BUT YOU DID NOT LEARN CHRIST IN THIS WAY: humeis de ouch houtos emathete (2PAAI) ton Christon: (Lk 24:47; Jn 6:45; Ro 6:1,2; 2Co 5:14,15; Titus 2:11, 12, 13, 14; 1Jn 2:27)

Note: Mouse over underlined links for Scripture popup.

But (de) draws a contrast with the old self described in Eph 4:17, 18, 19.

You (humeis)- Refers to "you, the saved Gentiles" and is first in the Greek text presenting a sharp (emphatic) contrast with the pagan lifestyle of the Gentiles who were yet unconverted.

Not (3756) (ou) means absolutely not. In contrast to the insensitive, passion-dominated pagans who lived to satisfy their lower nature, this was not how the Gentile converts in Ephesus came to know Christ for themselves.

But you did not learn - Emphatic contrast with the unregenerate pagan (Ep 4:17, 18, 19). The implication from his statement in Ep 4:17 (walk no longer) is that some of his readers had drifted back into their old unregenerate ways. Paul is trying to correct their defective thinking (note the words that have to do with "thinking" - learn, heard, taught in next verse) and potentially destructive behavior and thus he begins by reminding them of how they had been delivered from the ethical sewer in which they had once wallowed.

John MacArthur rightly sounds the alarm writing that...

The ways of God and the ways of the world are not compatible. The idea, promoted by some who claim to be evangelicals, that a Christian does not have to give up anything or change anything when he becomes a Christian is nothing less than diabolical. That notion, under the pretense of elevating God’s grace and of protecting the gospel from works righteousness, will do nothing but send many people confidently down the broad way that Jesus said leads to destruction (Mt 7:13-note). (MacArthur, J: Ephesians. Chicago: Moody Press)

Learn (3129) (manthano [word study]) means to gain knowledge or skill by instruction. It conveys a basic meaning of directing one’s mind to something and producing an external effect.  Depending on the context, the learning can be through instruction, through inquiry (ascertain, discover, find out), through practice or experience (come to know, come to realize) or as achieving comprehension (understand). The idea is to genuinely understand and accept a teaching accept it as true and to apply it in one’s life.

When did they learn Christ? The aorist tense marks a specific time which would equate with the time of their conversion. They did not learn to follow Christ by the natural mental processes that customarily lead to the degradation of unsaved Gentiles. They learned to follow Him as His disciples from the gospel.  Christ teaches men to renounce sin and vice and to cultivate holiness and virtue.

Manthano - 25x in 24v - Matt. 9:13; 11:29; 24:32; Mk. 13:28; Jn. 6:45; 7:15; Acts 23:27; Rom. 16:17; 1 Co. 4:6; 14:31, 35; Gal. 3:2; Eph. 4:20; Phil. 4:9, 11; Col. 1:7; 1 Tim. 2:11; 5:4, 13; 2 Tim. 3:7, 14; Tit. 3:14; Heb. 5:8; Rev. 14:3 and is rendered in the NAS as educated(1), find out(1), learn(12), learned(9), learning(1), receive instruction(1).

Vincent says

The phrase learn Christ occurs nowhere else. Christ does not stand for the doctrine of Christ; but Christ is the subject of His own message. (Ephesians 4)

TDNT adds that manthano is derived

From the basic sense “to direct one’s mind to something,” manthano comes to be used for (1) “to accustom oneself to something,” (2) “to experience,” (3) “to learn to know,” (4) “to understand,” (5) “to learn under instruction,” and (6) “to receive direction from a deity by oracle.” In the phrase tí mathon (7) it means “why?” (often with an ironical note). The use consistently implies an intellectual process that always has external effects and involves a conscious or unconscious intellectual initiative. Hence other terms may elucidate it but cannot replace it. (Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W.  Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Eerdmans)

Christ (5547) (Christos from chrio = to anoint, rub with oil, consecrate to an office) is the Anointed One, the Messiah, Christos being the Greek equivalent of the transliterated Hebrew word Messiah. As a Jew learned the Torah, now the Christian learns Christ!

Christ, the Messiah, of Whom these Gentiles formerly did not even have knowledge of ("separate from Christ" - Ep 2:12-note) was now He Who was the very essence of the content of the preaching which they had heard, the sum of the instruction they had received and the knowledge they had gained at the time of their conversion.

Paul wrote that...

indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1Corinthians 1:22, 23, 24)

For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. (1Cor 2:2)

IF INDEED YOU HAVE HEARD HIM AND HAVE BEEN TAUGHT IN HIM: ei ge auton ekousate (2PAAI) kai en auto edidachthete, (2PAPI):  (Matthew 17:5; Luke 10:16; John 10:27; Acts 3:22,23; Hebrews 3:7,8)

If indeed - two particles ei (1487) = if +  ge (1065) = indeed. It can be translated "seeing that" or "since" and when used with the indicative this conditional clause is viewed as fulfilled. In other words, what follows is not in any doubt but is taken for granted.

Expositors Greek Testament comments...

The point, therefore, is this—‘if, as I take it to be the fact, it was He, the Christ, that was the subject and the sum of the preaching which you heard then.’” (Nicoll, W Robertson, Editor: Expositors Greek Testament: 5 Volumes. Out of print. Search Google)

Heard (191) (akouo) means to hear with attention, with the ear of the mind or effectually so as to respond appropriately  to what has been spoken or taught.

McGee writes that...

If anyone is not listening to Jesus, then Jesus must not be his Savior. The Lord Jesus is the Shepherd and His sheep hear His voice. If you haven’t heard His voice, then you are not one of His sheep. What will change the Gentiles from their old nature? What are they to do? They are to listen to Christ. They are to hear Him. They are to be taught by Him. Those who are not His sheep will not hear Him. (Ephesians - Thru the Bible Mp3 Audios)

Earlier Paul had written...

In Him (Christ), you also, after listening (akouo - hearing) to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise  (Ep 1:13-note)

Have been taught (1321) (didasko [word study] from dáo= know or teach) means to provide instruction in a formal or informal setting. Didasko refers to imparting positive truth. It is the responsibility of every believer (Col 3:16-note), and is part of the Great Commission (Mt 28:20). It is especially the responsibility of church leaders. “An overseer, then, must be… able to teach” (1Ti 3:2). Heresy flourishes where sound Christian teaching lags. The idea is to hold discourse with others in order to instruct them by word of mouth (tutor, direct, advise, put in mind). In the NT almost without exception didasko refers to the teaching of groups.

Didasko means to teach a student in such a way that the will of the student becomes conformed to the teaching taught. So the teacher teaches in such a way that as the student is taught, he now changes his mind saying in essence ''I won't do it this way, but I will do it this way because I've learned this doctrine or this teaching.'' Doctrine determines direction of our behavior, conformed to world or to God?

Teaching that Scripture finds significant is not that which provides information alone but also the teaching that creates disciples who live in responsive obedience to God's will.

