Christian Living/ Putting on New Clothes

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the Spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.(...)

Another branch of the general exhortation follows in those words, That you put off, concerning the former conversation, the old man, etc.,( Ephesians 4:22-24). “This is a great part of the doctrine which has been taught you, and which you have learned.” Here the apostle expresses himself in metaphors taken from garments. The principles, habits, and dispositions of the soul must be changed, before there can be a saving change of the life. There must be sanctification, which consists of these two things: -
 (1.) The old man must be put off. (The corrupt nature is called a man, because, like the human body, it consists of divers parts, mutually supporting and strengthening one another).
 It is the old man, as old Adam, from whom we derive it. It is bred in the bone, and we brought it into the world with us. It is subtle as the old man; but in all God's saints decaying and withering as an old man, and ready to pass away.
 It is said to be corrupt; for sin in the soul is the corruption of its faculties: and, where it is not mortified, it grows daily worse and worse, and so tends to destruction. According to the deceitful lusts. Sinful inclinations and desires are deceitful lusts: they promise men happiness, but render them more miserable, and if not subdued and mortified betray them into destruction. These therefore must be put off as an old garment [outfit, dress] that we should be ashamed to be seen in: they must be subdued [repressed, restrained] and mortified. These lusts prevailed against them in their former conversation, that is, during their state of unregeneracy and heathenism.

 (2.) The new man must be put on. It is not enough to shake off corrupt principles, but we must be actuated [instigated, influenced] by gracious ones. We must embrace them, espouse[ adopt ] them, and get them written on our hearts: it is not enough to cease to do evil, but we must learn to do well. “Be renewed in the spirit of your mind (Ephesians 4:23); that is, use the proper and prescribed means in order to have the mind, which is a spirit, renewed more and more.”
 And that you put on the new man, Ephesians 4:24.By the new man is meant the new nature, the new creature, which is actuated by a new principle, even regenerating grace, enabling a man to lead a new life, that life of righteousness and holiness which Christianity requires.
 This new man is created, or produced out of confusion and emptiness, by God's almighty power, whose workmanship it is, truly excellent and beautiful. After God, in imitation of him, and in conformity to that grand exemplar and pattern. The loss of God's image upon the soul was both the sinfulness and misery of man's fallen state; and that resemblance which it bears to God is the beauty, the glory, and the happiness, of the new creature. In righteousness towards men, including all the duties of the second table; and in holiness towards God, signifying a sincere obedience to the commands of the first table; true holiness in opposition to the outward and ceremonial holiness of the Jews.
 We are said to put on this new man when, in the use of all God's appointed means, we are endeavouring after this divine nature, this new creature. This is the more general exhortation to purity and holiness of heart and life.

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In Christ
J Roque