Put Off The Old – Put On The New

-October 4, 2021-

Good morning, happy Monday,

“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 in the new man, which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”

(Ephesians 4:22-24).

Paul discusses the subject of the old nature verses the new nature here in Ephesians 4:17-24 and also in Colossians 3:5-17. For the believer, each of us have two natures, the old nature which is sinful, coming from Adam, and the new nature, which is holy and righteous.

Paul calls upon us to put of the old man or nature, and put on the new nature. You can’t change the old nature, it must be crucified and put to death, and its evil ways must be put off. Before we were saved, that is how we lived. The things we are are to put off are found in Colossians 3:5-9, “fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, covetousness, which is idolatry.” He also mentions putting off “anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language, and “do not lie to one another.”

These sins make us cringe, and we can’t believe we are capable of committing all of them. This is why we must put them off daily, and when we sin, we must confess them to God. Man labels sins, some as very evil like fornication, adultery, and murder, and others as much less evil, such as lying, getting angry, or listening to or telling off color stories or jokes. God is holy, sinless, and righteous, and all sins are evil and repugnant in His sight.

On the other hand we are to put on the new nature or new man, which is the life of Christ. Paul also lists the qualities which we should put on: “tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, bearing with one another, forgiving each other, and especially putting on love and peace.”

The Holy Spirit dwells within every believer and produces these character qualities as we submit to the Lord, obey Him, and do His will. We must remember that we are growing and becoming more and more like Christ until the time we get to heaven and we will fully conformed to the image of Christ. In the mean time, we are in a spiritual battle between the old nature and the new nature. With every victory, we gain strength in our spiritual lives.

Our prayers should be that God will show us what needs to be changed in our lives, by putting off the old and putting on the new. Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives within me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” If the great apostle needed to be crucified to the flesh, how much more do we need to be as well. We can’t give the flesh an inch or it will take a mile.

Have a blessed day putting off the old and putting on the new. Let’s fill our minds with God’s Word, pray for His guidance and help, and have fellowship with His people. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean