Ephesians 4:22-24 - Experiencing the New Life in Christ.

Eph.4:22-24; Experiencing the New Life in Christ.

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man,
which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in
the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after
God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Eph 4:22-24
(KJV)


So get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used
to--the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires.
Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, and you must put
on the new self, which is created in God's likeness and reveals
itself in the true life that is upright and holy. Eph 4:22-24 (TEV)


The old self . . . the new self; the old is what we were before
we were saved, and the new is the new life we have in Christ.
[Ryrie SB]


Since the new self is created, it cannot refer to the indwelling
Christ, but rather to the kind of person he produces in the new believer
- - this is a new way of life that one not only "puts on"
positionally at conversion but is also urged to "put on" experientially as a
Christian.  [NIV SB]


Our old way of life before we believed in Christ is completely
in the past. We should put it behind us like old clothes to be
thrown away. This is both a once-for-all decision when we decide to
accept Christ's gift of salvation and also a daily conscious
commitment. We are not to be driven by desire and impulse. We must put on
the new role, head in the new direction, and have the new way of
thinking that the Holy Spirit gives. [Life Application SB]


The grace of Christ is essential every day, every hour. Unless
it is with us continually, the inconsistencies of the natural heart
will appear and the life will present a divided service. The
character is to be full of grace and truth. Wherever the religion of
Christ works, it will brighten and sweeten every detail of life with
more than an earthly joy and a higher than earthly peace.  6BC1117


Under God's Searching Eye
Provision has been made whereby every soul that is struggling
under sinful practices may be made free from sin. "Behold the Lamb of
God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). The
Christian is not to retain his sinful habits and cherish his defects of
character, but he is to be renewed in the spirit of his mind after the
divine similitude. Whatever may be the nature of your defects, the
Spirit of the Lord will enable you to discern them, and grace will be
given you whereby they may be overcome. Through the merits of the
blood of Christ you may be a conqueror--yes, more than a conqueror. .
. .

Ask the Lord to reveal to you yourself; place your life under
His searching eye, and when He lays hold upon your case you will see
that you have made grievous mistakes, and what you supposed was of
little importance was offensive in the sight of Heaven. You will see
that there is a decided need of thorough transformation of character.
You will realize that you must put away the evil of your doings, and
cooperate with God and heavenly angels who are sent to minister unto those
who shall be heirs of salvation. . . .

Self must die. Every practice, every habit, that has a harmful
tendency, however innocent it may be regarded by the world, must be
battled with until overcome, that the human agent may perfect a
character after the divine Pattern. . . .

The crooked ways, the perverse doings of those around us, are
not to dim the luster of our piety or to lead us to conform our
habits to, and assimilate our customs and practices with, the world's.
Let the prayer go forth from the lips of those who claim to be the
sons and daughters of God, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try
me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting" (Ps. 139:23, 24).
[www.bibleuniverse.com]


Then put off the old self which is corrupt and deceitful and
full of lust.  Determine to live totally for Him.  Begin each day
with a commitment to live for Christ.  This is what it means to put
on the new self, to be a new person in Christ, one who has been
re-created in uprightness and holiness. Eph 4:22-24 (CWB)