PUT OFF THE OLD PERSON WITH ITS PRACTICES

And Put On the New Person

Some Bible writers (e.g., Apostle Paul) revealed to their readers that there is an ongoing conflict within the Christian, with one side being the fallen, sinful flesh. In this revelation, the Bible writers use such expressions as “the inner man,” “our inner man,” and comparable expressions. At Romans 2:14-15, Paul speaks of us saying, “The law is written on their hearts.” Because man and woman were made in the image and likeness of God, they were given a moral nature that was in harmony with God. This moral nature produces a mental power or ability such as reason and conscience. Even though, we are imperfect, we retain a measure of this moral nature that is in harmony with God’s moral standards. This moral nature operates in “the inner man,” as a law, a moral law. However, because of our fallen condition, there is also ‘the law of sin, which is in our members.’ This ‘law in our members of our body, wages a war against the law of our mind and can make us a prisoner of the law of sin.’―Romans 6:12; 7:22, 23

However, not all is lost, because Paul also tells us that we can ‘be renewed in the spirit of our minds.’ (Eph. 4:23) We can ‘put off the old person with its practices and have put on the new self. We will then be renewed in knowledge according to the image of our Creator.’ We will be transformed by the renewing of our mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.’―Colossians 3:9-10; Romans 12:2