The New Man: Putting Off the Old and Putting On the New

Introduction

"The moment you accept Jesus Christ as Lord, 2 Corinthians 5:17 says 'All Things become new.'" Throughout Scripture, we find 30 distinct transformations that occur at the moment of salvation. This document explores the twenty-seventh of these transformations: becoming a new man.

The Old Man vs. The New Man

The concept of becoming a "new man" is central to understanding the transformation that occurs at salvation. Scripture uses the metaphor of changing clothes—taking off the old and putting on the new—to describe this profound identity shift.

The Ephesians Description

Ephesians 4:17-24

"So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded 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. But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth."

This passage describes both the old self and the new self:

The Old Self (Old Man)

1. Characterized by futile thinking: A mind operating without divine wisdom

2. Darkened understanding: Inability to perceive spiritual truth

3. Excluded from God's life: Separated from divine vitality

4. Ignorant: Lacking true knowledge of God

5. Hard-hearted: Resistant to God's truth

6. Callous: Morally insensitive

7. Given to sensuality: Controlled by physical desires

8. Practicing impurity: Engaging in moral uncleanness

9. Greedy: Excessive desire for more

10. Being corrupted: In a process of ongoing moral decay

The New Self (New Man)

1. In God's likeness: Reflecting divine character

2. Created by God: Not self-developed but divinely originated

3. Characterized by righteousness: Right standing and right action

4. Holy: Set apart from sin and dedicated to God

5. Aligned with truth: Living according to reality as God defines it

The Decision of Transformation

The language in these passages is significant. In the original Greek, the command to "put off the old self" uses the aorist tense, indicating a decisive, once-for-all action rather than a continuous process. This aligns with Romans 6, which teaches that:

1. Through baptism, we are united with Christ in His death (Romans 6:3-4)

2. Our "old man" was crucified with Christ (Romans 6:6)

3. We are to "reckon" (consider) ourselves dead to sin but alive to God (Romans 6:11)

The word "reckon" is an accounting term that means to make a definitive calculation or determination. We are to decisively consider our old self dead and our new self alive in Christ.

The Practical Outworking of the New Man

Ephesians 4:25-5:2

The passage continues by contrasting specific behaviors of the old man with those of the new man:

Old Man Behaviors to Put Away:

• Falsehood: Lying and deception

• Unresolved anger: Letting anger continue and fester

• Stealing: Taking what isn't rightfully yours

• Unwholesome speech: Words that tear down rather than build up

• Grieving the Holy Spirit: Actions contrary to God's character

• Bitterness: Harboring resentment

• Wrath: Explosive anger

• Anger: Ongoing hostility

• Clamor: Loud quarreling

• Slander: Speaking evil of others

• Malice: Desire to harm others

New Man Behaviors to Put On:

• Truth-telling: Speaking honestly with others

• Constructive anger: Righteous indignation that resolves quickly

• Productive work: Contributing rather than taking

• Edifying speech: Words that build up and give grace

• Kindness: Treating others with goodness

• Tenderheartedness: Being compassionate toward others

• Forgiveness: Releasing others from offenses

• Imitating God: Following the divine pattern

• Walking in love: Living with sacrificial concern for others

The ultimate model for the new man is God Himself: "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma" (Ephesians 5:1-2).

The Colossians Perspective

Colossians 3:1-11

The letter to the Colossians presents a similar teaching:

"Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all."

This passage adds several important dimensions:

1. Heavenly focus: The new man is oriented toward "things above"

2. Identification with Christ: Our life is "hidden with Christ in God"

3. Future glorification: We will be revealed with Christ in glory

4. New mind-set: Considering ourselves "dead" to sin

5. Past-tense change: "You laid aside the old self" (completed action)

6. Ongoing renewal: The new self is "being renewed" (continuing process)

7. Purpose of renewal: To gain "true knowledge" of God

8. Ultimate goal: To reflect "the image of the One who created him"

9. Elimination of distinctions: All human divisions are transcended in Christ

The Theological Significance

The teaching about the new man carries profound theological implications:

1. A definitive break with the past: The old man is not improved but replaced

2. A divine creation, not human improvement: The new man is created by God, not self-developed

3. A decisive action with ongoing application: Put off once for all, yet lived out daily

4. A complete identity shift: Not merely behavioral change but a new identity

5. A Christ-centered existence: Christ becomes "all, and in all"

Conclusion

When we accept Christ, we become a new man. This transformation involves a definitive break with our old identity (the old man) and the establishment of a new identity created by God in righteousness and holiness. While this change occurs decisively at salvation, we must continually live out this new identity by putting off the behaviors associated with the old man and putting on the virtues of the new man.

The new man is not merely an improved version of the old but a completely new creation patterned after Christ Himself. As we embrace this new identity, we increasingly reflect God's image and transcend the human divisions that once separated us from others.

This transformation is not primarily about behavior modification but about identity recognition—acknowledging who we have become in Christ and living accordingly. In this way, we progressively manifest outwardly what is already true of us inwardly as those who have been made new in Christ.