Put Off And Put On
In matters of grace, it is most important that our trust be in the finished work of Christ and our confidence in the righteousness He has provided. That cannot be challenged as though it is somehow fragile and must be bolstered by our own efforts. These truths are more than made clear in the New Testament letters. That is why I emphasize the power of grace and remind believers of the love and righteousness of God they have received in Christ.
Equally true is the fact that a changed life is, in fact, just that - a changed life. I no longer live as I did before, only in pursuit of what pleases me in my flesh. This was deeply understood by the great apostle of grace, named Paul. In speaking to the Ephesians, he stated the following.
(NLT) Ephesians 4:17 With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.
As new creations in Christ, we have been given a spiritual DNA that is distinctly different from what we were before we came to know Jesus. Sometimes we need to be reminded of this supernatural dynamic that took place within us, so that we do not return to our old ways of living before we came to know Jesus. Coming to Jesus taught us things about who He is and what He is like, and exposed the folly and futility in the way we lived prior to coming to know Him. Our lives were empty before we came to know Him, and now they are filled with true life, love, and hope because of Him, making us brand new. He made us something we weren't before, something that never existed prior to coming to Him.
(NLT) Ephesians 4:20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God, truly righteous and holy.
I appreciate how Paul doesn't shy away from discussing our conduct while on this earth. But I appreciate even more how he always places such discussion on the foundation of who we are in Christ and what we have received from Him. In our fallen state, prior to Jesus, we were unable to choose good things out of sheer joy; we had to either choose them out of fear of being cursed or fail to choose them altogether due to lust for pleasure. In Christ, we now have the power to choose things out of sheer joy and appreciation for Christ and them. We can now see the beauty in them. How is that possible? We have a new nature created to be like God, truly righteous and holy.
If the behavior I am choosing is out of step with who my Father is and who Christ is, then it is out of step with who I am now that I am in Christ. It truly is that simple. If I am letting the Holy Spirit renew my thoughts and attitudes, I will find myself desiring to set aside things that, before coming to Him, had deceived me into thinking they could bring me fulfillment, joy, and prosperity of soul. My heart and my eyes have been opened to the goodness of God revealed in His righteousness given to me and the new life I have received in Jesus. When I am in the light as He is in the light, I discover that I see things for what they truly are, and I begin to desire to put away the unprofitable things. I take off the old clothing that I once wore and put on the new garments He has given me.
I do not dress in what He has given me to earn His love, affections, attention, or to merit His promises. I dress in what He has given me because I am proud to be known as His, by looking like one who belongs to Him, and I appreciate the beauty of His wardrobe on me.
I have come to realize that His wardrobe for me is my best look, so I put off the old look and put on the new one, which is more accurate to who I am now in Christ Jesus, which is truly righteous and holy.
