A New Thing

Ephesians 4:20-24 (ESV)
²⁰ But that is not the way you learned Christ!—
²¹ assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus,
²² to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,
²³ and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
²⁴ and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

How do we learn Christ, or in other words, what does it truly mean to have learned Christ, to be in Christ. This passage contains three main elements which lead to and feed one another as we grow into the author of our salvation: Jesus. I imagine a circle process between these elements as we grow into the full measure of Christ. 

The first is to put off the old self. When we repent, we turn away from self and turn to God. In doing so, we agree with God that our former life is corrupt and accept His saving grace. We begin to put off the way we used to think and see the world. The former things become distasteful and hollow. 

The second is to be renewed in the spirit of our minds. Pursuing Christ involves connecting with Him through the Word, and with fellowship and worship with others. The Holy Spirit is present in all three. All three are to be done on our own as well, when in quiet moments we open our hearts to the Lord and give thanks for all He has done we enter into communion with the Holy One. That relationship with Him is essential. 

The third is to put on the new self. The first two make the third possible. Doing away with the old makes room for the new. The renewing builds up the new self, allowing the righteousness and holiness of God to enter our lives. As sons and daughters of the Father, we grow in His likeness. As we grow in His likeness, our new self shines brighter as the old self fades. 

Put off the old, renew in the spirit, put on the new. There should be a constant action and interaction of these three elements of our spiritual life. God is doing a new thing and He is doing it through us. May we be part of that as we rely on His strength and promises.