In my last post we looked at the old self and the new self. I have some more thoughts to share about that.

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

EPHESIANS‬ ‭4‬:‭22‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV

One thing that stood out to me was that the old self (me without God) is subject to corruption.

The word for “corruption” here is phtheiromenon, which carries the idea of rotting, wasting, rusting, or being defiled.

https://www.bibleref.com/Ephesians/4/Ephesians-4-22.html

I live on the coast and rusting makes a very good example for me to imagine. Some metals can rust here within a week of exposure. Some have protective coatings, but if there is any nick or scratch the rust gets in and takes over, weakening and ruining the structure.

The new self is different.

…Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.

2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The new self, the part of us that was gifted with eternal life, is constantly being renewed.

Another thought I want to explore is the difference the Word has between the old and the new. The old self – the word judges.

If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.

John‬ ‭12‬:‭47‬-‭48‬ ‭ESV

The new self – the word cleanses.

…Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭25‬-‭27‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The old self had no recourse for sin and sin brings an ever increasing corruption unto death. The new self is washed by the word and is being renewed daily. The new self has received the precious gift of salvation.

So does that mean the new self doesn’t sin? No. Look here:

If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

1 John‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT

The new self, the new creation, has recourse for sin. The downward corruption of my previous life is turned upside down and Jesus gives us a new promise for our new life in Him:

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬ ‭ESV

So back to my original question – Am I supposed to be me? Or maybe the question is better stated as, did my pre-Christ life set the foundation for my Christian life? I would say no. Christ is the foundation that takes what the enemy meant for evil and turns it for good.

Grace & Peace,

Sandy

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