I remember watching a movie years ago called Karate Kid. In this movie Mr. Miyagi taught his student how to wax on, wax off. We all thought this was funny. But it was designed to develop muscle memory and discipline. Now all these years later and I still remember his words.
What does this have to do with my title, put on, put off? Since the New Testament is our handbook on how to live the Christian life, then we need to see what it says about these two phrases. In order to put something on generally we have to remove something else first. Mr. Miyagi was teaching his student to develop good habits and discipline. Holy Spirit wants us to do the same.
Bible teachers are always fond of saying “Gods ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Poppycock! That is Old Testament verbiage, and we need to read what the New Testament says if we are Christians. In 2 Corinthians 5:17 it informs us that we are new creations and we belong to God. We have the mind of Christ (1Corinthians 2:16) and if His thoughts are not ours, then we need to check our status. Are we born of God? Of course we are , and the first thing we need to do is renew our minds with His words (Romans 12:2).
How do we accomplish this task? The same way Mr. Miyagi’s student did, by learning new ways of doing things. We do not start out totally changed, only our spirit is now born of God. Our soul or mind is still programed to do whatever we have been taught. Learning is a process we undertake on a daily basis. We are children of God (Galatians 3:26, 2 Corinthians 6:18, Romans 8:14) and we need to grow up and become mature in His Word.
This process will take us the rest of our natural lives. Being with Jesus is what changes us (John1-4). Our daily lives will be a struggle as we put off old habits, and put on the life of God. We will put off certain things of the flesh and purposely put on the things that are Godly, which transforms our old man of the mind.
The new man is an act of God which has transformed or reborn our old spirit, into a new spirit, which is born of God, made in His image, something which never existed before. Jesus was the first born of many brethren (Romans 8:29). Gods dna is now our dna, no longer corrupted by sin, but being made into the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21-22).
But this is where the soul or mind comes into play. We have to read Gods word, and spend time with Jesus if we are to renew our minds, which have been programed by sin. If we do not do this on a daily basis, then we will have a struggle trying to live the Christian life. We will do as the children of Israel did when they left Egypt or the familiar life they used to live.
We have the key to prevent this from happening to us. We have to make the decision to change. This is what Mr. Miyagi’s student was determined to do. Are you willing to be this determined? This renewing of our mind is an ongoing process as long as we live on this earth in our human form. Old ways of thinking and old habits will be gone, and new ones will be seen by those who knew us before. This is a daily function just as putting your outer wear on is before you go out into public. It is your choice as to how you dress, one way is to Gods glory, and the other is to your shame.
I will finish this study by listing some put off, put on scriptures in the New Testament.
- Romans 13:12,14….let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light….but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lust thereof.
- Ephesians 4:22-24 That you put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lust, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind. And that you put on the new man, which is created in righteousness and true holiness.
- Colossians 3:8-10 But now you also put off all these, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communications out of your mouth, lie not one to another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him.
All these scriptures require us to be active, or taking a stance against something that is ungodly and putting on something that is Godly. There are many more, and you can search for them as you pursue after God in your own life. We have to do it, God will not do it for us, He has already done His part “your new spirit”, which is born of God in His image. Read the book of 1 John to understand who you really are.
As I bring this study to a close I want to leave you with Ephesians 6:11-18, where Paul is informing the Church in Ephesus to put on the whole amour of God. Not just part of it, but all of it, Both defensive and offensive. We can not go out into public without our clothes and armour on. We are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ.
By renewing our minds with the Word of God we will always be successful in everything we do as children of God. You are more than you think you are. Just trust God to do His part daily. Remember you will make it, just don’t give up. See you next week.
The Kilted Priest 