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 oldman, which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the Spirit of your mind; and that you put on the new man, which was created according to God, in righteousness and true holiness (Eph 4:20-24 KJV).
Gray hair is a crown of glory, obtained by following a righteous path (Prov 16:31, ISV). Unfortunately, this old man has no gray hair and has not followed the way of righteousness. Therefore, all who are learning from the Lord Jesus, who have heard Him and have been taught by Him, know that the truth is in Him and are empowered to deal mercilessly with this old man and put him off completely! Who is this old man?
In the New King James Version, this old man is referred to as your former conduct. The New International Version calls him your former way of life or your old self. The Amplified Bible describes him as your previous way of life and your former nature. Similarly, the English Standard Version refers to him as your former manner of life or your old self.
Who should put off the old man? Why should I put off the old man? Putting off the old man is the responsibility and demand of every believer and disciple. We, who have the privilege to learn about Him, who have heard about Him, who have been taught about Him, and who possess the seal of the Holy Spirit of promise. The old man is corrupt beyond repair or modification and will only get worse. Putting off the old man is vital for putting on the new man; without putting off the old, one cannot put on the new.
Oh, how many times this old man begs for mercy and sympathy during the process of being put off! How often does he cry out in anguish? Nevertheless, the old wineskin must be destroyed. How many times will he seek an audience to argue against its destruction? But remember, the mind should never engage in these arguments because it also needs renewal in the Spirit. Therefore, the mind cannot be depended upon to put off the old man.
How impossible it is to grow in Christlikeness apart from the sanctifying influence and power of the Spirit! Our ability to put on the new man depends on our absolute and desperate reliance on the Holy Spirit through the power of His Word. For we are sanctified and made clean through the washing of water by the Word (Ephesians 5:26, KJV).