Didasko - 97x in 91v in NAS - Matt. 4:23; 5:2, 19; 7:29; 9:35; 11:1; 13:54; 15:9; 21:23; 22:16; 26:55; 28:15, 20; Mk. 1:21f; 2:13; 4:1f; 6:2, 6, 30, 34; 7:7; 8:31; 9:31; 10:1; 11:17; 12:14, 35; 14:49; Lk. 4:15, 31; 5:3, 17; 6:6; 11:1; 12:12; 13:10, 22, 26; 19:47; 20:1, 21; 21:37; 23:5; Jn. 6:59; 7:14, 28, 35; 8:2, 20, 28; 9:34; 14:26; 18:20; Acts 1:1; 4:2, 18; 5:21, 25, 28, 42; 11:26; 15:1, 35; 18:11, 25; 20:20; 21:21, 28; 28:31; Rom. 2:21; 12:7; 1 Co. 4:17; 11:14; Gal. 1:12; Eph. 4:21; Col. 1:28; 2:7; 3:16; 2 Thess. 2:15; 1 Tim. 2:12; 4:11; 6:2; 2 Tim. 2:2; Tit. 1:11; Heb. 5:12; 8:11; 1 Jn. 2:27; Rev. 2:14, 20 and is rendered in the NAS as instructed(2), preaches(1), taught(13), teach(33), teaches(5), teaching(43)

In Him - speaks of their union with Christ ("in union with Christ" or "in fellowship with Him") (See discussions on in Christ and in Christ Jesus and in Christ)

Expositors Greek Testament adds that

en autoi (in Him) is not to be reduced to ‘by Him,’ or ‘about Him,’ or ‘in His name,’ but has its proper sense of ‘in Him.’ The underlying idea is that of union with Christ. The ‘taught,’ therefore, refers probably to instructions subsequent to those which were given them at their first hearing. It was in fellowship with Christ that they received these instructions.” (Nicoll, W Robertson, Editor: Expositors Greek Testament: 5 Volumes. Out of print. Search Google)

JUST AS TRUTH IS IN JESUS: kathos estin (3SPAI) aletheia en to Iesou: (Eph 1:13; Psalms 45:4; 85:10,11; John 1:17; 14:6,17; 2Corinthians 1:20; 11:10; 1John 5:10, 11, 12,20)

Just as the truth is in Jesus - Vincent comments that

Just as corresponds with not so. Ye did not in such a manner learn Christ if ye were taught in such a manner as is truth, etc. Render, as Rev., as truth is in Jesus. Schaff paraphrases:

‘If you were taught so that what you received is true as embodied in the personal Saviour.’

‘Taught in the lines of eternal fact and spiritual reality which meet in Him’ (Moule).

Jesus is used rather than Christ; the historical rather than the official name. The life of Christianity consists in believing fellowship with the historic Jesus, Who is the Christ of prophecy.”  (Ephesians 4)

Truth (225) (aletheia from a = without + lêthô = that which is hidden or concealed, the combination meaning out in open) is the  the unconcealed reality lying at the basis of and agreeing with an appearance; the manifested, the veritable essence of matter. John writes that...

For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me. (John 14:6)

Blaikie remarks that

All truth acquires a different hue and a different character when there is a personal relation to Jesus. Truth apart from the Person of Christ has little power. (Pulpit Commentary. Ephesians. Ages Software)

TDNT explains the origin of this word this way...

Etymologically aletheia means “nonconcealment.” It thus denotes what is seen, indicated, expressed, or disclosed, i.e., a thing as it really is, not as it is concealed or falsified. aletheia is “the real state of affairs,” e.g., the truth in law, or real events in history, or true being in philosophy... aletheia is “that which has certainty and force”... aletheia is “that on which one can rely”...aletheia is “the state of affairs as disclosed”... aletheia is “truth of statement” used with speaking (Lk. 4:25) or teaching (Mk. 12:14).... aletheia is “true teaching or faith” (2Cor. 13:8; 4:2; Ga 5:7; 1Pe 1:22-note)  (Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W.  Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Eerdmans)

Truth then is the correspondence between a reality and a declaration which professes to set it forth. To say it another way, words are true when they correspond with objective reality. Persons and things are true when they correspond with their profession. Hence a truth is a declaration which has corresponding reality, or a reality which is correctly set forth. Since God is Himself the great reality, that which correctly sets forth His nature is pre-eminently the Truth.

Truth is the property of being in accord with fact or reality as defined by God. Whatever God says is Truth. Truth is a person, Jesus.

Jesus (2424) (Iesous) is transliterated from the Hebrew Yeshua which means Jehovah is help or Jehovah is Salvation. Jesus corresponds to the OT name Jehoshua is contracted to Joshua.

MacDonald makes an excellent point on why Paul would use the specific name of Jesus in this context writing that...

The name Jesus takes us back to His life on earth, since that is His name in Incarnation. In that spotless life which He lived as a Man in this world, we see the very antithesis of the walk of the Gentiles which Paul has just described. (MacDonald, W & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson)

THAT, IN REFERENCE TO YOUR FORMER MANNER OF LIFE: kata ten proteran anastrophen:  (Eph 4:25; 1Samuel 1:14; Job 22:23; Ezekiel 18:30, 31, 32; Colossians 2:11; 3:8,9; Hebrews 12:1; James 1:21; 1Peter 2:1,2) (Eph 4:17; 2:3; Galatians 1:13; Colossians 3:7; 1Peter 1:18; 4:3; 2Peter 2:7)

Former (4387) (próteros from pró = forth, before) means prior, previous, of an earlier time, all pertaining to a point of time earlier in a sequence. Proteros refers to a period of time preceding another period of time.

Proteros - 11x in 11v in the NAS -Jn. 6:62; 7:50; 9:8; 2 Co. 1:15; Gal. 4:13; Eph. 4:22; 1 Tim. 1:13; Heb. 4:6; 7:27; 10:32; 1 Pet. 1:14 and rendered in the NAS as before(2), first(2), first time(1), former(3), formerly(2), previously(1).

In chapter 2 Paul had repeatedly reminded them of their former desperate spiritual condition writing...

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest (See notes Ephesians 2:1; 2:2; 2:3)

Therefore remember, that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision" by the so-called "Circumcision," which is performed in the flesh by human hands--12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (See notes Ephesians 2:11; 2:12; 2:13)

Manner of life (391) (anastrophe from aná = again, back + strépho = turn - idea is turning back in forth in a place equates with living there) means ones way of life or conduct, with apparent focus on overt daily behavior. Thayer adds that the root verb (anastrepho) means “to conduct or behave one’s self, to walk,” the latter meaning not referring here to the physical act of walking but to the act of determining our course of conduct and the carrying out of that determined course of action. Anastrophe means in biblical use has the moral and spiritual aspect of one’s manner of life is in view.

Anastrophe - 13x in 13v in the NAS - Gal. 1:13; Eph. 4:22; 1 Tim. 4:12; Heb. 13:7; Jas. 3:13; 1 Pet. 1:15, 18; 2:12; 3:1f, 16; 2 Pet. 2:7; 3:11 and is rendered in the NAS as behavior(6), conduct(4), manner of life(2), way of life(1).

Vincent comments that...

The process of development in the meaning of the word is interesting. 1. A turning upside down. 2. A turning about or wheeling. 3. Turning about in a place, going back and forth there about one’s business; and so, 4, one’s mode of life or conduct. (Word studies in the New Testament)

YOU LAY ASIDE THE OLD SELF: apothesthai (AMN)...ton palaion anthropon ton:  (Romans 6:6; Colossians 3:9)

See related resource: Covenant: The Exchange of Robes - Putting Off the Old Man, Putting on the New Man

You lay aside the old self - without being too technical, the verb lay aside can be translated one of two ways, either indicating a completed past action (this would be our position whereas the second translation reflects our practice) or an action the believer is to carry out (the latter almost giving it the sense of an imperative). This distinction is even seen in the way the various Bible translations render the Greek text.

For example, the following rendering translates the Greek as if it were a fact or a past completed action...

Wuest: that you have put off once for all with reference to your former manner of life the old self who is being corrupted according to the passionate desires of deceit;

In contrast, the following versions render lay aside (put off, throw off, strip) as an action the believer is to carry out...

Amplified:  Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion;

KJV: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

NASB: that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,

NLT: throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception.

I favor the interpretation of lay aside as an action the believer is to carry out and that is how it is presented in these notes. However, in one sense both interpretations/translations are correct, the former (positional truth) emphasizing the bestowal of God's sovereign grace in salvation and the latter (practical truth) emphasizing man's responsibility to walk in the light (and power) of the grace and the Spirit bestowed.

John Piper using the analogy of cleaning out leaven says it this way...

Clean out the old leaven of sin, because it is really already cleaned out. If you try to play logic games with this reality and say, “I don’t need to fight sin because it is already cleaned out,” you will prove only that you are not among the number who are cleansed.

In other words the Old Man has already been crucified with Christ (Ro 6:6). That is a historical fact and a truth for believers to reckon as true (because it is true). Now, based upon the truth that the Old Man has been crucified, Paul is saying make it your experience of putting off this Old Man. And so put off in your daily walk what has already been put off when you died with Christ.

