Past Feeling

17 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, 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; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 4:17-24, NKJV

How are Christians and non-Christians different? What does it mean to become past feeling?

Paul, when writing to the church at Ephesus, characterizes the difference. Verses 17 - 19 describe the old man (non-Christian), and verses 20 - 24 describe the new man (Christian). Sometimes, as Christians, the waters get muddied up when we turn back to the ideals of the world.

Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 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; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness .

Do the Gentiles know that they are spiritually blind? No; as a matter of fact, some of them consider themselves to be Christians. Is their situation hopeless? If they continue to look to themselves and to the world for answers, yes. However, there is always hope in Christ.

But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness .

Our salvation is completely given to us by Christ; no work that we do can achieve a right relationship before God. However, notice that we are told to "put off" the old man, and to "put on" the new man. As a Christian, we are new in Christ; everything about us changes! Our heart is no longer blind; we have true hope in Christ. No longer being alienated from God, our life now has purpose. We know that God puts us in various places and stations of life to be a testimony for Christ to those around us.

What a glorious day to be a Christian!

Pray today that your heart would be spiritually alive in Christ, and not past feeling.