LOST and FOUND
When do we “Put on the new Self”?
When do we “Put on the new Self”?
And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind
[having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude]
Ephesians 4:23, AMPC
[having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude]
Ephesians 4:23, AMPC
The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. It changed the federal legal status of more than 3.5 million enslaved African Americans from slave to free. He signed and it was a done deal – finished. Unfortunately, many slaves did not hear of it and others just wouldn’t believe it. Out of habit and way of thinking, many of these poor people still lived like slaves. They needed to live in accordance with the new facts. When they were tempted to think like a slave, they needed to say, “No, the truth is I am now a free man!” They needed to appropriate that truth into their daily experience.
Likewise, Jesus signed, sealed and delivered our liberation from sin. We now experience the joyous freedom of salvation by believing. But still we live daily with the pull of sin trying to drag us back into a sham slavery. What is the answer?
Clearly, Ephesians 4:22 and 24 show that a Christian has already “put off” the old self and “put on” the new self. Verse 23 is like the sandwich filling, the verb “be constantly renewed” (Wuest) is present tense, something we need to do constantly, “be made new in your dominant mental attitude” (NWT). This includes more than a program of Bible study. Prayerfully linger on past, present and future grace. Like a child excitedly ripping off the layers of wrapping paper from daddy’s gift, progressively explore and discover the depth of Christ’s affection surrounding our new identity gifted in our new birth.