A New Man

Another way in which the New Testament talks about the word “new” is found in Ephesians 4:17-24 which we can read below:  17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.  20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

In order to put on something new you have to get rid of something old.  The “old man” as described here is a man of sin; a man of corruption and deceitful lusts.  But the new man is something different altogether.  The new man is renewed in the spirit of the mind.  The new man is created according to God in true righteousness and holiness.  That’s a pretty amazing thought.  Sinful people like us, trapped in some very dingy looking “threads” because of our sin, have the opportunity to “put on” true righteousness and holiness.  Now, my regular wardrobe is not that exciting and certainly not filled with a bunch of Italian sounding names; however, my spiritual wardrobe is different because of what God has made for me.  True righteousness and holiness can only come from God.  It cannot originate from our effort or the efforts of anyone else.  Thanks be to God for the “new man” that we can put on!