Putting Off the Old Self while Putting On the New Self

March 13, 2013 - Ephesians 4:22-24

4:22		就 要 脫 去 你 們 從 前 行 為 上 的 舊 人 ． 這 舊 人 是 因 私 慾 的 迷 惑 、 漸 漸 變 壞 的 ．
4:23		又 要 將 你 們 的 心 志 改 換 一 新 ．
4:24		並 且 穿 上 新 人 ． 這 新 人 是 照 著 　 神 的 形 像 造 的 、 有 真 理 的 仁 義 、 和 聖 潔 。

²² 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;²³ to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Christian life is radically unlike the moralistic religion that emphasizes on performing moral conduct or behaviour by one's own strength. Paul exhorts believers to put off the old self and to put on the new self. The old self refers to our old sinful nature that had been corrupted by our sin while the new self is a gift of God by the Holy Spirit, which is created or re-created to be like God in His character - righteousness and holiness. 

This putting off of the old self and the putting on of the new self is a kind of proper attitude of a believer, knowing that our life has been radically changed and born again by the Spirit through our trust in the Gospel of Christ. This is also a kind of spiritual practice of a believer's life, intentionally placing ourselves before God everyday, being sensitive to the work of the Holy Spirit, and confronting against sin and evil of this world. Christian life is in a sense very dynamic in relating to God by the Spirit. 

My dear Holy Spirit, You are called paraclete - my counselor and teacher of Truth. I desire to follow closely after You and to experience Your continual work in shaping my life to be like God's righteousness and holiness.