Ephesians 4:20
20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
Our opening verse starts with the conjunction "But" this word connects two ideas that contrast and it is a pivot point we find throughout the scripture and the direction usually makes a 180 degree turn when we find it. For instance: Genesis 6:7 And The LORD said, I will destroy man..... Genesis 6:8 But, Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Christ uses the conjunction over twenty times in His sermon on the mount and how appropriate that is. At the point in time when Christ began to join two seemingly contrasting ideas, Law and Grace. It seems that there couldn't be two ideas more contrasting than that of law and grace. How do we reconcile "Eye for an Eye" and " Love thy Neighbor as thyself?" Through Christ is how. He is the junction between law and grace; "I came not to destroy the law but to fulfill it" were the words of our Lord. Furthermore, more how do we combine Sinful Man with Righteous God. How do we reconcile the dirty with the clean. How can such differing ideas ever have any hope of conjoining? That is the purpose of "But." In a sense, Jesus is our great conjunction. Me: lost, sinful unholy and unrighteous; God; Holy, righteous, Pure. Christ is what joins me to God and He serves as the great conjunction between man and God. I was lost, But. I was unholy, But. I was wicked, But. Actually all of men were in this condition until God butted in and gave us His great conjunction, Christ; The mediator between God and man. Conjunction junction what's your function? Hooking up two cars and making them one. Is a song we sang as children and how true it is of the ministry of Christ, making us one. Christ joins us to God and to each other.
"But ye" what a blessed phrase! If this can be said of you, then you are among His people. This verse serves as the pivot point between a life of debauchery in verses 17-19 and life of sanctification in verses 21-24. "But ye have not so learned Christ" when I read this I think of the sin in my life that has stood in direct contrast to the forgiveness and calling God delivered to me. It is true there has been sin but that sin stood in direct contrast to the "But" God had delivered into my life. What I am saying is, when sin creeps in I'm so glad that it isn't who I am and there is a new nature in me that says: But Ye have not so learned Christ. But, you are forgiven, But you are bought with a price. I'm so glad there is a new nature that stands in direct contrast to the old one. Paul put it this way in Romans 7:20 "Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me." God butted into my life years ago and He continues to do it to this day. Thank God for the whispers of the Holy Ghost, when I lose my temper, when I look in the wrong direction, when I open my mouth when it should stay closed, when I neglect my duties; He whispers "But ye have not so learned Christ."
"But Ye" what a blessed phrase to hear! We have a father who reminds us to whom we belong and how to behave. Verse 20 pivots the walk of the lost man to the walk of Christ and it hinges on "But ye." Has your life pivoted from the walk of a lost man to the walk of Christ? Is there a new nature that stands in contrast to the old? Is there a "But" in your life?
According to the riches of His Grace!!
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