PUTTING ON THE NEW MAN
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."
Ephesians 4:24 (NKJV)
The responsibility of a believer in Christ Jesus is not only about putting off the old man, the sinful nature (Ephesians 4:22), but being also renewed in the mind, thought, feeling or will (Ephesians 4:23), which symbolizes the putting on of the new man that was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24). The putting off of the old man, the sinful nature, the renewing of the mind, and the putting on of the new man which was created according to God is the major challenge of many professed believers.
Why is it difficult? It is difficult because the three assignments, the putting off, the renewing of the mind, and the putting on cannot be delegated to be done for someone, and they cannot be done by impartation, the laying on of hands. You had to do it by yourself. Work on your personal growth: "THEREFORE, MY BELOVED, AS YOU HAVE ALWAYS OBEYED, NOT AS IN MY PRESENCE ONLY, BUT NOW MUCH MORE IN MY ABSENCE, WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING" (Philippians 2:12 NKJV). As no one can eat on your behalf, or go to toilet for you, this also had to be done by yourself—personally.
The responsibility of working out your salvation with fear and trebling is a personal act and a personal responsibility which cannot be done on your behalf. The putting off of the old man, the sinful nature, is done through the daily feeding on the Word of God and the application or practice of whatever is learnt from it (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3; James 1:22-25). Through the process of feeding on the Word of God daily, your mind is being renewed and transformed. When you begin to practice It, the outcome of it is seen outwardly, the process is known or called putting on of the new man.
There are some believers who are filled with the knowledge of the Bible, but what they have is a kind of head knowledge—mental assent. They have not allowed their knowledge to be experiential, because they practice not what they claim to know; which shows that they believe not what they claim to know. If they did at all, they would have put it to work, that is, practice It.
The putting on of the new man according to our text talks about reflecting or portraying, exhibiting or mirroring the true nature of a transformed person in Christ Jesus. It would be difficult to believe some people who claim to be born-again are, when you meet them. They have little or no difference between them and the unbelievers. They might truly be born-again, but they are not undoubtedly not transformed or broken.
Transformation is done from the inside of you and manifested on the outside. If you are truly transformed on the inside, in your mind, in your thinking, It would show or manifest on the outside. Transformation is not what is done by pretense, although some do that that they might be accepted or be the norm in the gathering of the believers, but a truly transformed person would be seen and known through his or her character; how he or she talks, their appearances or outlooks and how they relate with other people.
A transformed person, also known as a broken person, would have the fear of God. Such would know the consequences of whatever wrong he or she does and the repercussions or dents or weakening effects that such could have on his or her relationship and fellowship with God.
A transformed person knows the importance and weightiness of whatever they did wrong. They dare not take anything for granted. Such knows what would be the outcome of his or her rebellion or transgression or whatever wrong they did. Thus, such would not want a truncation or cut in their relationship and communion with God.
Thus, the process of transformation that comes through the knowledge of the Word of God, the Bible—reading, studying, pondering, and the application of the Word is known as putting on of the new man. The new man there talks about the newly reborn human spirit. Thus, manifestation of the newly reborn human spirit on the outside is what is known as putting on of the new man. In other words, the new man on the inside, the recreated human spirit, the nature and the attributes of the new man or recreated human spirit could now be seen outside.
It is only few believers who had gotten to or attained this level or state in their Christian journey.
The goal of every believer should be about getting to this stage or level or height in Christ Jesus. It could also be considered as attaining the stature of Christ fullness (Ephesians 4:13).
You might have not been there yet, but that should be your goal as a believer in Christ Jesus who is heavenly minded. You should out of other things strive daily to attain that level—the stature of Christ's fullness (Ephesians 4:13). Apostle Paul said:
12 NOT THAT I HAVE ALREADY ATTAINED, OR AM ALREADY PERFECTED; BUT I PRESS ON, THAT I MAY LAY HOLD OF THAT FOR WHICH CHRIST JESUS HAS ALSO LAID HOLD OF ME. 13 BRETHREN, I DO NOT COUNT MYSELF TO HAVE APPREHENDED; BUT ONE THING I DO, FORGETTING THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND AND REACHING FORWARD TO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE AHEAD, 14 I PRESS TOWARD THE GOAL FOR THE PRIZE OF THE UPWARD CALL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS. 15 THEREFORE LET US, AS MANY AS ARE MATURE, HAVE THIS MIND; AND IF IN ANYTHING YOU THINK OTHERWISE, GOD WILL REVEAL EVEN THIS TO YOU. 16 NEVERTHELESS, TO THE DEGREE THAT WE HAVE ALREADY ATTAINED, LET US WALK BY THE SAME RULE, LET US BE OF THE SAME MIND" (Philippians 3:12-16 NKJV).
One thing is that you should forget whatever level you have already attained, and perspire to reach the higher level or stage that is expected of you. Do not count yourself to have gotten there or apprehended, attained or gotten hold of it, because you are a Bishop or a G.O of a so-called Big minister (Philippians 3:13). If Apostle Paul said, he had not gotten there, even with all his labour then in his missionary-apostolic work then, I would not want to think that you, the one who is reading this piece, have gotten there as well.
We could also see in the above Scripture that attainment is in stages or levels. Someone's attainment in Christ, his or her level of maturity, may be higher than that of another person, but each person should walk according to the level of their attainments in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:15,16).
In other words, growth or transformation of a believer from the inside to the outside is in stages or levels or degrees. However, whatever level or stage that you are, walk in the light you have received. Let the transformation be seen in your life; in your character and your relationship with other people (Matthew 5:16). When this is done or seen in your life, you have put on the new man on the inside of you (Ephesians 4:24).
Peace.
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