It is clear from these verses that proclaiming the gospel was not a simply a matter of saying that Jesus died for our sins and we need to believe in Him (all of which is true), but about a whole way of life. Jesus came to give us life to the full (John 10:10), and he declared that He is the life. The Great Commission is make disciples of all people. We ourselves need to learn how to live like Jesus, and to teach and encourage others to do likewise.
This specifically involved teaching people to put off the old self and to put on the new self. Our old way of life, which includes both actions and attitudes, is corrupted by deceitful desires. We need to be wary of desires that come from the flesh, for they can deceive us into wrong actions.
Instead we need to be renewed in the attitude of our minds (Romans 12:1,2). The mind is crucial and it needs to be renewed in Christ. This involves changes in the things we hope for, the things we fear, the things that motivate us, the way we reason. We need to learn to have the mind of Christ, to think like He did.
So we are to put on the new self. This new self is created to be like God, to have true righteousness and holiness. Ie to be truly dedicated to God.
This specifically involved teaching people to put off the old self and to put on the new self. Our old way of life, which includes both actions and attitudes, is corrupted by deceitful desires. We need to be wary of desires that come from the flesh, for they can deceive us into wrong actions.
Instead we need to be renewed in the attitude of our minds (Romans 12:1,2). The mind is crucial and it needs to be renewed in Christ. This involves changes in the things we hope for, the things we fear, the things that motivate us, the way we reason. We need to learn to have the mind of Christ, to think like He did.
So we are to put on the new self. This new self is created to be like God, to have true righteousness and holiness. Ie to be truly dedicated to God.
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