ISBE has this entry for old man...

OLD MAN - (palaios, "old," "ancient"): A term thrice used by Paul (Ro 6:6; Eph 4:22; Col 3:9) to signify the unrenewed man, the natural man in the corruption of sin, i.e. sinful human nature before conversion and regeneration. It is theologically synonymous with "flesh" (Ro 8:3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) (Ed: Not everyone agrees with this statement - see related discussion Old Man in Ro 6:6), which stands, not for bodily organism, but, for the whole nature of man (body and soul) turned away from God and devoted to self and earthly things. The old man is "in the flesh"; the new man "in the Spirit." In the former "the works of the flesh" (Gal 5:19, 20, 21) are manifest; in the latter "the fruit of the Spirit" (Gal 5:22,23). One is "corrupt according to the deceitful lusts"; the other "created in righteousness and true holiness" (Eph 4:22, 23, 24 the King James Version).

J Vernon McGee writes that...

We are to put off the old man and put on the new man in the same manner that we change our clothes. It is like putting off an old and unclean garment and then putting on a garment that is new and clean. The putting off the old man and putting on the new man cannot be done by self-effort, nor can it be done by striving to imitate Christ’s conduct. It has been done for the believing sinner by the death of Christ. We are like babes who cannot dress themselves. I have learned with my little grandson that a child doesn’t do very well when he tries to dress himself. As Christians we never reach the place where we can do that, and we don’t need to try. It already has been done for us. We are told in the Epistle to the Romans that the old man has already been crucified in the death of Christ.

“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin” (Ro 6:6-note).

In view of the truth that the old man has already been crucified with Christ, we are to put it off in the power of the Holy Spirit. This does not mean that the flesh, the old nature, is ever eliminated in this life. We do not get rid of the old nature, but we are not to live in it; that is, we are not to allow it to control our lives.

On the other hand, we do have a new nature. This is the result of regeneration by the Holy Spirit. Any man in Christ is a new creature. We are to live in that new nature, that new man. This is a repetition of the great message of Romans. (McGee, J V: Thru the Bible Commentary:  Thomas Nelson)

Ruth Paxson writes that...

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

Ephesians 4:24 "And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."

This twofold clear, crisp exhortation marks the meeting-point between God's part and ours in our sanctification. It is the crossroads between God's sovereign work through grace and man's cooperative action through faith. It is an exhortation to practical holiness in every phase of one's daily life.

Paul takes us immediately to the very source of life in each sphere and shows us two things. The character of life is due to its source and the character determines the conduct.

Life in the old sphere is tracked to its source, "the old man," and the conduct is corrupt because the character is such.

Life in the new sphere is traced to its source, "the new man," and the conduct is righteous and holy because the character is so.

The fountain determines the flow. Let us then consider these two fountain-heads and our responsibility in relation to them. (Paxson, Ruth: The Wealth, the Walk and the Warfare of the Christian. 1939. Revell)

Lay aside (659) (apotithemi [word study] from apo = away from, marker of dissociation, implying a rupture from a former association, separation, departure, cessation, any separation of one thing from another by which the union or fellowship of the two is destroyed  + tithemi = put, place) means literally to put or take something away from its normal location and put it out of the way. It was used literally of runners who participated in the Olympic games who cast off their clothes and running nearly completely naked in the stadium.

Apotithemi - 9x in 9v in the NAS - Matt. 14:3; Acts 7:58; Rom. 13:12; Eph. 4:22, 25; Col. 3:8; Heb. 12:1; Jas. 1:21; 1 Pet. 2:1 and is rendered in the NAS as laid aside(1), lay aside(3), laying aside(1), put(1), put aside(1), putting aside(2).

He uses two phrases. One is in Ephesians 4:22: lay aside which has to do with taking something off. Then he says in Eph 4:24-note put on which also has to do with clothes. One you take off, and one you put on. It is dressing and undressing. How are you supposed to live as a believer? You are supposed to be dressed the right way. Let me show you. First of all, let me show you in Acts 7:58 how that word "lay aside" has to do with taking something off. In Acts 7:58 Luke writes...

So you have a picture of somebody taking something off. That word (apotithemi) is used several times. In Ro 13:12-note we get an even clearer picture of what Paul is saying in Ephesians. Paul uses the word and the phrase. We begin to realize that when you put off this garment, this old man as we are going to see later, it has to do not so much with just the old man itself, but the way he used to live. It is a lifestyle. Romans 13:12 says,

The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. (see note)

But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. (see note)

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. (see note)

Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander (see note)

"Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil."  (see note)

"Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness." (see note)

"Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self." (see note)

When we put it on, we put it on inwardly. Now we have to wear it outwardly. Folks, it is the same thing Paul is saying in Philippians when he says work out your salvation. In other words, get what is on the inside on the outside (Php 2:12; 2:13 notes Php 2:12; 13). Put it on. Aorist is also punctiliar: put it on, put it on, put it on. But it is a conscious choice in doing it.

I want to show you the very thread of that new garment. Paul does something in Ephesians 4:20. He does not link us to a creed or to a code. He links us to a person and shows us that the very thread of the garment we are to wear is the Lord Jesus Himself. It is putting on Christ. It is letting Jesus be Jesus in your life. Verse 20 says,

"But you did not learn Christ in this way."

You didn’t learn a creed or a code. We are not tied to a set of rules. We are tied to a Person. As we put Him on, then everything He has commanded us to do strengthens us in the inner man with an ability to do and to be beyond what we have ever been or we have ever done. It is Christ in us. That is all it is. It is the same thing as being filled with the Spirit. It is the same thing as walking in the light. The Bible doesn’t say seven different things. It says one thing several different times. We are to surrender, and when we do, we are taking off something and putting on something. Not only will it be real to us on the inside, but it will be real to others on the outside.

Can I ask you a question? What garment do you have on? Have you put the old back on? You know, some people enjoy the rags of the old. It is kind of like Lazarus when he came out of the grave. They said,

"Unbind him, and let him go." (John 11:44)

In other words "Loose him and set him free. Take those grave clothes off of him." He can’t walk. He can’t witness. He can’t worship. Everything about him is all bound up. But you know, some people like to take some of those rags and stick them in their pockets and say,

"You know, I kind of like some of that old stuff. I’d rather wear this garment than the garment of Christ in my life. I don’t want to bow. I kind of enjoy my self-pity. I kind of enjoy my bitterness. I kind of enjoy my lust. I don’t want to bow. I enjoy being covetous. I enjoy dividing people. I would rather wear the old."

The Scripture says,

"No, you put on the new. You have no option. Wear that garment you got when you received Christ."

Remember, you understood at that time what was causing you all the pain. Don’t go back to what caused you all the pain.

Well, the second thing I want you to see is before I can put on the new, as he says in verse 24, I have to put off the old. I want to talk about that old garment just for a little bit. In verse 22 it says,

"that, in reference to your former manner of life."

The word there is anastrophe. It always means everything you do, think, and say. We are in regard to that. He says,

"you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of the deceit."

Remember, that word "accordance with" is not "out of." It is "in accordance with." You mean as evil as the flesh can be, it is being corrupted? That old man is getting worse and worse and worse." That is exactly what I see that it saying in Scripture.

Let’s walk through it a second. The "old self" there translated in the New American Standard is really "old man." The word literally is new man and old man, not old self and new self. This man of old, which you used to be, that which was in Adam, needs to be taken off because now you have been placed into Christ. Take that old man off. But I tell you what, if you are not sick of the old man yet, you will be when I finish this verse.

Let me show you what I get out of that verse. Paul is trying to show you how rotten the old man is. It is the picture of something that is very putrid and is in the process of rotting. The idea of this word is of a dead corpse or cadaver that is now rotting and decaying and stinks and it is getting worse all the time. If you want to go back and put the old garment on, help yourself. But I want to tell you, when you do, you are going to smell up relationships. There is going to be an odor about you that is going to be putrid and rotten. Hebrews says don’t ever let a root of bitterness develop among you because when it comes up, it is going to defile men.

