These twins won’t just ruin your life, they’ll destroy it …

There was a set of twins in the Garden of Eden that helped to usher sin into the world. These twins are still hanging around, and the Apostle Paul warns us about them.

These twins have corrupted every human life, causing not just ruin but destruction to the point of spiritual death.

Who are these terrible two?

Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. – Ephesians 4:21-22.

From the beginning, the father of lies slithered into the Garden and, making Eve his target, worked to deceive her. He continues his same efforts with us, and others also try to help him with his efforts to deceive. But it was Eve who allowed herself to be deceived; God had given both her and Adam clear, concise, easy-to-understand instructions. They had heard the truth about their options and consequences from God Himself, yet Eve allowed herself to believe something different.

So do we.

That’s why James warns us not to do the exact same thing that Eve did …

“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling [deceiving] yourselves,” James 1:22.

When Eve heard Satan’s deceptive pitch, she lusted after the message of the lie, that of becoming like God. James again steps in and warns us that we don’t even need the devil to slither into our lives to be carried away by lust but that we, like Eve, can be drawn away by lust on our own …

“Temptation comes from our own desires [lusts], which entice us and drag us away,” James 1:14.

What can we do about these terrible twins?

That brings us back to Paul’s warning and exhortation to us …

Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. – Ephesians 4:21-24

From Paul’s admonition, we see three things we need to do to beat the evil twins of lust and deception:

1. Make a choice for Christ. Paul says, “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him …” we need to make a choice for Christ, which we demonstrate by doing the rest of what Paul says in 21, “… throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception …” We don’t have the strength — or even the natural inclination! — to defeat lust and deception, but Jesus does. He is the way, the truth, and the life, and by choosing to surrender our lives entirely to Him we join in His defeat of sin and sin’s consequences (death).

2. Have your minds supernaturally transformed. Our entertaining lies and lusts in our minds and hearts have already wrecked us. We need to have our minds renewed so that we think differently. Paul tells us in verse 23, “Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.” This transforming work of the Holy Spirit in our lives will enable and empower us to think differently, desiring to fix our thoughts on things above rather than here below, and know the truth.

3. Put on an entirely new nature. With Jesus saving us, and the Holy Spirit transforming us, it’s time we join in and “Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy” (v. 24). Yes, we do have changes we’re to make in response to Christ saving us, and in cooperation of the Holy Spirit transforming us. Paul describes just some of our responsibility in the remainder of Ephesians 4, verses 25-32:

“So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. And ‘don’t sin by letting anger control you.’ Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

Have you overcome deception with the truth found in Jesus Christ? Have you overcome the temptations of lust by allowing the Holy Spirit to change the way you think? Have you put on a new nature found in Christ, one that is truly righteous and holy? Or are you still flirting with the twins?

Scotty