So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking, darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.  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 4:17 – 18, 22 – 24.

Paul is writing in earnest to Jewish and Gentile believers!  To all of us.  He insists that believers must live Godly lives.  It is not enough to just hear but not do.

He insists that believers must put off your old self.  That we must do, God cannot do that for us, we must decide to do it and do it!  We must deliberately abandon our own sinful selves, not just sinful ways but our sinful selves and put on the new self.  What is that new self?  One created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.  Does that describe me?  Of course, it does.  Praise God!

This we must understand if we are new creatures in Christ.  It is not a patch-up thing, but a complete change in thinking and walking with God.  I do believe that this is one of the most radical aspects of the Gospel, no religion or philosophy insists on such a complete putting off and putting on.

As I think of it, every believer can, and must do this.  Especially me!  Put off the old of this world and put on Christ.  This is happening today, all over our planet.  That is how radical following Christ is.