If you take a barrel of apples and throw a rotten one in it, you’ve got exactly the picture right here. People who won’t put on the new garment are the people who are causing all the rot in the body of Christ. This is pretty heavy stuff. You know the Holy Spirit inspired this. The Holy Spirit doesn’t mince any words, does He? He just tells you what the old life is like. Folks, we have been saved out of that. Thank God we have been saved out of it. Don’t think for a second that there is anything there for you when you go back and put on that old garment.

Paul uses the term "old man" three times. In Romans 6, in Colossians 3 and in Ephesians 4. I want you to go back to Romans 6 and see if I can explain it. Just like the new man, I have put him on. Now I have to put him on. I have to choose to put him on. It is my responsibility. I have put him on, positionally. Experientially, I choose to do it every day. The same is true about the putting on of the old man.

Romans 6:6 says,

"knowing this, that our old man [or self as it is translated] was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with that we should no longer be slaves to sin." (see note)

In God’s reckoning, the old man died with Christ on the cross. In that death, God put an end to the old creation in Adam and now replaces it with a new creation in Christ. It depends on which side of the cross that you are on. If you have been taken out of Adam, you have been put into Christ. The old man is dead. He is powerless in the believer’s life. However, it’s mark is left on us in the lust of our flesh.

So even though it has been put off,
we must now choose to put it off.

The way we do it is by choosing against what our flesh wants and choosing what the Lord God desires in our hearts (cp Gal 5:17-note). This choosing is analogous to the idea of putting on and putting of. We have put on and now we need to put off. It has been put off, but now we need to put it off in our life.

So therefore, we reckon ourselves to be dead to sin (Ro 6:11-note). Do you realize that you don’t have to lust, men? You don’t have to be in bondage to immorality (Ed: cp Col 3:5-note, in a very real sense a "putting off" of the Old Man). You don’t have continue to yield to the sin of immorality. You are a new person in Christ (2Cor 5:17). Sin has been rendered powerless in your life (Ro 6:6-note). The only reason it (Sin) has any power over you at all is because you choose to let it do so. That is all. You don’t have to covet. You don’t have to throw rocks at your house every time you go home because you want a bigger one. You don’t have to live that way any more. You can be content wherever you are. You don’t have to live under bondage anymore. If you are bitter and it is ruining relationships around you and other people know about it, you don’t have to live that way (cp Ep 4:31-note). You have been set free (cp Jn 8:36), redeemed by the blood of the Lamb (1Pe 1:18,19-note). You are no longer to be held hostage to sin anymore. It doesn’t have to rule over you (Ro 6:12, 13-note).

My exhortation to you is to wear the right garment. When you go to a restaurant the waitress who walks over to you may be deceived and blind in sin, as described in Titus 3:3 (note). You don’t know her spiritual state, but perhaps you sense that there is no life in this person. Remember you used to be that way. But now that you have come out of it, God sends us back into the world to put on a brand new garment to demonstrate to them that there is another way to live if they know Christ, the Christ that you know. (Ephesians 4:20-24: A Brand New Way of Life - 2)

By the sovereign act of God that "old man" was crucified with Christ. In God's reckoning he died on the Cross as truly as Christ died. In that death God put an end to the old creation in Adam that He might replace it by the new creation in Christ (2Co 5:17). He put "the old man" out of employment, as it were, by depriving him of his dominion over the believer in Christ. In God's reckoning the crucifixion of "the old man" was a final, once-for-all act. From that moment God sees him only on the Cross. In God's purpose all the old, filthy, sin-infected garments in which "the old man" was clad went into the discard also as utterly unbefitting the life of the new sphere into which the believer was translated. Can you conceive of Mr. Bosshardt, when delivered out of 560 days of captivity by bandits in China, refusing to lay aside the filthy, vermin-infested garments he had been compelled to wear? Would not his deepest desire be to be rid of everything that in the slightest degree pertained to that experience, now past through God's grace and goodness?

What God has made true for us positionally, He longs to make real in us experimentally (experientially). This requires our intelligent, wholehearted co-operation in willing consent and in active choice as the imperative "that ye put off" clearly shows (Ed note: Some take it to have the force of an imperative, but the Greek is strictly speaking not the imperative mood.). There is a part for us to play if the crucifixion as historical fact is to be made an experimental reality in our lives. Therefore we should know what our responsibility is, and then fulfill it. (Paxson, Ruth: The Wealth, the Walk and the Warfare of the Christian. 1939. Revell)

Comment: In a parallel teaching Paul does use the imperative mood to command believers to "work out their salvation" (which would include "putting off" the old garments of sin) but be enabled to carry out this supernatural activity only because God is now in the believer given him or her not only the motivation to carry out this divine activity but the power to do so. (see Php 2:12-note, Php 2:13-note; cp God's promised power in the New Covenant in Ezekiel 36:27)

Old (3820) (palaios [word study]) mans old (as in ancient) and describes that which is no longer new or which is worn by use or which is worse for wear. Palaios pertains to that which has been in existence for a long time. It also refers to that which is obsolete or inferior because of being old.

Palaios - 19x in 15v in the NAS - Matt. 9:16f; 13:52; Mk. 2:21f; Lk. 5:36f, 39; Rom. 6:6; 1 Co. 5:7f; 2 Co. 3:14; Eph. 4:22; Col. 3:9; 1 Jn. 2:7 and is always rendered "old".

Paul used palaios in a similar context in Colossians commanding the saints...

Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside (apekduomai) the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him (Col 3:9-note; Col 3:10- note)

Vincent writes that palaios...

carries the sense of worn out by time, injury, sorrow, or other causes. Thus the old garment (Mt 9:16) is palaion. So the old wine-skins (Mt 9:17). The old men of a living generation compared with the young of the same generation are palaioi. In palaios the simple conception of time dominates. (Word studies in the New Testament)

Trench defines palaios as

old in the sense that it is more or less worn out. (Trench, R. C. Synonyms of the New Testament. Hendrickson Publishers. 2000)

Wuest adds

It describes something that is worn out, useless, fit to be put on the scrap pile, to be discarded...archaios, means “old in point of time,” palaios, means “old in point of use.”...The expression “the old man” therefore refers to the unsaved person dominated by the totally depraved nature. (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans)

Self (444) (anthropos) means man and refers to humanity in general.

THE OLD MAN

The Old Self or Old Man is the worn out, useless, and unconverted sinful nature. The Old Man is all that one is before conversion and all that he is as a child of Adam (all unregenerate men are referred to as being in Adam [cp 1Co 15:22, 45, Ro 5:12-note, Ro 5:17-note, Ro 5:18, 19-note] - all mankind is either in Adam or in Christ, but not in both). The Old Self is the me that is rebellious against God, and refuses to submit to God's law, and which is blind to God's glory, and finally is unbelieving toward His promises.  The Old Self is the unregenerate person that was in Adam and was spiritually dead. The Old Self is continually being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit (Ep 4:22). The corruption occurs as a result of giving in to deceitful, evil cravings which are pleasant and promising in anticipation but hideous and disappointing in retrospect.

primarily the old, corrupt, sinful nature inherited from Adam; the inborn tendency to evil. But here it includes the whole manner of life in the old sphere. This term is used only three times in Scripture,—in Ro 6:6-note; Col 3:9-note; and Ephesians 4:22. There are three equivalents. It is all that a man is by nature, so is called "the natural man" (1Cor. 2:14). It is the "I" which is thrown into such sharp contrast with "Christ" in Galatians 2:20. (Paxson, Ruth: The Wealth, the Walk and the Warfare of the Christian. 1939. Revell)

Using the garment or robe analogy, the Old Self is all I was in Adam's clothes. Paul explains that

