October 8, 2015 OFF WITH THE OLD – ON WITH THE NEW
Ephesians 4:22-24: “that in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lust of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”
The book of Ephesians presents a clear picture of what the life of the believer is to be and how it is in total contrast to the life of a non-believer. As you read the letters of Paul, you soon see that his passion was to proclaim the “unfathomable riches of Christ” and how the life of Christ in us enables us to live and express the new creation that we are. It must be realized that believers can live “beneath their privilege” by not knowing their true identity in Christ. The expressions and the reality of being new people is not reserved for ecclesiastical discussion, or for the here-after; our “newness” is to be expressed in the daily routines of life-in the trenches. As powerful as the gospel is and as supernatural as it is, it has very practical implications for the here and now. The scriptures go into great detail of how believers are to conduct themselves in the daily affairs of life. It is key to understand that we are not to try to gain God’s approval by what we do, but we are to do what we do, as a result of being made new-Christ in us. (There is a place for wanting God’s approval-another subject). As you read the New Testament, you will find many commands and instructions on how we are to live; and how we view these commands and instructions is critical; they are not burdensome, but are actually indicators of our new nature, of the new person that we are. When we know who we are-when we know our new selves-we find that we have a desire to carry out the commands and instructions that we find in scripture. All of the commands and instructions of scripture always lead to life. Just a few example of instructions from Ephesians include: “speak the truth in love,” “grow up,” “do not give the devil an opportunity,” “let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth,” “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you,” “be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another,” “be imitators of God,” “walk in love,” “do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints,” “be careful how you walk,” “do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is,” “be filled with the Spirit,” and “be subject to one another in Christ.” Because of the great and far reaching grace of God; because He has made us new; we can now lay aside the old self-who we use to be- and we can put on the new self-who we are now. Laying aside the old self and putting on the new self is a choice we must make, but it’s not a one-time choice, but rather a way of life. Only by laying aside the old and by putting on the new will we experience the life God intended. We are no longer bound by who we use to be, but have been set free to be whom God designed. So, when we are confronted by something that would irritate us, when someone does us wrong, when we sense fear, when we begin to worry, or whatever we face that would bring out the old self, make the choice to put on the new self-be renewed in your mind-and by doing so, experience the life of God in you. Let us not live one day longer being dominated by anything contrary to the new person that God has made us to be. By not living in our newness, we grieve the Holy Spirit and we suffer loss. It’s a life-changing day for us when we realize that the very life of God is in us making it possible for us to live above the things that would normally defeat us and making it possible for us to be expressions of His love in all circumstances. Remember, the new you has been created in the “likeness of God”; so be sure to daily lay aside the old, and put on the new.
2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”
Romans 13:14: “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lust.”
Colossians 3:8-10: “But you now also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him…”
Blessings,
Buddy
Ephesians 4:22-24: “that in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lust of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”
The book of Ephesians presents a clear picture of what the life of the believer is to be and how it is in total contrast to the life of a non-believer. As you read the letters of Paul, you soon see that his passion was to proclaim the “unfathomable riches of Christ” and how the life of Christ in us enables us to live and express the new creation that we are. It must be realized that believers can live “beneath their privilege” by not knowing their true identity in Christ. The expressions and the reality of being new people is not reserved for ecclesiastical discussion, or for the here-after; our “newness” is to be expressed in the daily routines of life-in the trenches. As powerful as the gospel is and as supernatural as it is, it has very practical implications for the here and now. The scriptures go into great detail of how believers are to conduct themselves in the daily affairs of life. It is key to understand that we are not to try to gain God’s approval by what we do, but we are to do what we do, as a result of being made new-Christ in us. (There is a place for wanting God’s approval-another subject). As you read the New Testament, you will find many commands and instructions on how we are to live; and how we view these commands and instructions is critical; they are not burdensome, but are actually indicators of our new nature, of the new person that we are. When we know who we are-when we know our new selves-we find that we have a desire to carry out the commands and instructions that we find in scripture. All of the commands and instructions of scripture always lead to life. Just a few example of instructions from Ephesians include: “speak the truth in love,” “grow up,” “do not give the devil an opportunity,” “let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth,” “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you,” “be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another,” “be imitators of God,” “walk in love,” “do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints,” “be careful how you walk,” “do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is,” “be filled with the Spirit,” and “be subject to one another in Christ.” Because of the great and far reaching grace of God; because He has made us new; we can now lay aside the old self-who we use to be- and we can put on the new self-who we are now. Laying aside the old self and putting on the new self is a choice we must make, but it’s not a one-time choice, but rather a way of life. Only by laying aside the old and by putting on the new will we experience the life God intended. We are no longer bound by who we use to be, but have been set free to be whom God designed. So, when we are confronted by something that would irritate us, when someone does us wrong, when we sense fear, when we begin to worry, or whatever we face that would bring out the old self, make the choice to put on the new self-be renewed in your mind-and by doing so, experience the life of God in you. Let us not live one day longer being dominated by anything contrary to the new person that God has made us to be. By not living in our newness, we grieve the Holy Spirit and we suffer loss. It’s a life-changing day for us when we realize that the very life of God is in us making it possible for us to live above the things that would normally defeat us and making it possible for us to be expressions of His love in all circumstances. Remember, the new you has been created in the “likeness of God”; so be sure to daily lay aside the old, and put on the new.
2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”
Romans 13:14: “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lust.”
Colossians 3:8-10: “But you now also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him…”
Blessings,
Buddy
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