“Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,” – Colossians 3:10 (NKJV)

We touched a bit about this in an earlier blog, but this is something worth going over in more detail and depth. When we receive Christ, we are to “put off” (basically the old sinful way you used to walk in has no power over you) the old man, and we receive a new identity according to what God (the Bible) says about us. Here in the passage above it says that our new man is renewed in knowledge according to the image of God. The Bible tells us in Genesis 1:27 we were created in the image and likeness of God. So this new man is meant to be a mirror image of God.

Ephesians 4:17-24 (NLT) says this:

With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity. But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

Walking in the newness of life requires us to transform our minds in the truth that is Gods Word. We cannot expect to walk out our Christian life as a reflection of Christ if we don’t rely on the Spirit of God and His Word to change the way we think and act. Romans 12:1-2 tells us not to be conformed to the world (the old way of doing things) but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds in the Word. If we hold onto mindsets that are contrary to Gods Word, we cannot reflect Him. Those mindsets could look like “I’m just timid or shy by nature” (Proverbs 28:1) “I’m afraid of…” (2nd Timothy 1:7) “I’m ugly” (Psalm 139:14) “I’m stupid, or I can’t do anything right (1st Corinthians 2:16) the list goes on and on.

Now we may think that some of these mindsets aren’t that big of a deal, but if I accept a lie, I exchange the truth of Gods word for a lie and walk in deception. The Word of God will always produce healthy mindsets because the entrance of His Words brings light and life. When His Word is revealed to us by the Spirit, and we accept it, we have the grace to walk in the newness of life that God intended for man. That new man is to live a life that isn’t controlled by fear, depression, etc. He called us to love and serve Him with our whole being spirit, soul, and body. Do your mindsets line up with the Word? If not it’s time to get new perspective.

Practical Steps:

• Ask God to reveal Himself to you. If you know who your Creator is, you will know who you are meant to be.
• Seek the Lord! You cannot have the truth revealed to you if you don’t seek it.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and help you walk the way you should.