The answer is that all believers still possess what Scripture refers to as the flesh (Click in depth analysis of flesh)  and the flesh is unredeemed. The term flesh (here not referring to the physical body) describes what remains of the Old Self” or Old Man after a person is saved or redeemed. The flesh as our unredeemed humanness is a part of the believer that will remain with us until each of us receives our glorified body (Ro 8:23-note), at which time we are finally free from the presence of sin as well as the pleasure of sin (at which time we  will no longer possess the "flesh"). Until that wonderful day of glorification, every believer possesses or "consists of" a redeemed self living with an unredeemed humanness ("flesh"), and that creates great conflict. Stated another way, the flesh is that part of a believer that functions apart from and against the Spirit (see Chart contrasting in the flesh vs in the Spirit). Flesh stands against the work of the Spirit in the believer’s new heart. The unsaved person often regrets the sinful things he does because of guilt and/or painful consequences, but he has no spiritual warfare going on within him, because he has only a fleshly nature and is devoid of the Spirit. The sinful things he does, though often disappointing and disgusting to him, are nevertheless consistent with his basic nature (his "Old Self") as an enemy of God and a child of God's wrath. The "Old Self" or "Old Man" therefore has no real internal conflict beyond whatever conscience may remain in his sinful state (Ro 2:14,1 5-note). In the poem Maud, one of Tennyson’s characters yearns,

1. Take heart from the truth that the old sinful you is decisively already dead (Romans 6:6; Colossians 3:3; Galatians 5:24). By faith we are united to Christ so that His death was our death (Romans 6:5; 2Corinthians 5:14). This means three things: (a) The mortal blow to our “old man” has been struck; (b) the old self will not succeed in domination now; and (c) his final obliteration is certain.

2. Consciously reckon the old man dead; that is, believe the truth of Scripture about the old man’s death in Christ and seek to live in that freedom (Romans 6:11-note). Living out the reality that you are is the proof that you are. One clear illustration of becoming what you are is found in 1Cor 5:7: “Clean out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened.” It sounds strange, but salvation is a strange and wonderful thing: Clean out the old leaven of sin, because it is really already cleaned out. If you try to play logic games with this reality and say, “I don’t need to fight sin because it is already cleaned out,” you will prove only that you are not among the number who are cleansed. (Piper, J. A Godward Life : Savoring the Supremacy of God in All Life. Sisters, Or.: Multnomah Publishers)

Grant Richison writes that...

Our old man was our unregenerate disposition. The divine nature then is a new orientation to God. A massive change toward God occurred in us when we became Christians. We do not get the divine nature through reformation of the old nature. It is not something that grows or develops by a process. Rather, God imparts this new nature instantaneously and supernaturally to us the moment we become Christians. Therefore, only regenerate people possess this nature (Ed: i.e., New Man = In Christ). It is God’s orientation planted within us (Ed: cp "partakers of the divine nature" in 2Pe 1:4-note). It is far more than inherent morality.

There also remains an old capacity in every believer after we accept Christ. That old nature (Ed: flesh) is what produces sin in our lives. It is a disposition toward sin and it also has an area of strength that produces human good apart from God. (2 Peter 1:4f)

John MacArthur has an interesting note on the difference between the "Old Self" and the "New Self" writing that...

Our old self was crucified, in order that our body of sin might be done away with!” (Ro 6:6) When Christ died, we died in Him if we are united to Him by faith. And we died with Him so that we might demonstrate this death by putting to death the sinful deeds of the body (Ro 8:13-note). Because we already have the victory (Ed: Christ won the Victory over sin, Satan and death on the Cross) we can succeed in our violence against sin! He breaks the power of cancelled sin. We can only kill the sin that has already been killed when we were killed in Christ. This is Christianity, not moral self improvement. (Read the full sermon How to Kill Sin, Part 2)

WHICH IS BEING CORRUPTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LUSTS OF DECEIT: phtheiromenon (PPPMSA) kata tas epithumias tes apates:   (Proverbs 11:18; Jeremiah 49:16; Obadiah 1:3; Romans 7:11; Titus 3:3; Hebrews 3:13; James 1:26; 2 Peter 2:13)

Paul is saying that the whole character which represented the former self was not only corrupt but was continually growing more and more corrupt (present tense). The old man is decaying day by day, like a decomposing corpse. Every trait of the old self's behavior is putrid, crumbling, or inflated like rotting waste or cadavers, stinking, ripe for being disposed of and forgotten.

Vincent writes that the authorized version rendering ("which is corrupt")

misses the force of the participle. The verb is passive voice which is being corrupted (present tense), and marks the progressive condition of corruption which characterizes “the old man.” Rev., correctly, waxeth corrupt.

Being corrupted (5351) (phtheiro [word study] from phthío or phthíno = waste, decay, wither, pine away) means to cause harm to in a physical manner or in outward circumstances. To shrivel, to wither, to spoil. It means to ruin or destroy something with the implication of causing something to be corrupt and cease to exist. To destroy by corrupting. To pine or waste away. To corrupt in the sense of degeneration.

Webster says that corrupt (from cor- ‘altogether’ + rumpere ‘to break’) implies loss of soundness, purity, or integrity, while defile implies befouling of what could or should have been kept clean and pure or held sacred and commonly suggests violation or desecration. Wither means to become dry and sapless, to shrivel as if from loss of bodily moisture, to lose vitality, force or freshness. Phtheiro is the root word from which we get our word diphtheria, an acute febrile contagious disease marked by the formation of a false membrane especially in the throat and caused by a bacterium (Corynebacterium diphtheriae) that produces a toxin causing inflammation of the heart and nervous system.

Figuratively phtheiro as used by Paul in this verse it means to ruin, to corrupt or to cause deterioration of a man's inner life (as by erroneous teaching or immorality). Phtheiro and related derivatives are often used of moral corruption (see Ge 6:11 below). The image is powerful. It reeks of decay, as inner death and ruin gain a grip on individual and society, promising not progress but a continual rotting away.

Classic Greek used phtheiro to describe buildings which crumbled with age and a derivative kataphtheiro to described economic ruin. "Phtheireste" was used as a curse to mean "be damned" or "go to the devil". Often in contracts it is laid down that the nurse engaged should not “spoil” her milk. Many papyri refer to animals that have fallen. The word group can refer to loss of food, of fruits destroyed by grasshoppers.

NIDNTT writes that...

In classical Gk. from the time of Homer onwards, and also in Philo and the Test. XII, phtheiro means to ruin, corrupt, destroy, kill. The term has various shades of meaning: to corrupt morally (Aristotle, Eth.Nic., 1103b), to bring down the state of laws (Plato, Laws 958c), to bribe (Dem., Orationes 18, 247), to seduce a woman (Dem., Orationes, 45, 79), to defile a virgin (Lucian, Cataplus sive Tyrannus 26). In the passive voice it means to go to ruin, perish, be corrupted, destroyed; and in the middle voice to destroy oneself (Thuc., 3, 113, 5).

Derived from the word are phthora, destruction, corruption (Plato, Timaeus, 23c), and diaphthora, destruction (Polybius, 1, 48, 3, 8), murder (Euripides, Ion, 617), which is later used in the sense of corruption, disorder. Later words are aphtharsia, indestructibility, immortality (not before Epicurus, according to Diog. Laert., 10, 123), and aphthartos, incorruptible (Aristotle, De longitudine et brevitate vitae, 4, 466a 1; cf. also Wis. 12:1; Philo, Sacr., 95).

Diaphtheiro can mean, in combination with other terms, to frustrate attempts to help (Thuc., 3, 113, 5), to change one’s mind (Aesch., Agamemnon, 932)...It is interesting that in the NT this group of words occurs nowhere in the gospels except for Lk. 12:33 (of moths destroying -- diaphtheiro --clothes).  (Brown, Colin, Editor. New International Dictionary of NT Theology. 1986. Zondervan)

TDNT adds that...

phtheiro means “to destroy,” middle and passive “to perish.” It is often used for “to kill” (“to be killed”), but may also mean “to languish” (e.g., in prison). Economic ruin may also be in view. In curses the meaning may be “be damned” or more weakly “be off.” Another sense is “to spoil” (e.g., milk). The loss of food or of animals may sometimes be denoted. (Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W.  Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Eerdmans)

Paul's point is this corruption brings about the result that they are being brought into a worse state. Note also that this corruption is a process that goes on, a condition that progresses! The unsaved person is thus subject to a continuous process of corruption which grows worse as time goes on. Be careful beloved! "The person you used to be" will ruin you through desires that deceive you. That old self becomes worse and worse because people are fooled by the evil things they want to do.

