“But that is not the way you learned Christ!—assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus.” (Ephesians 4:20-21)
When did you first start learning about Christ? Did you grow up with parents who taught you about Jesus? Or did you start learning what the Bible has to say about Christ when you were a teenager? Or were you, perhaps, already an adult when you first began to learn about Jesus?
But, timing aside, when did you actually learn Christ?
Is there a difference between learning about Christ and learning Christ?
Yes, indeed. That difference may be represented in Ephesians 4:20-21. Paul’s statement that his readers “learned Christ” is unusual; I have never come across a sentence in ancient Greek literature that combines the word “learn” with a person as its object (though I happily admit that I may have missed something!). It is possible, of course, to learn a fact, a theory, or various pieces of information. And you can learn about a person. But learn a person? This is what makes Paul’s accusation so arresting: “But that is not the way you learned Christ!” What does it mean to learn Christ?
Think about the verses that surround this expression. Paul’s words about learning Christ immediately follow his reminder that Christians should not walk (his word) the way people in the world do—in futility and darkness and ignorance and hardness of heart (4:17-19). Suddenly he exclaims: “But that is not the way you learned Christ!” Then he follows his outburst by reminding them that they had heard Christ, been taught in him, and that truth is in Jesus (4:21).
Considering what comes before and after, we have to conclude that to “learn Christ” involves both learning about him and experientially knowing him in daily life. Paul’s words about hearing, being taught, and knowing the truth indicate the gospel message they had learned—that is, what they had learned about Christ. But his words about being taught in Christ and being careful about how Christians should walk suggest that learning Christ is also relational and practical. This means that learning Christ is both learning the truths about Christ and being relationally connected to Christ.
So when did you learn Christ? Like many people, you may have learned some content about Christ before you came into personal commitment to Christ. But if you’re anything like me, you are still learning Christ.
Let’s finish these reflections about learning Christ by allowing Paul’s challenge to sink into our heads, hearts, and hands. If in fact we have learned Christ, we need to commit ourselves to stop living the way people in the world live and start living according to what we have learned. If we judge that our learning of Christ is lacking, we can recommit to learning all we can about Christ and reconnecting with him relationally. If you’re unsure how to do this, I encourage you to commit yourself again to spending time talking with him about it (prayer) and reading the most-precious-of-all books which he has sent to help you build your relationship with him (Scripture). Also, don’t forget to spend time around others who have a deep and solid relationship with Christ. Accordingly, you and I will be reminded of what we have learned and the relationship into which we have entered. We will grow in conviction that we are intrinsically and relationally connected to Christ.
But we can only truly learn Christ if we deeply own the truth that we are united to Christ. That is, coming to learn Christ is based upon the fact that we are already in Christ.
This post was adapted from chapter 56, “Learning Christ” in How to Live an ‘in Christ’ Life: 100 Devotional Readings on Union with Christ.
