Putting Off the Old Self
Scripture: Ephesians 4:22–24 (WEB) — “That you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.”
There is a moment every morning when you choose who you will be. Not in a dramatic way — quietly, in the small decisions of the heart. Will you reach for the old patterns or step into the new life Christ has given you? Paul describes this daily choice with vivid language: put off, be renewed, put on. It is the rhythm of transformation, played out one day at a time.
“That you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit.” — Ephesians 4:22
Paul uses a striking image — the “old man.” It is the person you were before Christ, the identity shaped by the world, the patterns of thought and behaviour that became second nature. And Paul says: put him away. The Greek word is apotithemi — to take off like a garment, to lay aside, to strip away.
Think of a heavy winter coat you no longer need. It served a purpose once, but now it only weighs you down. The old self is like that. The worries, the anger, the jealousy, the self-protective habits, the lies you believed about yourself and God — these were survival mechanisms in a world without grace. But you do not live there anymore. It is time to take off the coat.
Putting off the old self is not about behaviour modification. It is about recognising that the old identity is no longer yours. In Christ, you are no longer defined by your old life. You are God’s beloved child, learning each day to live in the new life He has given you. The old self has been crucified with Christ. You do not need to fight it in your own strength — Christ has already broken its power. Your task is to stop letting it set the agenda.
“Be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” — Ephesians 4:23
Between putting off and putting on, there is renewal. You cannot simply stop old behaviours without replacing them with something true. The mind must be renewed — not once, but continually. This is where transformation digs deep. The patterns of the old self are rooted in what we believe about God, ourselves, and the world. Renewal happens when those beliefs are reshaped by truth.
Every lie the old self believed must be replaced by the truth of who God says you are. Every fear that drove old behaviours must be surrendered to the Father’s love. Every distorted view of God must be corrected by the light of His Word. This is the work of the Spirit, but it requires your cooperation. You present your mind. He renews it.
“And put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.” — Ephesians 4:24
Then comes the putting on. Not just the absence of the old, but the presence of the new. The new self is not a project you build — it is a person you already are in Christ. Paul says it has been “created in the likeness of God.” This is not future hope. It is present reality. You are already a new creation. The question is simply whether you will live like it.
Putting on the new self means choosing kindness when bitterness would be easier. It means speaking truth when deception would protect you. It means forgiving when resentment feels justified. Each choice is a garment you put on. Over time, the new self becomes more natural than the old one ever was.
The process is not instant. There will be days when you reach for the old coat out of habit. But each time you recognise it, take it off, and choose the new, you are being transformed. Grace does not rush. It reshapes, one faithful choice at a time.
Breathe in: “I have put off the old self.”
Breathe out: “I am being renewed in Christ.”
You were not saved to stay the same. The old self has been dealt with at the cross. You are free to take it off and leave it there. Today, as you go about your ordinary moments, notice when the old patterns rise. Gently set them aside. And put on the righteousness and holiness that are already yours in Christ.
Prayer
Father, thank You that I no longer have to live in the old self. Christ died to set me free from that identity. Today I choose to put off the patterns of my former life — the worries, the defences, the lies I have believed. Renew my mind with Your truth. Help me to put on the new self, created in Your likeness, walking in righteousness and holiness. I want to live as the person You have already made me to be. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection Questions
- What “old self” patterns are you still carrying that Christ has already freed you from?
- What truth from Scripture do you most need to let renew your mind today?
- What would it look like for you to “put on” the new self in one specific area of your life this week?