July 20, 2019 - - Ephesians 4:17-18 - - Gentile or Believer?

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their heart.

Ephesians 4:17-18 ESV

What is the futility of the Gentile’s thinking? Simply this: they are alienated from the life of God—they refuse to acknowledge God and His right to command all our living. “Gentile” in this context is shorthand for non-believer. One description of the hubris of the Gentile that I recently heard stays with me. This one man, who claimed not to believe in God, was asked what would happen if he died and was confronted with God? The man had a response that was filled with pride and ignorance. What strikes me is this man had seriously considered what he would say to God. He had spent time thinking about what he’d say to this God, the same God he thinks doesn’t exist. Let me pose a different scenario.

Let’s say this same man (who claimed not to believe in God) were to be asked about the Easter Bunny: “If you are confronted with the Easter Bunny, what would you say?” Immediately we know this is nonsensical, right? There is absolutely no doubt the Easter Bunny is imaginary. However, in contrast even the hard-hearted unbeliever has a sense there might be a god or some supreme power. There are unbelievers who have hardened their hearts against God, claiming not to believe, but still saying things like: “I don’t believe in God. I hate Him.”

There is Gentile belief: the universe created itself (which is completely illogical—how can something which does not exist at one moment at the same time make itself to exist?). Gentile belief claims the self-creating universe also used non-life to create life. That takes great faith.

Then there is the believer. As a believer I am united to the life of God. The Spirit of the Living God resides in me. The Spirit of the Living God takes the Scripture and makes it plain so that I know all that exists was created by the LORD of Heaven and Earth—He alone is self-existent and outside of creation and time. Whether or not there is a universe, there was, is and always will be the Triune. As a believer I am united to the life of God because Jesus Christ has taken on Himself the punishment for my sins and given to me His right and holy life so that God the Father sees me as one who has the credit which belongs to Jesus. The Father in heaven has accepted Jesus standing in the place of believers, taking their sin on Himself at the cross, and in exchange giving them His righteousness. That takes great faith.

Tomorrow is Sunday. Get to a Bible-believing church and learn more about the God Who exists. You’ll never be sorry you did! It is nothing short of the greatest adventure to serve Him.

Mighty God of Untold Splendor and Majesty—thank You for making Yourself known through creation, and through the Bible and then most beautifully in the Person of Jesus Christ. Increase our faith and our hunger to participate more fully in the life of God. We pray, urgently and persistently, for the people in our lives whom we love who are living as Gentiles, hardening their hearts against believing in You. Spirit of God, break through the shell of their unbelieving and give to them a heart that is tender towards You, Creator, the God of mercy. Prepare us, this Sunday, to receive all whom You will bring to church so that we will welcome them, in the Name of Jesus, and share with them the depths and heights of joy that You give in Jesus our Saviour. Amen.