No longer the man of sin - now,

Ephesians 4:24 "... the new man which was created according to God ..."

The new man is a creation, as man was a creation at the beginning. He is renewed in the image of God.

Formerly motivated by sinful desires - now,

Ephesians 4:24 "... created according to God, in righteousness and true holiness."

Motivated by the principle of doing that which is right before God and man. The other operative principle in this new life is "true holiness". He is no longer divided in loyalty and service. He is the Lord's, and completely "set apart" to the Lord.

The "old man", now the "new man" (Ephesians 4:22,24 ), which is a name that will ever describe those who are sold out to Jesus as Lord; always "new". This name has in it the quality of eternal life.

Formerly given to "lying" (Ephesians 4:25 ), now the new man is known for truth.

Ephesians 4:25 "... Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor, ..."

Ephesians 4:25 "... for we are members of one another."

There is no fellowship to equal that of renewed spirits.

Formerly out of control, given to sinful anger - now "the new man" can obey verse 26.

Ephesians 4:26 "'Be angry, and do not sin': do not let the sun go down on your wrath,"

This is a godly anger against sin and its consequences in the lives of men and women. This is not sinful. For example, the new man can be angry when he sees the devilish work of those who sell habit-forming and life-destroying drugs to young people. Make no mistake about it, God is wrathful against such sin. The new man is so in control over even the anger that is not sinful, that he does not allow that anger to stay and fester and so give the devil an opportunity to snare him (Ephesians 4:27 ).

Formerly the old man stole. He may not have been a bank robber, but he stole his employer's time. Now he labours,

Ephesians 4:28 "... working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need."

Instead of "corrupt communication", speaking,

Ephesians 4:29 "... what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers."

The new man puts his mouth under the control of the Lord Jesus.

The Holy Spirit is grieved by sin, and especially the sins of the tongue. The new man, by being sensitive to the sensitivity of the Holy Spirit, enjoys assurance and confidence, as sealed by the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30 ). The seal witnesses to authenticity and authority. It says we are really like our Master, and are genuinely living His life.

The "old man" was taken up with "bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and evil speaking" (Ephesians 4:31 ), which literally is blasphemy or slander. That way of life does not make for good attitudes. The new man under new management practices kindness to others, and is tender-hearted and forgiving, remembering that God in Christ has forgiven him (Ephesians 4:32 ).

Our attitudes, to be what God intended them to be, must flow out of our relationship to the Lord Jesus, and the kindness, tenderness and forgiveness, must be the actual living of His life through ours. I came across an interesting note taken from John Bates, an old-time preacher, on the origin of the word "kindness". He said:

"The very word 'kindness' comes from the cognate word 'kinned', that is, one of the same kin or race."

Our kinship to our Lord and Master will be easily recognised as His kindness. His very nature is lived out by us "in the Lord". We can truly call Jesus Lord, when we are living His life.