In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians he writes for them “to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires” (Eph. 4:22). First, we need to understand what Paul is saying here is not optional for the believers in Ephesus. What is an imperative? An imperative is a something that is absolutely necessary or required; unavoidable. Think of it as a command. And the same command Paul is giving the believers in Ephesus while he sat in a Roman prison in A.D. 60, is the same command for believers everywhere today.
The words “put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life” imply the believers in Ephesus were living, not as a new creation, but as their old selves. They were still intentionally engaged in the sins of their past. Therefore, it also implies a follower of Jesus can be saved and still be engaged with his or her former sin nature. But the words “put off your old self” also tell us that it is not right in the eyes of God. Paul would not be commanding these believers to “put off your old self” if it were. Which leads me to this point: A believer, who is a new creation in Christ, by the working of God through the Spirit, must completely discard their former way of living. It is not right to follow Jesus and still be willfully engaged in sin.
The reason Paul commands believers in Ephesus “to put off your old self” is because the “old self…is corrupt”. The “old self” is crooked, fraudulent, rotten, shady, and not trustworthy. Why is the “old self…corrupt”? Answer: It is corrupted by “deceitful desires”. Our old self, our former manner of living, was made crooked by desires and thoughts that deceived us into acting according to the lust of our sin nature, which are acts of sexual immorality, sensuality, jealousy, fits of anger, idolatry, adultery, and more (Gal. 5:19-21). And those who practice such things “will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:21). This is serious business. That is why we have no option but to “put off” the “old self”!
Such is why Paul writes in Colossians 3:5 & 8, “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry…you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.” It’s why Hebrews 12:1 says, “Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely”. It’s why James 2:1 says, “put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness.” The sins of our former way of live still try to cling to us. But we must throw them off and lay them down and put them away.
The point to all this is that those who are in Christ have no business willfully living according to their former sinful ways. Granted, we all struggle and are engaged in this battle with the flesh. Certainly, the believers is no perfect person. Absolutely, the believer will still find himself or herself doing what they do not want or wish to do. But this is no excuse to maintain our former manner of life. That must be put to death daily, and we do that by the Spirit of Almighty God (Rom. 8:13). And if we do not, we die and spend eternity in hell. Thus, we must “put off (our) old self”! We must crucify everyday by the power of the Holy Spirit.