Take off the Old, Put on the New

In Ephesians 4:22-24 I read, “Put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires . . . be made new in the attitude of your minds; and . . . put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." (NIV)

If I want to have lasting change, I have to start with the body—and my mind is part of my body. So, to change my life, I have to change the way I think.

Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (NIV). That word “transformed” in the Greek is the word we get “metamorphosis” from. Metamorphosis is what happens when a caterpillar changes into a butterfly.

When a caterpillar wraps itself in a cocoon, it eventually comes out. But it’s been transformed—not into a better version of a caterpillar, but into a totally different creature. That’s not an improvement. That's a radical transformation! And only God can do that.

Radical transformation is what God wants for me, as well. I can turn over a new leaf on my own, but only God can give me a new life. He does this by renewing my mind.

Ephesians 4:22-24 says, “Put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires . . . be made new in the attitude of your minds; and . . . put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (NIV).

Notice that there’s a putting off and a putting on. The health of my mind comes down to stopping some stuff I need to stop doing and starting some stuff I need to start doing. Stop putting negative, hurtful things in my mind. Start watching and listening to things that make me more like Christ.

In the renewal of my mind, I’ve got to put off before I can put on. Let’s say I go to a store to look for a new coat. I find a new one to try on. But if I’m wearing a coat already, I’ll have to take off the old one before I can put on the new one.

That’s also true spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. Look at the verses from Ephesians 2 again. The Bible says, “Put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires.” The “old self” is the impulses and compulsions that pull me the wrong direction.

Then I need to “be made new in the attitude of your minds.” Attitudes are kind of like diapers.  I’ve got to change them every once in a while, or they start stinking.

Only after I’ve put off my old self and old attitudes can I “put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

If I need change in my life today? Remember that a changed life begins with a changed mind.

In summary, to have lasting change, start with the body and in particular my mind. To do so means I have to change the way I think. Romans 12:2 tells me to, “not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of my mind”. The word transformed in Greek is “metamorphosis”. When a caterpillar wraps itself in a cocoon, it eventually comes out. But it’s been transformed—not into a better version of a caterpillar, but into a totally different creature. That's a radical transformation! And only God can do that. While I can turn over a new leaf on my own, only God can give me a new life. He does this by renewing my mind. So I’m reminded to put off my old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, and be made new in the attitude of my mind. Then I can put on the new self, created to be like God. There’s a putting off and a putting on. It comes down to stopping some stuff and starting some stuff I need to start doing. Stop putting negative, hurtful things in my mind. Start watching and listening to things that make me more like Christ. I’ve got to put off, before I can put on. The “old self” is the impulses and compulsions that pull me the wrong direction. Then be made new in the attitude of your minds.” Attitudes are kind of like diapers.  I’ve got to change them every once in a while, or they start stinking. Only after I’ve put off my old self and old attitudes can I “put on the new self. A changed life begins with a changed mind.

My old way of life before I believed in Christ is completely in the past. I should put it behind me lie old clothes to be thrown away. When I decided to accept Christ's gift of salvation, it was a one-for-all-time decision along with daily conscious commitments. I am not to be driven by desire and impulse. I must put on a new nature, head in a new direction, and have a new way of thinking that the Holy Spirit gives me.