Phtheiro is used 8 times in the NT and 21 times in the Septuagint (LXX). Here are a few instructive representative uses in the Septuagint...

Genesis 6:11 Now the earth was corrupt (phtheiro is the first word in the sentence emphasizing the state of the earth because of the effect of sin -- "Corrupt was the earth") in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence.

Daniel 2:44 "And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, (never be corrupted!!!) and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.

Daniel 7:14 "And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations, and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed, (never be corrupted) .

Here are the 8 NT uses of phtheiro...

1 Corinthians 3:17 If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are. (Comment: In the opinion of the Jews the temple was corrupted, or `destroyed', when anyone defiled or in the slightest degree damaged anything in it, or if its guardians neglected their duties.  In the ancient world destroying a temple was a capital offense. The church is holy in that God has set it aside to glorify Himself even though it is not always as holy in its conduct as it is in its calling)

1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals."

2 Corinthians 7:2 Make room for us in your hearts; we wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we took advantage of no one.

2 Corinthians 11:3 But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray (phtheiro = corrupted) from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.

Ephesians 4:22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,

2 Peter 2:12 (note) But these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, reviling where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed,

Jude 1:10 But these men revile the things which they do not understand; and the things which they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals, by these things they are destroyed.

Revelation 19:2 because His judgments are true and righteous; for He has judged the great harlot who was corrupting (imperfect tense = corrupting it over and over) the earth with her immorality, and He has avenged the blood of His bond-servants on her."

The old man is utterly defiled and defiling in character, and waxes more and more degenerate in conduct even unto the point of depravity, as in the case of "the other Gentiles." "The old man" can do nothing but sin, for all his desires (Ep 4:22), as well as his deeds (Col 3:9-note), are sinful. He is unchangeable and incurable because he doesn't want to be changed. He is also irretrievably incorrigible, for his attitude to God is one of habitual disobedience (Ep 2:2-note), hardened into fixed enmity (Ro 8:7-note). "The old man," therefore, is the whole old creation in Adam. It is the sinner with only a sinful nature which contaminates everything from the centre to the circumference of his life. (Paxson, Ruth: The Wealth, the Walk and the Warfare of the Christian. 1939. Revell)

Lusts (1939) (epithumia from epi = at, toward {the preposition "epi-" in the compound is directive conveying the picture of "having one’s passion toward" + thumos = passion) (Click word study on epithumia) is a neutral term denoting the presence of strong desires or impulses, longings or passionate craving (whether good or evil is determined by context) directed toward an object.

Deceit (539) (apate from apatao = cheat, delude, deceive, beguile) describes that which gives a false impression, whether by appearance, statement or influence. It speaks of ethical enticement. It is spoken of anything which is seducing (a leading astray by persuasion or false promises) Apate describes that which causes someone to have misleading or erroneous views concerning the truth.

Enticement (Concise Oxford English Dictionary says it derives from Old French enticier, prob. from a base meaning ‘set on fire’) - is that which to attracts and leads astray artfully or adroitly or by arousing hope or desire.

Deception - is that which deliberately causes (someone) to believe something that is not true.

It describes that which seduces someone such as riches (Mt 13:22, Mk 4:19) or sin, which can harden by its trickery (He 3:13-note). Apate refers to deception of pleasure that involves one in sin (deceitful pleasure, evil fun, dissipation) as in (2Pe 2:13-note)

Deceit is personified here as the source of strength as the lusts are not deceitful in themselves.  This process of corruption is dominated or controlled by the passionate desires of deceit (personified). The lusts are excited by deceit, i.e. by deceitful influences seducing one to commit sins. Lusts are deceitful because they promise joy to  but fails to provide it. These lusts promise passing pleasure (He 11:25) and joy, but in fact actually steal the believer's Spirit borne joy. As you have undoubtedly heard, kill sin, lest it be killing you (and it will kill our joy in the Lord!)

Richards notes that...

Deception sometimes comes from within, as our desires impel us to deceive. But more often in the NT, deceit is error urged by external evil powers or by those locked into the world's way of thinking. (Richards, L O: Expository Dictionary of Bible Words: Regency)

Paul's point is that lusts possessed of deceit are seductive and give a false impression in that they promise joy, satisfaction and fulfillment (cf the "passing pleasures of sin" Heb 11:24-note) but they fail to produce. Apate therefore describes the  deceitful propensities which seduce to sin and lead to disappointment. Sure the initial result may be temporary "satisfaction" but the damage is corruption (defiling, withering, ultimately destruction) of one's soul. Do not be deceived!

Here are the 7 uses of apate (none in the LXX)...

Matthew 13:22 "And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Mark 4:19 and the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Ephesians 4:22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,

Colossians 2:8 (see note) See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

2 Thessalonians 2:10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.

Hebrews 3:13 (see note) But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (The recipients are warned against being hardened by a trick which their sin may play upon them. Mark is down that sin is always a deceitful thing, in that it promises to do that which it cannot do. Sin is always a lie. Any man who sins, who does the forbidden thing or who takes the forbidden thing, does so because he thinks that he will be happier for doing or taking that thing. Sin deceives him into thinking so. But the plain fact of experience is that an act or a possession which is the result of sin never brought happiness to any man. Long ago, Epicurus, with his strictly utilitarian morality, pointed out that sin can never bring happiness, because, apart from anything else, it leaves a man with the constant fear of being found out! Good logic from an unregenerate Gentile!)

2 Peter 2:13 (see note) suffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, as they carouse with you,

Spiritual Reupholstering - When we moved into our home 5 years ago, we discovered that the former owner had left us six dining room chairs. They were covered with fabric of beautiful African art—tasteful zebra stripes. We appreciated the unexpected gifts and used them frequently when entertaining guests.

When we recently moved again, those chairs needed a makeover to match our new decor. So I called an upholsterer and asked, "Shouldn't we just put the new material over the existing fabric?" He responded, "No, you'll ruin the shape of the chair if you just put new material over the old."

The work of God in our lives is similar. He's not interested in merely changing our spiritual appearance. Instead, He intends to replace our character with what is called "the new man," made in the image of Christ (Ephesians 4:24). The flesh has a tendency to perform religious activity, but this is not the work of the Holy Spirit. He will completely transform us on the inside.

But the process is a partnership (Philippians 2:12, 13). As we daily lay aside our old behaviors and replace them with godly ones, the God of grace works in us through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

God wants to reupholster us. — Dennis Fisher

Dear Lord, You've given new life to me—
A great and full salvation;
And may the life that others see
Display the transformation. —Hess

When you receive Christ, God's work in you has just begun.

Dragon Skin - In the fifth Chronicle of Narnia, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Edmund, Lucy, and their spoiled cousin Eustace are summoned to help on a quest in the Eastern Sea. Along the way, Eustace is tempted by enchanted treasure and turned into a dragon. The desperate dragon accepts the help of the great lion Aslan, king of Narnia. But Eustace can only be freed by allowing Aslan’s claws to painfully tear off the dragon’s flesh. Grateful for his deliverance, Eustace chooses to become a better boy.

Receiving God’s gift of salvation through Christ is a one-time event, but to become like Him often requires suffering and struggle. It involves putting off old sinful habits and replacing them with new godly ones. Paul wrote, “Put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt . . . [and] put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:22, 23, 24).

What is troubling you today? God may be using the kind rebuke of a friend or a painful trial to prompt you to get rid of a sinful habit and to replace it with godly character (Ro 8:29; 1 Peter 4:1, 2).

The process of becoming like Christ is sometimes painful, but it’s always worth it.— Dennis Fisher

To be like Jesus is our goal,
Though it doesn’t happen fast;
We trust the Spirit as our Guide
Till we’re glorified at last. —Branon

The conversion of a soul is the miracle of a moment;
the growth of a saint is the work of a lifetime.

Ephesians 4:20-24
The Changed Life
by Pastor Steven Cole

When it comes to the subject of changing our lives, we all feel the same as we feel about going to heaven: We’re all for it, but we’d rather not go through what you have to go through to get there! The idea of change sounds good, but when it gets right down to it, we think, “You mean I actually have to live differently? No way!”

