Baptist City Blog

When a person gets saved, there is a struggle that goes on within them between the old and new man. Ephesians 4:22-24 describes this struggle when it says, “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” The only way to win this struggle is by putting on the new man and refusing to let the old man continue to corrupt your life.

Jacob had a transformation happen in his life when God changed his name from Jacob to Israel. Before this change happened, he lived a life of deception. After God had changed his name, he seemed to struggle between being Jacob the deceiver and Israel the prince with God. It is interesting that every time God talks about Israel, there was a vision to go forward. In the verse above Israel says, “I will go and see…” There was always a vision when he allowed the new man within him to control his life. Yet, every time he allowed the old man to control him, there was doubt and a tinge of deception. It all came down to which man he yielded to. If he chose the new man, he acted like a prince with God; however, if he chose the old man, the old life of deception and doubt controlled him.

Every day you have a choice between the new and the old. The new man will give you a godly vision to do something with your life, whereas the old man continues to bring you back to those old sinful habits that brought heartache and sorrow. A few things you must remember concerning the struggle within.

First, it is your choice to which man you yield. Nobody makes you yield to the old man; it is a choice. You can “put on” the new man if you choose to do so. Every minute of the day you are going to have to decide to which man you are going to yield, but let me remind you that if you choose to yield to the old man, you are going to continue to experience the heartache that the old man brings.

Second, the new man can only be put on by renewing the “spirit of your mind.” There is only one way to renew your mind, and that is through God’s Word. Ephesians 5:26 says, “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,” It is God’s Word that can wash your mind of the habits and lusts of the old man and renew your thinking process so that you exemplify the new man.

Third, the new man is only put on by separating yourself to do God’s work. Ephesians 4:24 says, “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” You will never put on the new man by spending time where the old man lives. My friend, the struggle within will be lost to the old man if you continue to spend time where the old man lives. You must separate yourself from the old man’s associations if you want to win the struggle within.

The struggle within is only won by putting on the new man. You will find when you put on the new man that your vision for the LORD will grow. It is your choice; which man are you going to choose to put on?