I. You can no longer live the way you used to live . . . (4:17-19)
II. . . . because you’re no longer who you used to be (4:20-24).
When you were born again and converted, you were taught in Jesus
• that you have put off your old self;
• that you are being renewed in the spirit of your minds;
• and that you have put on the new self.
“What had they been taught, then? They had been taught that becoming a Christian involves a radical change, namely ‘conversion’ (as the human side of the experience is usually called) and ‘re-creation’ (the divine side). It involves the repudiation of our former self, our fallen humanity, and the assumption of a new self or re-created humanity. Each of these two Paul calls (literally) a ‘man’, the ‘old man’ which is put off, and the ‘new man’ which is put on.”—Stott, The Message of Ephesians, p.181
“It is because we have already put off our old [self], in that decisive act of repentance called conversion, that we can logically be commanded to put away all the practices which belong to that old and rejected life.”—Stott, p.180
III. We cooperate with the life-long renewing work of the Holy Spirit in our inner being (4:23).
IV. APPLICATION:
1. BELIEVE that what God says about your new self, your new identity, is TRUE about YOU! (4:20-22,24; cf. Colossians 3:9-10)
2. PRAY! Our being renewed comes about only by the power of the Holy Spirit (1:16-19; 3:16-19).
3. BATHE your heart and mind in the truths and promises of God’s Word (4:23).
4. LIVE in a way that is consistent with your NEW SELF (4:25-32).