Isaiah - Verse By Verse

Walking through Ephesians - Day 90

versebyverse | February 12, 2008 18:03

Thought:  To me, it is a supreme privilege to be able to "put on" the new self of Christ.

Question:  Have I "put on" the new self which leads to holiness?

Scripture:  Ephesians 4:24 (NIV):  "and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

Here is the end of the process of the weight of influence of a new attitude upon the life of a believer.  He becomes a "new self."  This stands in complete opposition to the former self, the "old self."  We "put off" one self and "put on" another.  Like wearing a garment, we decide on which one to put on.  It is an act of the will.  It is our choice.  This "new self" is "like God."  Isn't this amazing?!  Now, through Christ, through our acquisition of the "new self" Christ brings, we can actually fulfill the desire Eve had in Eden!  Now we can be like God!  Satan could never deliver this, only God has, "in Christ."  And Christ brings us "true righteousness and holiness", also things Satan could never deliver.  The "new self" is characterized by rightness and holiness, and they will not be a false sham or attempt, they will be "true."  Why?  Because they will be of Christ's power inside of us--God living in us--they will not be our rightnesses or our effort at being holy.  The life of the "new self" is God's life lived through our body--total God-identificatioin, imputed God-life given to us.

Though God imputes His life into us, He never strips us of free will.  Thus Paul's necessary commands:  it's up to us to "put off" and "put on."

Prayer:  Lord, thank You for giving us a new self when we yield up our own, old self.  Help me to truly and fully put on this new life which is true, righteous and holy.  Amen. 

General | Next | Previous | Comments (2) | Trackbacks (0)

Comments

Re: Walking through Ephesians - Day 90

me again | 02/12/2008, 20:33

that is just my paraphrasing of what you have already aptly said.

Eph. 4:24

Frank | 02/12/2008, 20:27

Hello Gayle- the old man is he which is separated from God...fallen, alienated, lost. The new man is a new creation which is the character of God's righteousness and holiness. This new creation is Christ, the Divine nature, being formed in us. "The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit" 1Cor.15:45. He is our Life.
Add comment
 
Accessible and Valid XHTML 1.0 Strict and CSS
Powered by LifeType - Design by BalearWeb - Hosted by New Technologies.