“And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
Ephesians 4:24
Putting on the new man sounds easy, like putting on your shoes or clothes. The concept is easy. It simply means that you make a decision to live differently from now on by following “after God” in a way that displays His “righteousness and true holiness.” Unfortunately, because of your old flesh, doing it is not so easy. And it’s actually impossible to live righteously in your own strength. But there is good news!
God enables you to “put on the new man” through the strength of Christ your Savior. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
God enables you to “put on the new man” when you abide in Christ and you allow Christ to abide in you. John 15:4-5 says, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
God enables you to “put on the new man” by and through His grace.
Titus 2:11-12 says, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”
But how do we put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness?
- Start by remembering that you are a new creature in Christ. You now have the power of God to overcome sin. II Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
- Be transformed by renewing your mind through the study of God’s holy Word. Romans 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
- Then choose to think godly thoughts and behave righteously. Ephesians 4:24 says, “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteous-ness and true holiness.”
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,” II Peter 3:10-11
God expects His children to live righteously, but He knows that we can’t live a holy lifestyle apart from His power.