Taking off the old person, putting on the new

By way of personal example, Pastor Shane leads us into a conversation about what it is like to take off the old, and put on the new.
Click here for the recording of this 5/18/25 Service, and you can fast-forward to 22:40 to get to the start of the sermon.

Our text comes from Ephesians Chapter 4.22-24

…in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid yourselves of the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you are to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

Introduction…

• For most of my adult life, I have battled weight

• On 3/10/24, I stepped on the scales and weighed 330.1 lbs, down from a high of about 340

• I had just returned from the Dominican Republic, where Kathy and I had a long talk- knew I needed to change

• Time, and failure, taught me I could not do it on my own- I needed help

• As a result, I decided to take Mounjaro, under my doctor’s care

• Within 48 hrs of taking the drug all the food noise in my head was gone, as was my appetite

• Something in my head, about food, was different

• On 5/11/25, I weighed 262.9- down about 78 lbs

• Today, I eat about 1/3 of what I used to eat

• All of my health markers have moved to the normal range

• Most of the meds I used to take are gone; I only take a cholesterol pill and a blood thinner

Change

• “Until the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of changing, people prefer to stay the same”
  - Dobbins

• If you could be assured of success, what would you change about yourself?  What if you don’t?

• The ability to change others is an illusion- the only person you can change, is you, and then, you may need help

• Are you willing to accept that help?

The walk of the “gentiles”

• It is futile/empty

• Their thinking is darkened

• They are ignorant- there are things they don’t know

• They have a hardened heart

• They are callous and insensitive

• They give themselves to indecent behavior

• They crave impurity- the addiction to sin

What is different about the people of God

• They have learned Christ, and His ways are different

• They have heard Him

• They have been taught in him- discipleship

• Their truth is in Jesus

Putting off the old

• The old life is “former”- it is what you used to do/be

• You are to put aside your former self (anthropos)- lay it down

• Why?  It is perishing/being corrupted by a desire to be deceived- the former self does not want the truth

The renewing of your mind

• This is the act of being made into something new…

• …In the spirit of your understanding- the way you think

• It is not enough to give Jesus your heart- He must have your mind as well

• Putting on the new self

• We are to clothe ourselves in the new self (anthropos) which is to look like god

• 3 characteristics

1. Righteousness- being in right relationship with Him

2. Holiness- the character of Christ, as opposed to legalism, or the mere keeping of rules

3. His Truth, not your truth- scripture, as opposed to your opinion

So, how do we do this?

1. Admit your need to change

2. Be willing to accept help if you need it

3. Actively participate in taking off the bad

4. Actively participate in putting on the good

5. Daily lean into a right relationship with him, showing Christ in your life, and seeking HIS truth, and not your own