Put Off the Old (Ephesians 4:22)

Paul says that we, as believers, must “learn Christ”—but what does that mean? Paul answers with three specifics—the first being to put off the old man (the corrupt sinful, selfish nature we all have prior to Christ).

In this study, we examine Ephesians 4:22 and what it means to “put off” sin so that we might live as new creations in Christ Jesus.

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Key Passage: Ephesians 4:22

But you did not learn Christ in this way—if indeed you heard Him and were taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus—to lay aside, in reference to your former conduct, the old man, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and to put on the new man, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
– Ephesians 4:20–24

Learning Christ

• You don’t learn godliness by living in sin
• 1. to lay aside, in reference to your former conduct, the old man, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 
• 2. and to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 
• 3. and to put on the new man, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth

Put Off the Old

• Ephesians 4:17–19 – Therefore this I say, and testify in the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their mind, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart. And they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 
• Renaissance NT Commentary: “no longer walk as the Gentiles walk in the tragic stupidity of their philosophy.” ⁽¹⁾

Put Off 

• (apotithēmi) – stop oneself from being in a state or condition; to take off, lay aside, or put away
  • Interesting it is used 8x in NT and every time but one has to do with throwing something negative/sinful off
  • Interesting that the one time that it is used in a physical sense there was such an intensity to kill Stephen that it was a violent casting off … resolute, determined, not going to let anything hinder me throwing him out
    • Acts 7:57–58 – But crying out with a loud voice, they covered their ears and rushed at him with one accord. And when they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
• Romans 13:12 – The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
• Ephesians 4:22 – … to lay aside, in reference to your former conduct, the old man, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit …
• Ephesians 4:25 – Therefore, laying aside falsehood …
• Colossians 3:8 – But now you also, lay them all aside: wrath, anger, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.
• Hebrews 12:1 – Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, laying aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, let us run with endurance the race that is set before us …
• James 1:21 – Therefore, laying aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in gentleness receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
• 1 Peter 2:1 – Therefore, laying aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander …
• » The list of “put off” from the verses above: deeds of darkness, former conduct, the old man, deceitful lusts, lying, anger, wrath, malice, slander, filthy language, sin, filthiness, wickedness, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking (slander)

Conformed to Christ (School of Christ)

• Romans 8:28–29 – And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. Because those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers …
• John 17:17 – Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.

Out With The Old

• Galatians 5:16–21 – But I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you do not do the things that you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 
• But I can’t help myself!
  • Will you allow Jesus to take your likes and make them dislikes?
• When Christ comes into your life … He doesn’t improve it – He transforms it
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

FOOTNOTES

(1) Randolph O. Yeager, Renaissance NT Commentary, Ephesians (Pelican Publishing , 1998).

Photo Credit: Jayson Hinrichsen

Join the Conversation

Question: What is God asking you to “put off” so that you can fully put on Jesus Christ?

» Leave a response below the video on YouTube (click here) …

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In Our Next Study Together …

I invite you to join me on this journey from the book of Ephesians to discover God’s eternal purpose, His plan for your life, and learn how to practically live out an abundant and fruitful Christian life. 

• The focus of our next study: Ephesians 4:7
  • We are going to dive into the concept of Jesus giving us the gift of grace and what purpose His grace serves in our lives.
  • I encourage you to read through Ephesians a couple of times this week and focus specifically on Ephesians 4.