the world and not of the world, to be surrounded by sin and evil and temptation while living an alternative lifestyle of faith, hope, and love. It doesn’t just happen. Every day we need to surrender, pick up our cross, and follow Jesus.
We’ve been changed. We are different. We’re not that old person. We’re no longer orphans like Annie was, but adopted sons and daughters of the most high God. Let’s act like it!
Followers of Jesus are made new, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness…for His glory. Hallelujah!
Ephesians: Finding Our True Identity
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
July 26, 2026
Ephesians 4:17-24
Series Big Idea: For followers of Jesus, we find our true identity in Christ.
Big Idea: Followers of Jesus are made new, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness
History is filled with many great stories of transformation. There’s Pinocchio going from a doll to a boy, the Ugly Duckling becoming a beautiful swan, and one of my favorites, a little rag-wearing orphan named Annie finding herself as the adopted daughter of a prestigious family. I once was…now I am…
It reminds me of a song. Maybe you’ve heard it. I once was lost, but now I’m found. Was blind but now I see.
Followers of Jesus are made new by the power of God. Your world is different when you go from lost to found. Transformation occurs when you go from blindness to sight. It is impossible to follow Christ and not be different.
As we continue our study of Paul’s letter to first-century Christians he says,
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. (Ephesians 4:17)
Everything begins with our mind. We must think differently from the world. We have purpose and meaning. Don’t keep up with the Jones’. Don’t do what everyone’s doing. Culture is filled with lies. Fools are everywhere. The way of the world, the flesh, and the devil leads to death, though it can be so shiny and attractive on the outside. Sin distorts and destroys.
They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. (Ephesians 4:18)
I can’t imagine separation from God. That’s essentially the definition of hell…and we all get to make the choice. You can’t follow God and the world. I think we all try, but it’s impossible. Jesus said,
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. (Matthew 6:24a)
We not only change our thinking, but our citizenship. We belong to Jesus, not the world. Back to Ephesians…
Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. (Ephesians 4:19)
This is what happens when we reject God. Fortunately this is no longer relevant in our pure, generous culture, right?
It’s amazing how relevant this verse is 2000 years later! Our world is obsessed with money, pleasure, and power. Paul says, “Having lost all sensitivity” and sometimes it seems people have lost their minds! What is the fruit of following the world? Addiction, abuse, anxiety, fear, dissatisfaction, pain, regret,…
That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. (Ephesians 4:20-21)
Throughout this letter Paul talks about being in Christ, in him, in Jesus. A few weeks ago I referenced being on his team, wearing his uniform. This is not the result of a hobby or casual relationship, but rather radical commitment. God’s not looking for part-time lovers. He said,
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (Mark 12:30)
An hour on Sunday isn’t enough. Following Jesus is a lifestyle.
It’s that time of year when I hear whistles blowing and coaches yelling outside my office. The UF football team is prepping for the upcoming season. Imagine a player saying to the coach, “I’ll give you an hour a week.” You can’t be committed to a college sports team in one hour a week…and the same can be said for following Jesus. We need to be in Christ. With Christ. Following Christ.
Now here’s where we see the before and after story.
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24)
Put off your old self. Put on the new self. You’re not that old person anymore. You’re a new creation!
It’s like switching teams, taking off the old uniform and joining a new one.
The fancy word is sanctification. It’s the process becoming like God in true righteousness and holiness. You could say there are three phases.
Positional sanctification or justification is when we say yes to Jesus and are saved by God’s grace. For most of us, this is a past event.
Progressive sanctification is what we’ve been talking about today, growing in holiness, a present process.
Final sanctification or glorification is when we die, enter eternity with God, and are conformed to the image of Jesus.
Last year, I was introduced to the incredible work of Welcome to a New Life in Findlay whose mission is to provide mentorship and resources for adults who are involved in the Hancock County criminal justice system, helping them to achieve crime-free, drug-free, productive lives. I’ve heard several before-and-after stories from their staff and today I’m thrilled to welcome one of their clients to briefly share their story.
So What?
The message today is not about trying harder, do better, improve yourself. It’s about being transformed by knowing Christ. The order Paul gives is
a. You learned Christ (20)
b. You were taught in Christ (21)
c. Your mind is being made new (23)
d. Therefore, you can live differently through surrender to the Holy Spirit (24)
We are told to put off the old self and put on the new self. We were once in Adam with distorted desires and self-centered thinking. Now we are in Christ, new creatures recreated in God’s image, living like Jesus in righteousness and holiness.
If you haven’t said yes to Jesus, today can be your spiritual birthday, the most important day of your life. The simple prayer is, “Jesus, I give you my life.”
If you’ve said yes to Jesus, how is your journey? I know you’re not perfect, but are you growing? Are you being sanctified? Are you living more like Jesus in righteousness and holiness today than a year ago?
If not, your next step may be to join a small group, begin serving, develop daily habits of prayer and studying the Bible, or filling your mind with media created to help you become like Jesus.
It’s hard to be in the world and not of the world, to be surrounded by sin and evil and temptation while living an alternative lifestyle of faith, hope, and love. It doesn’t just happen. Every day we need to surrender, pick up our cross, and follow Jesus.
We’ve been changed. We are different. We’re not that old person. We’re no longer orphans like Annie was, but adopted sons and daughters of the most high God. Let’s act like it!
Followers of Jesus are made new, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness…for His glory. Hallelujah!