But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. (Ephesians 4:20-22)

Get Rid Of The Old Man

There are two kinds of people in the life of the Christian. The “old man” is the life past, and the “new man” is the life present. One of the key elements of a child of God is the translation from a life outside of Christ to a life in Christ. Through this translation, the individual’s heart, soul, and mind are changed dramatically. When asked what to do to be saved, the apostle Peter first told the Jerusalem crowd they needed to repent. The first word of the gospel has always been repentance or change of life. No one can come to God without emptying themselves of their previous life.

Using the image of old and new, Paul shows that life before one obeys the gospel is an old life that must be replaced with a new one. When the heart learns about the love of God and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, a change occurs where the habits of a corrupt and wicked life are replaced with the habits of a good and righteous life. The change comes from knowing God’s word or learning about Jesus Christ. When the gospel is preached, one hears the message of truth learning the truths of God’s grace to forgive sins through the blood of His Son. All truth resides in Jesus Christ. Coming to the blood of Christ demands a change take place.

The old man must be removed from the life of the Christian. Paul describes the old man as one who lies, steals, curses and is filled with bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, slander, and all types of evil behavior. These qualities are not to be found in the heart of the child of God and must be removed. The old man engages in fornication, uncleanness or covetousness, filthiness, and drunkenness. These things should not be named among those who profess a love for God. The old man walked according to the pattern of the world, fulfilling the lusts and desires of the flesh and mind. Christians cannot live with these things.

Paul calls the previous life of the Christian an old man because it needs to die. The need to put to death the deeds of the body is paramount to the character of those washed in the blood of Jesus Christ. In the waters of baptism, sins are washed away. The challenge of sin will always tempt men to disobey God, but the old man must be continually put away to purify the heart. If the old man is not put away, the Christian begins a spiritual death.

When a person is baptized into Christ, they have been united in the likeness of the death of Jesus. In the waters of baptism, the old man is crucified with Christ so that the body of sin might be done away with. The old man needs to remain dead. Too often, the old man is resurrected and the Christian lives in the image of the old man rather than being renewed in the spirit of the new man. Learning about Jesus is where the knowledge of removing the old man comes from. The daily work of the Christian is to remove the old man, not allowing his presence to be a part of the new life. Put to death the old man so the new man can live.