Putting On Your New Self
In the fourth chapter of Ephesians, Paul is writing to the spirit fill church of Ephesus. Look at Ephesians 4:22-24. that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new ]self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
Put on the new man! That man is the man on the inside who has become a new creature in Christ Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. It says HE IS, not he is going to be.
Paul said to put off the old self, but we’re living in the flesh, and the flesh has not been redeemed yet. So how do we take off the old self and put on a new self? Read on in Ephesians 4:25-28. Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth to each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. Be angry and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. As you can see lying does not go with the new man. How can you be angry and not sin? By keeping your mouth shut, anger does not belong to the new self, it is part of the old self. Paul said to work not steal, don’t use people, because of being lazy, but get a job and help people in need.
In the times of the early church there were no government programs like welfare, social security, food stamps, etc. The Church took care of their own people in need, like widows or orphans. Paul wrote to Timothy and said that if a widow had other family, then the family should step up as Christians and take care of them. Same thing goes for grandparents and other family members in need. Read 1 Timothy 5:3-8. Honor widows who are widows; indeed, but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God. Now she who is a widow indeed and who has been left alone, has fixed her hope on God and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day. But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives. Prescribe these things as well, so that they may be above reproach. But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
You can see how we have gotten away from all that and now the government has to take up the burden when it should be the church and family members doing their Christian responsibility.
A man who is living off of other people is really stealing from them. People that go to church and never help out or put anything in like giving tithes and put offerings in are really stealing from the rest of the people. These kinds of people want to be blessed but want the other people to do the work and pay the bills for them. These kinds of people need to take off the character of a thief and put on the character of Jesus. He was a giver!