Wednesday, March 9, 2022
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, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:19-24
As the Truth is in Jesus
Paul wrote the book of Ephesians to the new believers in Ephesus. He spent chapters 1-3 telling them all the glorious things that God has done for them, freely – through no works of their own. Now that they know what God did for us, he is addressing how they should live as believers.
Paul was mentoring this group of new believers in Ephesus. They had stumbled in their identity and learning what exactly being a believer meant. He challenged them to be different than the world as God had called them out. In the verses previous to the verses above, Paul said that the world – who has hardened their hearts against Christ – live a life much different than those who have learned Christ. We are His children, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness, and we are called to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, - created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
We should no longer be walking in the darkness and corruption of our old selves and deceitful desires but walking in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit totally transforms us so we think and live right. We are new creations in Him and this change impacts how we think and what we do in every situation.
How can we live like we are created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness?
First we surrender to God and His will for our lives. The world hardens its heart towards God but we have the gift of the Holy Spirit that helps us align our thoughts and actions to what He says is true, and holy and pure.
Second, we adopt a Christ-like mindset. Instead of pridefully embracing our own thinking, we listen and learn from Christ's humble example.
Thirdly, we engage in holy purpose, committing our whole selves to pleasing God and living according to His word. This way is opposite to the world - and our “old self.” This is how the “new person” walks in their new life in Christ.
Satan is always waiting for us to step back into our old self but when we are believers, we have crucified our old self to the cross.
It takes a daily renewing to put on Christ. We have to pay close attention to it because if we choose to let the flesh rule, it will rule over our lives. If we live surrendered to God, we can leave it at the altar and live according to the spirit.
