Putting On The "New Self" Of Ephesians 4

Reflect on Ephesians 4:11-32. In Ephesians 4:24, what does Paul mean when he says we are call to "put on the new self" (NIV)? In your own faith context, what is the greatest challenge in helping people to put on the new self?






   To understand what it means when Paul says we are called to “put on the new self (man),” we must first know who the old “man” was and how we can be changed. This old “man” is explained briefly in verse 17 as how the “gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.” In other words, it is the person we were before conversion in our hearts. I like how the King James version says it as, “in the varity of their mind.” We are to surely be different post-conversion as this so-called “new man.”
               
   When Jesus saves us, our sins are washed away and our blemishes rendered invisible. We are made pure, holy, and righteous before God in judgment again because of the witness of Jesus Christ in our life. Perfection may be impossible for us, but the Word is clear that we should at least strive for it. However, what happens when we fail to put on our “new man”? Knowing god and going back out into the same sin and activities we were involved in prior to knowing Him is equivalent to a mom dressing her kids up in their “Sunday best”, only for them to run outside and jump in a mud-puddle. While we were once as verse 18 says, “darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.” We should now after conversion be new creatures or a “new man, which after God is created in the righteousness and true holiness.” We are to now be, “putting away laying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.” We must turn from our wicked ways and as Jesus told the woman caught in adultery, “Go, and sin no more” (John 8:11)!


   From my experiences across the board in ministry, the hardest part about helping people to put on the new self is helping them realize that the “new self” even exists. There is a false-gospel being spoken out there in the world that it is alright to maintain our sin and walk with God. However, this is a heresy from Hell. Without repentance, there is no salvation and without salvation, there is only death. Many are being taught a lie which is to maintain how they live, maintaining their unhealthy lifestyles wallowing in sin, until it is too late before they realize what they are doing isn’t working. This can only be combatted by displaying to them the full gospel regarding righteousness and sin. The bad has to be preached with the good and that is the only way for the Gospel to be effective. Jesus rebuked sinful lifestyles where it was needed and nowhere do I see that He embraced a person’s life who was in sin, but rather He instructed them on how to be saved and then live sin free. Babes in the faith may need some help, coaching, and time to unlearn negative behaviors, but somewhere in their spiritual growth they will begin to shed that “old wineskin” and develop the new. 

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