But the Christian life is fundamentally a changed life. If you claim to believe in Christ, but are living just as you did before you believed in Him, you need to examine whether you truly believe in Him. Becoming a Christian requires turning from your sin to God (repentance; Ed: see metanoia word study). But repentance is not a one-time event. It defines the lifestyle of a believer. God changes us radically at the moment of salvation by imparting new life to us, but this is followed by a life-time of changing into the image of Jesus Christ (2Cor. 3:18).

In Ephesians 4:17, 18, 19, Paul paints a grim portrait of how unbelievers live. While not all unbelievers are as bad as they possibly could be, they all live

“in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart” (Ep 4:17, 18).

That bleak picture describes each of us before we met Jesus Christ.

But now (Ep 4:20) Paul draws a sharp contrast: “But you did not learn Christ in this way.” He gives us a brief sketch of the changed life that every believer should be experiencing. He’s saying:

The changed life stems from the transformation that God works in us through the gospel as we put off the old life, are renewed in our minds, and put on the new life in Christ.

First, Paul shows the changes that God works in us through the gospel (Ep 4:20,21) and then he shows us how the process of changes works in our ongoing experience (Ep 4:22, 23, 24).

1. The changed life begins by coming to know Christ personally (Ep 4:20, 21).

Paul describes the changed life in four ways:

A. The changed life begins when you learn Christ.

To “learn Christ” is an unusual phrase that occurs no where else. Paul does not say, “you did not learn about Christ,” but rather, “you did not learn Christ in this way.” This way refers to the way of unbelievers that he has just described.

What does he mean, to “learn Christ”? He is saying that to become a Christian is a matter of coming to know Christ personally. Yes, you must know something about who He is, as revealed in Scripture. The entire Bible testifies to the truth of who Jesus is, that He is the Christ (Messiah, God’s anointed One), the Son of God. He is the eternal God in human flesh. You must also know something about the significance of what He did when He died on the cross as the substitute for sinners. He satisfied God’s wrath toward our sin, so that we are free from condemnation when we trust in Christ to save us.

But it is possible to know all of these facts and more and yet not to know Jesus Christ personally. In John 17:3, Jesus prayed, “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” The Christian life begins when you receive eternal life from God through faith in Jesus Christ. At that moment, you come to know Him personally. Yes, that initial encounter with Christ is only the beginning of an eternal relationship with Him. But, if you have not entered into that personal relationship with Christ, you are not a Christian in the true sense of the word. You may be a theologian or a Bible scholar. But you are only like a historian who knows much about the President, but who has never met him or spent any time with him personally. The changed life begins when you learn Christ.

B. The changed life begins when you hear Christ.

“If indeed” does not express any doubt, but rather affirmation. Paul is saying, “I know that you have heard Him.” Probably none of the Asian believers had heard Jesus in Palestine when He was on earth. None of them had had a personal encounter with the risen Christ, as Paul did on the Damascus Road. Rather, Paul means that when he and others had preached the gospel, these people had heard it as God speaking to them. God opened their deaf ears so that they didn’t just listen to words, but they heard Jesus Christ calling them to Himself. They heard so as to obey His call to faith and repentance.

In John 8:43, Jesus asks the Jews that were challenging Him, “Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word.” He goes on to identify the root problem, that they were of their father, the devil. Satan had deafened their ears so that they could not hear Christ’s words of eternal life in order to believe and be saved. The changed life begins when God opens your ears to hear Jesus Christ in the gospel and respond with obedient faith.

C. The changed life begins when you are taught in Christ.

The proper translation is not, taught by Him (KJV), but rather, taught in Him. The phrase “in Christ” sums up Paul’s view of what it means to be a Christian. As we saw in chapter 1, the saints are “faithful in Christ Jesus” (Ep 1:1). We have received every spiritual blessing “in Christ” (Ep 1:3). God chose us “in Him” before the foundation of the world (Ep 1:4). “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses” (Ep 1:7). He made known to us the mystery of His will, which He purposed “in Him” (Ep 1:9). “In Him” we have obtained an inheritance (Ep 1:10, 11). “In Him” we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (Ep 1:13). God’s surpassing power towards us was revealed “in Christ” when He raised Him from the dead (Ep 1:20). These are just the references to being “in Christ” in chapter 1! The blessings that are ours because we are “in Christ” keep piling up!

So, to be “taught in Him,” means to be taught from the standpoint of this new relationship with Christ that entails this new position in Christ. Before, you stood outside, not understanding the things of God. But now, because of God’s mercy and kindness toward you in Christ, you are “in Him” for time and eternity. To be taught in Him is a lifelong process that begins at the moment of salvation, but never ends. Since Christ is the center of all of Scripture, to be taught in Him is to grow to know the glory of Christ in His person, His offices, and His work on our behalf. Someday when we see Him as He is, we will be instantly changed to be like Him (1John 3:2). Meanwhile, we must engage in the process of being taught in Him.

D. The changed life begins when you know the truth that is in Jesus.

The phrase, “just as truth is in Jesus,” qualifies the preceding comments about learning Christ, hearing Him, and being taught in Him. The reason that Christ is the focus of instruction is that He is the embodiment of truth (John 14:6). The truth of salvation is only in Jesus Christ. In Him, we learn the truth about who we are, the truth about sin and righteousness, and the truth about God’s purpose for why we are on this earth. We learn the truth about how to love God and how to love one another. We learn the truth about the coming judgment, and about heaven and hell. All of the truth that we need for life and godliness centers in the person of Jesus Christ.

Note that Paul here makes a deliberate shift in how he refers to Christ. In Ep 4:20, he talks about learning Christ, but here he says that the truth is in Jesus. This is the only time in Ephesians that he uses the name Jesus by itself. Why did Paul not say, “just as the truth is in Christ”? The change seems to be more than stylistic. The name “Jesus” focuses on the historical person who was born of the virgin Mary, who worked as a carpenter, and who walked around Israel teaching and healing the sick. He was crucified, raised bodily from the dead, seen by many of His disciples after the resurrection, and ascended bodily into heaven. All of these historic facts lie behind the name, “Jesus.”

But, why does Paul want us to think of the truth that is in Jesus? Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Darkness and Light [Baker], p. 100) explains,

the Christian is not saved by a philosophy of redemption; he is saved by that historic Person, Jesus of Nazareth, Son of God!

Some of the false cults talk about “the cosmic Christ,” or the “Christ principle within us all.” But that is just metaphysical mumbo jumbo!

As Lloyd-Jones points out (ibid.), all of the world’s major religions are built around teachings and ideas. But, in sharp contrast, the truth of the gospel is rooted in history. The Christian message is the proclamation of certain facts that happened in history in the person of Jesus. If the gospel accounts are fictional stories, then there is no salvation in Jesus! If the historic person of Jesus did not die on the cross and rise bodily from the dead, as testified by many reliable eyewitnesses, then you are still in your sins (1Co 15:17). Everything in the Christian faith rests on the truth being in the historical person of Jesus, crucified and risen from the dead!

So Paul’s point (in Ep 4:20, 21) is that the changed life stems from the transformation that God works in us through the gospel. When we meet Jesus Christ personally through faith, we are changed people! But, how does the process continue? Paul goes on (Ep 4:22, 23, 24) to explain these changes with three infinitives (in Greek): “lay aside”; “be renewed”; and, “put on.”

There are different opinions about how these infinitives function. In my opinion, the best view is that the infinitives explain the changes that took place when we trusted in Christ, but they also have the force of ongoing commands. At the moment we trusted Christ, we did in fact lay aside the old life and put on the new life, much as a baptismal candidate took off his old clothes and put on a new, white robe for his baptism. We began the process of inner renewal. But, day by day we must continue to put off the dirty old life and put on the new life in Christ, as we are renewed in the spirit of our mind. In other words, we must live daily in light of the truth of what God says we now are. We are new creatures in Christ (2Co 5:17). Live each day in light of that truth by decisively putting off the old life, being renewed in your mind, and putting on the new life. Let’s look at each of these.

