The old man. Does he exist for “us”? If so, what are we to do about him? I think the Bible offers a clear answer to these questions, and offers the only answer to the question of just what needs to be done about him.

That ye put off <659> concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. Ephesians 4:22

Here we have the command to cast off, lay apart, aside, down, to put away such things concerning the former conversation of the old man. It is a call to action for the Christian in the war against the sins of the flesh.

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off <554> the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. Colossians 3:9-10

In Colossians there is a call to mortify our members seeing that we have already put off the old man at the moment of our conversion, which man we now know is crucified with Christ and dead because of sin, and now as many of us as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ (Galatians 3:27), or the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. This is true of “us” no matter how we may feel at the present moment, and I say that this is true of “us” despite our present performance.

The old man, or the corruptible body of this death, is crucified with Christ and will one day fully put on incorruption and immortality and we will be without spot or blemish.

Call it the old man. or this corruptible, or the body of this death, but make no mistake about it, flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, and our carnal members are to be mortified, and yielded unto God as those that are alive unto God from the dead, as we truly are in Christ Jesus.

I can somewhat see my flesh and blood body as a George Romero zombie. Dead but with an appetite. I have put my body on a “starvation diet” if you will. I must starve the beast of that sin that seeks to reign in my mortal body. I have a new life that I wish to live now, a life that is in Christ, which is a life of sanctification, lead by the Spirit of God unto righteousness and progress in the faith, and unto things that are eternal and true for “us” the sons of God.

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 1 John 3:2-3

I am not now what I shall be, and despite all of my godly effort and good intentions, appearances will give this fact away. As long as there is sin still dwelling in my flesh, I will have to see myself yet as that man who is carnal and sold under sin, and undeniably wretched, desperately in need of grace and mercy from God, who is the judge of me, and who sent his only begotten Son to make me free from sin, and deliver me from it’s consequence which is death everlasting.

By faith in God, my fate has become inextricably united to that of Jesus Christ who made the way for me to live unto God who saved me because of His great love for me, and according to the good pleasure of His will. All Christians should reckon this as unalterably so in Christ, and say the same both confidently and vigorously.

Henceforth we should not serve sin…
Isaiah 1:18

Chris

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16