Put on the New Self—Colossians 3:9-11
“Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all” (Colossians 3:9-11)
I love this Biblical concept because it illustrates the idea of effortless change. It is what God’s provision and His Spirit will do in you; He will change you from the inside out. Previously Paul commented that submitting to behavior based rules as a change element was destined to perish with use (Colossians 2:20-22). This is merely the human approach for change; based on mortal commands and teachings. It is important to pay attention to God’s way for change.
Take off the Old Unregenerate Self
Growing up in a church, this idea about taking off the ‘old self’ is normal, I’ve heard it many times. However, I realize a statement like this can be somewhat shocking—after all, what does that even mean? It is important to understand, especially since this is some of the best advice you can get—to take off the old self that clings and oppresses with desires of the sin nature.