2. The changed life requires putting off the old man (Ep 4:22).

Paul’s phrase is literally, “the old man.” He identifies this as being “in reference to your former manner of life.” So the old man refers to all that we were before we were saved, when we were ruled by the evil desires and practices (see Ep 4:19; 2:3). Paul uses the same phrase in Romans 6:6, where he says,

our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin.

Romans 6 is really a longer exposition of what Paul says more succinctly here.

In Romans 6:6 (and in Col. 3:9), Paul refers to the putting off of the old man as an accomplished fact. When Christ died on the cross, we died with Him positionally. When He was raised from the dead, we were raised up with Him. We are to reckon these facts to be true in our daily practice, so that we will not yield to sin (Ro 6:11). Because in those passages Paul clearly states this putting off of the old life as a done deal, some argue that it is not something that we have to go on doing now. They contend that it was a once and for all matter that happened at the cross.

But, although we died with Christ, in other places Paul commands us to put to death our members that are on the earth (Ro 8:13; Col. 3:5, literal translation). Why do we need to put to death our members if we already died?

My understanding is that we must daily apply experientially the facts that are true of us positionally. So, yes, at the moment we got saved, we put off the dirty clothes of the old life. But, every day we must reckon that this is so by putting off everything associated with the old life and putting on the new life in Christ.

Lloyd-Jones (ibid. p. 123) uses a helpful illustration. When Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves, they were officially free from their many years of servitude, but some of them went on living as if they were still slaves. The President’s proclamation gave them legal standing as free citizens. It was a done deal—they were no longer slaves. But, out of habit and way of thinking, many of these poor people still lived like slaves. So, 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.

Even so, our old life involved a process of being corrupted by the lusts of deceit. Sin deceives us into thinking that it will give us freedom and fulfillment, but it’s a lie (He 3:13). Sin only defiles, enslaves (Jn 8:34, 2Pe 2:19, Pr 5:22), and ultimately destroys the person who is deceived by it (cp Jas 1:15, Ro 6:23). When Christ saved us, He liberated us from bondage to sin (Ro 6:7, Ro 6:19, Ro 6:22, Acts 13:39, 2Co 3:17, Ga 2:4, Jas 1:25). We died to sin by virtue of His death on the cross (Ro 6:2, Ro 6:11). We were raised to new life in Him (Ep 2:6, Col 2:12, Col 3:1, Ro 6:4, cp Ro 7:4, Ro 8:11). Now, we must daily put off the dirty clothes of sin and put on the new clothes of righteousness and holiness in Him (Ep 4:24), because He freed us. There is still in us a strong tug toward the old life, but we do not have to yield to it (Ro 6:12, 13). The changed life involves putting off the old man.

3. The changed life requires being renewed in the spirit of your mind (Ep 4:23).

“Be renewed” is a present passive infinitive, which means that it is an ongoing process that God performs in us as we cooperate with Him (see Phil. 2:12, 13). The renewing takes place “in the spirit of your mind.” God does the renewing as we obey Him by saturating our minds with His transforming Word of truth (cp Col 3:16, 2Co 3:18). So God’s Spirit performs the work of renewal in us, but we are responsible to use the means of renewal, namely, His Word, which renews our hearts and thoughts as we submit to it.

Why does Paul here refer to the spirit of your mind? Why not just, be renewed in your mind (as in Ro 12:2)? Some interpret “spirit” as the Holy Spirit, but the phrase, “of your mind” doesn’t fit with this. The Spirit isn’t a part of our minds. Others take it as the human spirit, but Paul does not use “spirit” in that way anywhere else in Ephesians. Some think that “spirit” is in apposition to “mind,” so that it means, “the spirit, which is your mind.” But, why would he say it that way? Others take it to mean, “the attitude or disposition of your mind.” Some say that it simply refers to your inner being.

Perhaps the best view is that it refers to the principle that regulates or controls the mind. In this sense, “the spirit of the world” (1Co 2:12) is the principle that controls the world, or makes it what it is (Charles Hodge, Commentary on the Epistle to the Ephesians). Thus, the spirit of the mind is not just mental ability, “but the power that controls and directs the abilities” (Lloyd-Jones, p. 156). Paul means that our entire way of thinking and what controls our thinking needs renewal. We need to think in line with God’s thoughts, as revealed in His Word.

This means that true biblical change must not bypass the mind. Sometimes, evangelists use emotional stories or music or a dramatic setting and then appeal to people to make a decision for Jesus. But they have bypassed the mind. Such decisions, made on the basis of emotions, will not last. God reasons with us through the truths of His Word. The doctrines of Scripture make sense, because they are God’s truth. When the Spirit of God opens a person’s mind to the truths revealed in the Word, the truth will result in changed emotions and changed wills. Any change that bypasses the spirit of the mind will not last.

So, the changed life begins by coming to know Christ personally. It requires putting off the old life of corruption and deceit, and being renewed in the spirit of our minds. Finally,

4. The changed life requires putting on the new man (Eph 4:24).

Again, I believe that the sense is that we did put on this new man once and for all at the point of conversion, but we must continue putting on this new man every day by making true in our experience what is actually true of us positionally. In other words, we must live by applying the truth of the new man in every situation that we face. Paul will make this very specific in Ep 4:25-6:9. When you face the temptation to lie (the old man’s way of acting), instead you speak the truth (Ep 4:25), because you are a new person in Christ. Instead of stealing, you work and give (Ep 4:28). Etc.

Note several things about this new man.

First, while Paul is applying it individually here, it also has a corporate aspect. He used the phrase, “new man,” in Ep 2:15 to describe the church as the new creation of Jew and Gentile in Christ. Whereas the old man lived for self, the new man considers others ahead of self. Whereas the old man was full of racial prejudice and pride, the new man erases those distinctions and views others in the body equally as brothers in Christ. This corporate aspect of the new man implies that if you are not involved with a local church, where you are being built together with other believers, then you do not understand a major part of the new way in which you are supposed to live.

Second, God is the Creator of this new man. As we saw in Ephesians 2:10,

we are His workmanship (poiema - word study), created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

This shows that the changed life of the believer is not something that we must conjure up by our own will power. God created us anew in Him. But, at the same time, we must walk in the good works that He has prepared for us.

Third, God is the pattern of this new man. It has been created (literally) “according to God,” or, as the NASB interprets it (in line with Col 3:10), “in the likeness of God.” Specifically, Paul mentions righteousness and holiness of the truth. Righteousness and holiness are aspects of God’s character in Psalm 144:17 and Deut 32:4. See, also, Luke 1:75; 1Th 2:10; Titus 1:8.) These qualities are essentially synonymous, but righteousness refers to living according to God’s standards, whereas holiness has the nuance of essential purity. Both qualities are the result of the truth, namely, the truth as it is in Jesus. In other words, the truth of sound doctrine results in holy living.

Conclusion

We don’t all have dramatic conversion, as the apostle Paul did. Many of us that were raised in Christian homes may not know exactly when we came to faith in Christ. But no matter what our experience of conversion, we ought to know that God has changed our hearts. Formerly, we did not know Christ, but now we do, however imperfectly. Formerly, even if we maintained an outward veneer of virtue, we lived for self. Now, we live for Christ, to know Him and serve Him. Formerly, we were being corrupted by the evil desires of sin that deceived us into thinking that they would bring fulfillment. Now, we are new creatures in Christ, living for righteousness and holiness, which come from the truth that is in Jesus.

While it is a lifelong process of renewal, you should be able to see the distinct difference between the old person that you were and the new person that you now are in Christ. You should be able to relate to the old Black preacher who said,

“I ain’t what I want to be and I ain’t what I’m gonna be, but praise God, I ain’t what I used to be!”

Application Questions

If a person did not have a dramatic conversion, how can he know that he was truly born again? Cite biblical support.

If the “old man” is dead and removed at salvation, why do we still have such an intense struggle against sin?

What are some practical ways to be renewed in the spirit of your mind? Be specific.

How do lusts deceive us? How can we avoid this deception?