PUT ON THE NEW SELF

Passage: Ephesians 4:17-24

Key verse: 24

NIV

Instructions for Christian Living

17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer(A) live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.(B) 18 They are darkened in their understanding(C) and separated from the life of God(D) because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.(E) 19 Having lost all sensitivity,(F) they have given themselves over(G) to sensuality(H) so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off(I) your old self,(J) which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;(K) 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;(L) 24 and to put on(M) the new self,(N) created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.(O)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The New Life

17 Now this I say and (A)testify in the Lord, (B)that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, (C)in the futility of their minds. 18 They (D)are darkened in their understanding, (E)alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to (F)their hardness of heart. 19 They (G)have become callous and (H)have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you (I)learned Christ!— 21 assuming that (J)you have heard about him and (K)were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to (L)put off (M)your old self,[a] which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through (N)deceitful desires, 23 and (O)to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on (P)the new self, (Q)created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

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Footnotes
  1. Ephesians 4:22 Greek man; also verse 24
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Put off the old self (17-19)

God is the source of truth and life. Once, when we lived without God's truth in our hearts we could not think clearly, so our thinking was futile. As Christians, we must no longer think like godless people. When we allow our thought-world to be captured by sensuality and impurity, our hearts become hard, our understanding dark, and we are separated from the life of God. When we harden our hearts toward God we become ignorant and insensitive, and we are deceived by our sinful desires. Sinful desires grow when we give in to them. These things belong to the old self which we must put off.

2. Put on the new self (2

-24)

When we know Christ, God's truth is planted in our hearts. Christ rules our thought-world, and gives us a new attitude toward others, ourselves and the world. We must put off the old self with its corrupt and deceitful desires, and put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Prayer: Lord, help me to put off my old self. Put your truth in my heart, so that I may put on the new self.

One Word: Put on the new self