Laying Aside the Old Self

“That, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts 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.

Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.”  Ephesians 4:22-28

How many pastors and Christian counselors have heard a struggling individual confess, “I wish God would have totally changed me from the inside out and taken away any desire for sin when I got saved instead of having to learn to live and respond in a whole new way”? How easy it is for us to wish God would wave His “magic wand” over us, dispelling all our problems, changing our old ways of thinking, and making us all shiny and new.

Paul gives a progression which we move through - a progression which takes effort and time. He says we are to lay aside the old self - our old ways of thinking and doing, old habit patterns.

Then we are to be renewed in the spirit of our mind. Our mind is where we make our choices and exert our will. It has to change the way it functions.

Third, put on the new self - and this new self is created in God’s holy righteousness. Walking in holiness is a choice to live in accordance with who we really are in Christ.

“...in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self...and...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...”  Eph. 4:22-24