The Old Man And The New Man

Col.3:9] Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

[10] And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

As time goes by, we ‘grow older’ with it day by day, and as long as we ‘live,’ it is of “a certain’ that we will continue to grow older and older in our bodies. And just as that is of a truth, God desires that we know that we too should grow in our spiritual lives, and Paul tells the Colossian Saints that if they are “risen with Christ,” “seek those things which are above,” and “set their affections” upon the Spiritual things that be of God. Paul knows that they do not currently “seek” those things, he also knows that their affection is not currently “set” on those things while they are in the old man. But if they are now walking in a new life, they ought to now ‘think differently,’ and grow up as this new life goes on day by day. And that new life is a ‘risen together with Christ’ life.

Col.3:1] If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

[2] Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

[3] For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

[4] When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Therefore, we ought to understand and appreciate this “life” that we now have “with Him,” and it ought to be of ‘a certain’ that we too would grow in Christ, but instead of only just growing old, we are to grow in ‘a new.’ And we are to grow in the new man as Paul teaches us about our life together with Christ in our new “risen” life. And the “New man” ought to be “put on,” and this is done by our “renewed mind,” and when we became justified unto eternal life, God saved our inward man from the debt and penalty of sin against him, but God also made provision for the sanctified life that we will now live while here on the earth. Our inward man can be strengthened by the Power of His Word which is designed to work with effectually within us, and bring forth fruit unto holiness unto Him.

Eph.4:22] That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

[23] And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

[24] And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

 Moreover, being renewed in the spirit of our mind is putting on the new man, and casting off the old man with his deeds. As we seen in the verses above the new man is renewed by the Word of God, and he is renewed day by day by it, and just as we are expected to grow old day by day, we are also expected for “godliness sake’ to be renewed day by day as our new man ‘outgrows’ the outward man. And God has provided us with the ‘salvation’ from our old man with his deeds by His Word, and He is also made provision that not only are we to live as the new man, we are to be strengthened, whereby we can teach it unto others, and be an example by our walk in godliness and our life that we have in Christ as being risen together with Him and after the image of God our Father. And this is the only life we ought to know from here on out, the old things of the old man and his life ought to be forgotten, and cast off. And this is done by the renewing doctrine which is according to godliness working by the son who has put on the doctrine which is according to godliness.

Rom.12:1] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

[2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 Finally, we are taught by our Father to “cast off” our former life, our former thinking, and renew ourselves by casting off the old man with his deeds which are after the “works of darkness.” God our Father knows Satan’s “wiles” against the son, Satan wants the justified in Christ to continue to walk, and think, and live unto the “power of the air,” and not live unto God. But as we see in the verses below, it is God’s desire that we “put on” the Lord Jesus Christ, and walk in His Son, as “sons of God” by His Power over the power of darkness. And we “have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the Excellency the power may be of God and not us.” And we ought to “count” the knowledge of His Son, and the Life, and the selfless love of His Son as “treasure” that we are given by our Father. We are given these Spiritual things to put on, but oftentimes many will “oppose themselves,” and “denying the power thereof.”

Rom.13:12] The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

[13] Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

[14] But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Rod Jones