Paul reminds the Christians in Ephesus that they must live very differently from the people around them. The big difference between Christians and others is found in their minds, in what they know, in the ways that they have been enlightened. This reference to their minds is not connected to their intelligence levels.
The thinking of the Gentiles was dark in a spiritual sense because they did not know God. This ignorance was wilful, caused by the hardness of their hearts. The outcome was that they became so hardened that they delighted to engage in every kind of sin. Most sinful practices at that time were connected to pagan worship, which encouraged immorality. Such a lifestyle was to be eschewed by Christians.
In contrast, they had been enlightened about Jesus the Saviour. His death and resurrection have made it possible for sinners to live a holy life, one that is very different from how the Gentiles behave. The Holy Spirit has renewed them and given to them what Paul calls ‘the new self’. The new self is a new creation in which they become increasingly like God himself.
How can we tell if we are becoming like God? All we need to do is ask ourselves if we want to live a holy life. No Christian can be perfectly holy in this life, but they should be increasing in holiness, especially in inner dedication to the God who has made them spiritually alive. We should check often if holiness of life is our aim.
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