“Old Man” Versus “New Man”
“Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings, and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator, where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.” (Colossians 3:9-11 WEB)
Read the passage above and notice how putting off the old man and putting on the new man are in the past tense.
When you are saved, these events are already completed. You have already put on the new man. You have been recreated in the image of Christ—perfect, righteous, holy and acceptable to God.
However, you are still undergoing a renewal in knowledge. It is not happening in your spirit which has already been perfected by the Holy Spirit.
This renewal is happening in your mind. Your mind is still catching up to the truth of what has happened to your spirit.
Within our mind, there is always the struggle of the “old man” versus the “new man”. The world always tries to deceive us into putting on the unregenerated mindset of a sinner who is dead in sin.
For example, as mentioned in the passage above, the “old man” sees the differences which separate men into factions, whereas God sees all born-again believers as one in Christ. We are individual members that make up the body of Christ.
That’s why Paul urges us to be transformed (in soul and body) by renewed our minds through receiving the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have to put on the new man in our minds because that is who we truly are now.
“Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2 WEB)
We are no longer that “old man” who loves sin and reaps death. That human spirit has been crucified with Christ, and we are a new creation in Christ.
Replace the “old man” thoughts and beliefs in your mind with godly beliefs as you hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God is working on you to make you think and behave like Him.
“Now, brothers, I entrust you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build up, and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” (Acts 20:32 WEB)
Prioritize receiving the word of God’s Grace daily. It is an important time of mind renewal. This is not just for soothing your emotions—there is so much power released when you believe the Gospel of Grace. It builds you up in many ways and enables you to receive the inheritance (all of God’s blessings) that you have in Christ.
The world’s ways only lead to burn out, stress, depression, compromise and losses. On the other hand, God’s ways lead to restful and unceasing fruitfulness. Supernatural ways lead to supernatural results!
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