Ephesians 4:23-24

4:23

to be made new – passive voice; renewal done to me not BY me. NLT = “let the Spirit renew…” This clarifies that it is the Holy Spirit who effects this renewal.

in the attitude – outlook, spirit, disposition, mood, temperament, point of view

of your mind – Rom. 12:2, “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Think like Christ instead of society; then let my Christ-like thinking guide, direct, instruct my outlook or mood. I don’t have to be a victim of my moods.

4:24

and – Third thing we were taught with regard to our former way of life (v. 22)

to put on – discarded old self; now “put on” its replacement. Getting dressed in, intentional course of action, does not happen automatically. I’m tired of going around in these grubby clothes; I’m going to clean up and wear some nice things instead. “Handsome is as handsome does.”

the new self – difference, change, improvement; in the context, this different person is called to be made in the image of Christ, fashioned after the way I was taught

created – Whoa! Didn’t see that coming. I was thinking reformation, improvement, work on some defective parts. But “created” suggests starting from scratch, completely new from head to foot, not simply changed but replaced at the core of my being and from that new core, replacing every part of who I am.

to be – for the purpose

like God – Why do we keep referring to ourselves as sinners when God through Christ has created (re-created) us to be like God? Is God a sinner? No! Then why do we characterize ourselves this way? Somehow I have to span this dialectic: That on the one hand, I fall short of being like God and will never fully attain that ideal while on the other hand, God continually calls me and graces me to aspire and move in the direction of God-likeness. I've been thinking lately of some men I know who go on church-related men's retreats. While there they participate in some activities that seem to me to skirt the edge of worldly activities. I try not to judge them. Knowing one of the leaders, I trust their motives. But this thought has recurred to me a number of times: Why do Christians seem to explore how much like the world they can become and still call themselves "Christians"? Instead, we should endeavor to become as much like Christ as we can and still keep contact with the world.

in true – not self-righteousness, which is self-created, self-imposed and self-measured, but true: real, genuine, authentic, created and measured by God

righteousness – being and doing what is right, just, correct in the sight of God

and holiness – victory over sin. God’s holiness is essential to His character: Complete absence of sin, past, present or future. Too late for me to have that. True God-like holiness: live with singular motive of doing only God’s will.