Today let’s look at a passage that really sums up the Christian life.

Ephesians 4:22-24

22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,

This old self, the tendency to have things our own way, and to do things in our own power, has to be laid aside.

In the original language, when it says the old self is being corrupted, it is in the present tense, which means our old nature is in a constant state of escalating corruption. We all like to think that we get better as we get older, but this passage says different! It says that our flesh gets worse and worse.

Don’t buy the lie that we have to enter into strict self-denial, or clean up our act to please God:

Romans 8:8

8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Nothing we do in our own fleshly power can ever satisfy what God demands: perfect righteousness. We have to learn (by way of the next verse) to put aside our old self-centered nature, and our natural tendency to try to do things in our own power.

How do we do it?

23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

The original Greek says that we be renewed in the PNEUMA TOU NOOS. That really means in the breathing of our soul. It is talking about what we take in to our soul, and what we put out by applying to our lives. As you breathe in the word of God, and exhale the application of the things you learn to your circumstances, you will naturally lay aside the old sinful nature.

It’s interesting to me that this verse is in the passive voice. That means that we ARE RENEWED by the breathing of our soul. The one who produces this renewing action is not us, but God, who renews us as we take in His Word. As we do this, the natural result is verse 24.

24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

This new self is the one that has perfect righteousness, and a real devotion to the truth. Notice, we don’t create this new nature, but it has been created for us by God.

It’s not created by having a sweeter personality than we did before, or living morally, or witnessing, praying or serving – it’s not a gradual improvement of our old flesh. Instead, it’s a brand new nature, created by God.

This new nature cannot sin, it’s something that was never there before; it’s brand new! This is a description of the new self:

1 John 3:9

9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

This is not to say that we will never sin. Of course we will! But we should realize, as Paul did, that this old nature within our flesh, that is constantly being corrupted, is not the nature that we will live in forever. Look how Paul puts it:

Romans 7:17

17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

Romans 7:20

20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

While we still live now in this flesh, God has given us a completely new nature, that cannot sin, to live in for all eternity. How did He do it?

Galatians 2:20

20 "I have been crucified with Christ; (that’s the old self!) and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh (that’s the new nature) I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Talk about the truth that sets you free! Realize when you sin, it’s simply that old flesh you live in doing its thing, and God has already crucified it.

Understanding this crucifixion of our old self will enable us to live like this:

Colossians 3:9-13

9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,

10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him --

11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.

12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.