Paul gets really practical with his readers in these verses. He has been imparting to them a lot of new concepts for the church, specifically that Jew and Gentile have both become one – there is no longer a distinction between the two. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our sins broke down the walls of separation which formally existed and brought them together in the name of Christ. Paul knew this would cause some animosity within the church, but he further taught them things which were important to their faith. The difference was no longer about heritage, but about the way they lived their lives. Paul begins this practical instruction by writing to “no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk.” Remember that Gentiles often represented those who were far from God and did not believe in the one, true God. Paul told his readers that they were no longer like the unbeliever because they “walk…in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart…have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.” Being Jew or Gentile did not have anything to do with being a Christian, but lifestyle had everything to do with being a Christian. Unbelievers did not regard God in any part of their life, but those who had learned, been taught, and heard the truth of Christ knew that they were to “put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.” Belief in Jesus Christ changes the way we live our life. The old man represents our lifestyle before Jesus Christ which was marred by sin and selfishness. Now we have “put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” The new man is not something we have the power to create but in perfectly orchestrated by God and enables us to life life in His power, not our own. How do we put on the new man? Being renewed in the spirit of your mind leads us to holiness. Since the mind is the center of all that we are and drives our attitudes and actions, our mind must be transformed. Only God has the ability to give us a new mind! As our mind is changed through the Holy Spirit and the word of God, it leads us to right actions, which we’ll address in the next verses.
Dear God, thank You for giving me a new mind and I pray I’d use it for Your good!
