MAGAZINE LETTER FOR OCTOBER 1989
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Dear Friends,

Being a Christian means that. there are two influences upon our minds which come from within us. In the unbeliever there is only one such influence. These influences govern the whole direction of our actions and behaviour. They determine the sort of person we are.

Both these influences within us are themselves effected by forces outside us in the spiritual realm, but it is these two inner influences which are the cause of the way we behave.

The Apostle Paul speaks of these influences in his letter to the Christians in Ephesus chapter 4 and verses 20 to 24. One influence he calls the old self (v.22), and the other he calls the "new self (v.24).

It is important to understand that within, the Christian is made up of these two ‘selfs" - the old self and the new self. The use of the word "self’ indicates that we are talking about the real person inside, the essential thing that distinguishes one person from another.

Our mind is where our whole life is ordered. From the mind we mobilise all our natural talents and abilities, and how they form the pattern of our lives. The will and our feelings or desires also effect our actions, but for clarity of understanding of what the Apostle Paul is saying in these verses in Ephesians mentioned above, I am not discussing how they fit Into the picture.

Paul describes these two "selfs". The old self, he says in verse 22, "is being corrupted by its deceitful desires". The old self has desires which cry to be gratified. These desires don’t show themselves in their true colours; because, in their true colours, they would be too evil to be accepted, so these desires are expressed deceitfully. These desires present themselves in such a way as to deceive us into liking and accepting them, though they are evil. Thus these deceitful desires are continually corrupting our old self and making it more sinful.

How this old self, which is the only influence in the unbelievers life, operates, is described by Paul in verses 20 to 22 of this fourth chapter of Ephesians. It is the explanation why society is as it is. As we read it we have to confess that it is a depressing and awful picture, but it is nonetheless the truth. The deceitfulness of the way the old self presents its corrupt desires is the reason why humanity is deceived and can’t see the evil within. Even the greatest minds are deceived and their thinking becomes futile in the essential and important realm of the good and the spiritual.

The introduction of the new self, by the Holy Spirit, into the believer has allowed the believer to perceive the truth about the old self.

It is important to realise that the old self is still within the believer, and will be until we die and are changed in the life to come. It is important to realise that this old self is just as sinful as it always was. The difference in the believer is the creation of the new self. The new self makes all the difference.

The new self is described by Paul in verse 24. Firstly, it is created. That is, it is a new life placed within us by God. God alone creates. He alone can give such life. The new life within us is a divine gift and a supernatural gift. We can’t produce it ourselves.

Secondly, it is created to be like God. Not to be like God in power and essential deity, but like God in character. This new self Is created in righteousness and holiness. In righteousness because in Jesus already and completely we have satisfied God’s law and Its requirements. Jesus has satisfied the law of God for us, and his righteousness is imputed and made over to us - accounted as ours. This righteousness in the new self brings us back into God’s family and his spiritual kingdom. We are under God’s love and care.

This new self is also perfectly holy as God Is holy. This new self has no sinful desires. This new self likes only what God likes. Notice Paul says the new life is righteous and holy in truth. The NIV rightly translates this as true righteousness and holiness. That is righteousness and holiness like God’s righteousness and holiness.

This new self is always in conflict with the old self. Always exposes it and always opposes it. The Christian sees the deceit and corruption of the old self, because the new self shows what the old self is like. The new self leaves the Christian unhappy with the Influences of the old self, and causes the Christian to hate them and turn away from them.

But notice what Paul says in verse 22 and verse 24. He says we must ‘put off’ the old self and "put on" the new self, This requires effort and action. The centre of this action is given in verse 23 - being made new in the attitude of our minds. It is in the mind that our action and behaviour are found. As we think, so we are. Paul speaks of the believer being transformed by the renewing of the mind in Romans 12:2.

Putting off the old self is excluding from the mind all that the old self seeks to put there. Putting on the new self is to fill the mind with all that the new self seeks to influence us with. This requires action and effort to mortify all our evil and corrupt affections, and to positively run after - think on - those things which are of good report.

The Christian warfare needs more than this brief paragraph to describe it, but we must. leave it here. The purpose of this letter is to help us to see the true nature of our Christian condition.

Your servant for Christ’s sake,