That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 4:20 – 24

The truth that is in Jesus is that the difference between a child of this world and a new-born child of God is night and day.  A believer discovers that his or her decision to follow Christ with all one’s heart, mind and soul means everything.  Paul describes it as putting off your old self…to be made new.  I am trying to grasp what it means to put off one’s old self.  It goes further than just taking off one garment and putting on another.  It goes to the very heart of a person, to his or her deepest desires and attitudes of the mind.  We call it a change of heart.

We noted that it is far more than changing a garment, it is changing the fundamental way of life.   When we first read Paul’s description of what happens, we are astounded!  It is being made new in the attitude of your minds, he insists.  Not just a repaired old thing, but an entirely new one!  He insists that God gives us new selves!

And, friend, what does this new “self” look like?  Listen carefully, it is created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.  To be like God!!  That is what it is all about, not a patched up old one but an entirely new one.  And how is God?  He is true righteousness and holiness.  As we put on Jesus we embrace true righteousness and holiness, like God!

I will leave it at that.  I need to let this truth invade my entire life and thinking.