What is the meaning of Ephesians 4:22? To put off Paul is talking about an intentional, decisive action. We don’t drift into holiness; we choose to “put off” the sin-clothes we once wore. Notice how Scripture consistently frames this as something believers actively do by God’s grace: • “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice…” (1 Peter 2:1) • “Let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles” (Hebrews 12:1) Exactly like taking off a dirty coat, the old conduct must be removed before the new life can shine. Your former way of life Paul zooms in on patterns, habits, and values that marked us before Christ. That “way of life” was normal then, but it is now foreign territory. Colossians 3:7 reminds, “When you lived among them, you also used to walk in these ways.” Think of areas such as: • Speech laced with bitterness (Ephesians 4:29) • Relationships shaped by selfishness (James 3:16) • Goals centered on self-promotion (Philippians 2:3) Every time we recognize one of those old routes, we step off it and onto the path of obedience. Your old self The phrase highlights identity. Before Christ we were spiritually dead, “slaves to sin” (Romans 6:6). The moment we trusted Jesus, God gave us a new nature (2 Corinthians 5:17), yet the residue of the old person still tries to dominate. Paul says, “Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God” (Romans 6:11). In practice: • Recall who you are in Christ each morning. • Resist the lie that sin defines you; Christ does. • Rely on the Spirit’s power, not sheer willpower (Galatians 5:16). Which is being corrupted The old self isn’t neutral; it decays. Left unchecked, it drags us downward like rot spreading through wood. Proverbs 4:23 warns, “Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Corruption is a present, ongoing process, so vigilance must be ongoing too. By its deceitful desires Sin never advertises the full cost. It whispers half-truths, promising freedom while forging chains. Titus 3:3 recalls that we were “deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures.” Practical safeguards: • Compare every desire to God’s Word (Psalm 119:105). • Invite accountability; light exposes deception (Ephesians 5:11). • Stay satisfied in Christ; starved souls fall for counterfeit joy (Psalm 16:11). summary Ephesians 4:22 calls believers to a conscious break with the past—stripping off the habits, identity, and deceit that once ruled us. The old self constantly decays, but in Christ we are new and empowered to live truthfully, guarding our hearts and choosing holiness every day. |
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