Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:21-24 (NIV)
God advances us and qualifies us for glory by degrees and none of us are there yet or we would be home with the Lord. Whomever God calls, He justifies and those He justifies He glorifies so that we might be conformed into the likeness of His Son through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit as the great Apostle teaches us in Romans 8:30 (NIV). He transforms us from glory to glory – altering us in ever increasing measure to be more and more conformed into the image of His Son.
God calls us to do great things – all of us, not simply a few. These “things” are too hard for mere flesh to do apart from His indwelling power – demonstrating this power comes from Him and not from ourselves. We give Him our weaknesses in place of His strength. Natural man does not deny self rather embraces self, protects self, trusts in self. When we go forth in our own power and abilities, nothing eternal is ever accomplished. No holy action can come from an unchanged ability. A change in our leanings and power will precede our change in life and conduct. Also, God never owns what mere flesh can do. Apart from Jesus we have darkened minds, hearts and understandings. And we are alienated from God, wallowing in our sinful, self-righteous, selfish, stinking ways. That is the “old self” Scripture speaks of. As believers in Jesus we learn God’s ways. Our hearts are no longer hardened and impure rather soft and pliable in our Master’s Hands. Christ teaches us in accordance with His Truth – because He is Truth - so that we may walk in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ. When we take off the old self and put on the new self we are then taught with the Truth that is in Christ Jesus through the indwelling power of the Spirit.
Believers in Jesus have been bought by the highest price and we are to honor God with our bodies. Sin is no longer to be our master – rather we are to count ourselves dead to sin yet alive to righteousness in Christ who teaches and equips us to walk in a worthy manner.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 (NIV)