Renewing Our Thinking and Learning to Live in the New Life We Have Received Through Christ
The Real-Life Struggle
Have you ever wondered why some of your old ways of thinking seem so familiar, even though you know you have been made new in Christ?
Perhaps you have been following Jesus for many years.
You know that He has forgiven your sins.
You believe that you belong to Him.
You understand that salvation is a gift of grace.
And you genuinely desire to live in a way that reflects His character.
Yet sometimes, you notice that your thoughts and responses seem to belong to the person you used to be.
You find yourself becoming defensive when someone questions your decisions.
You compare your progress with someone else’s.
You worry about disappointing people.
Or you return to familiar patterns of self-criticism when something doesn’t go according to plan.
Perhaps you begin thinking:
If I really am a new creation, why do I still think this way?
Shouldn’t these old habits have disappeared by now?
Am I supposed to be trying harder to become a different person?
What does it actually mean to put on the new self?
These questions can become especially difficult when we imagine that transformation should happen immediately and effortlessly.
We may expect that receiving a new identity in Christ means every familiar response will automatically disappear.
And when that doesn’t happen, we can become discouraged.
Perhaps we begin measuring our spiritual growth by how rarely we make mistakes.
Or we conclude that our old patterns must be stronger than the new life God has given us.
But what if Scripture invites us to understand transformation differently?
What if putting on the new self is not an exhausting attempt to manufacture a new identity, but an invitation to learn to live consistently with the one we have already received through Jesus?
Here, in a beautiful woodland clearing where fresh growth flourishes beneath the shelter of established trees, we are invited to explore what Paul teaches in Ephesians 4.
And as we discover the relationship between our new identity, renewed thinking and everyday choices, we may begin approaching spiritual growth with greater clarity, confidence and hope.
Discover the Truth
In Ephesians 4:22–24, the apostle Paul writes:
“that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man, that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit; and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.” — Ephesians 4:22–24 (WEB)
These verses provide a beautiful picture of Christian transformation.
Paul describes three closely connected realities.
Putting away the old self.
Being renewed in our thinking.
And putting on the new self.
But to understand these instructions properly, we need to consider their context.
Remember What God Has Already Done
Earlier in Ephesians, Paul explains the extraordinary grace believers have received through Jesus Christ.
In Ephesians 2:8–9, he declares that salvation is by grace through faith, not through our own works.
Then, in Ephesians 2:10, he describes believers as God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.
This order matters.
We are not saved because we have successfully transformed ourselves.
We are saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus.
And because we belong to Him, we are called to live in ways that reflect His work in us.
By the time Paul reaches Ephesians 4, he begins explaining how this new life should influence our conduct.
He urges believers to walk in a manner worthy of their calling.
He encourages humility, gentleness, patience and love.
And he contrasts their former way of life with what they have learned through Christ.
In Ephesians 4:20–21, Paul reminds them that they did not learn Christ in the manner of the old, ungodly way of life.
Their relationship with Jesus has introduced an entirely different foundation for living.
Putting Off the Old Self
Paul describes the old self as belonging to our former way of life.
It is associated with desires that deceive and corrupt.
This includes the ways of thinking and behaving that characterised life apart from Christ.
Perhaps we once believed that our value depended upon the approval of others.
That we needed to protect ourselves through anger.
That getting our own way was more important than loving people.
Or that our personal desires should determine what was right.
These patterns may have become deeply familiar.
But belonging to Christ changes the foundation from which we are called to live.
Putting off the old self involves turning away from the beliefs, attitudes and behaviours that no longer reflect our new life in Him.
It does not mean erasing our personalities, memories or individual characteristics.
Nor does it mean that we should pretend our former experiences never happened.
Rather, we are called to stop allowing our former way of life to determine how we think and behave.
Being Renewed in the Spirit of Our Minds
Between putting off the old self and putting on the new, Paul speaks about renewal.
This is particularly important.
Christian transformation is not simply a matter of changing outward behaviour.
It involves the way we understand God, ourselves and the world around us.
Consider a woman who has spent much of her life believing that she must keep everyone happy to be valuable.
She may have learned to agree with people even when she has genuine concerns.
She may apologise unnecessarily.
She may feel guilty whenever she needs to say no.
And she may believe that another person’s disappointment means she has failed.
When she comes to Christ, she receives a new identity.
But those familiar patterns of thinking may not disappear immediately.
She needs to learn what God’s Word reveals about her worth, her responsibilities and her relationship with others.
She needs to understand that love does not require dishonesty.
That humility does not mean having no boundaries.
And that her standing before God is not determined by whether everyone approves of her decisions.
As her thinking is renewed through God’s truth, her responses can begin to change.
This is why Paul places such importance upon renewal.
Our everyday choices are influenced by what we believe.
And as our understanding becomes increasingly aligned with Scripture, we can learn to respond in ways that reflect our new life in Christ.
Putting On the New Self
Paul describes the new self as created according to God in righteousness and holiness of truth.
This is not an identity we manufacture through determination.
It is connected to the new life God has provided through Jesus.
In Colossians 3:9–10, Paul uses similar language, describing believers as having put off the old self with its practices and put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its Creator.
These passages belong together.
There has been a decisive change in the believer’s relationship with Christ.
And there is an ongoing process of learning to live consistently with that change.
We do not need to deny the reality of spiritual growth.
Nor should we imagine that transformation is entirely passive.
Paul calls believers to make genuine choices.
To turn away from sin.
To speak truthfully.
To practise kindness.
To forgive.
And to walk in love.
But these choices are responses to God’s gracious work, not attempts to purchase a new identity.
We do not put on the new self to persuade God to make us new. We learn to live in ways that reflect the new life He has already given through Jesus Christ.
See the Father’s Heart
Sometimes we imagine that the Father is continually disappointed because we have not changed as quickly as we believe we should.
We notice an old habit.
We recognise an impatient response.
We discover that a familiar fear still influences our decisions.
And we begin wondering whether God has become frustrated with our progress.
Perhaps we imagine Him saying:
You should know better by now.
Why are you still struggling with this?
Haven’t you learned anything?
But Ephesians reveals a much greater picture of the Father’s saving purpose.
He has acted through Jesus Christ to bring us into new life.
He has not simply instructed us to improve ourselves until we become acceptable.
He has provided salvation through His Son.
And He calls us to grow in the truth of what He has accomplished.
Consider Ephesians 1:4–5, where Paul describes God’s gracious purpose in choosing believers in Christ and bringing them into adoption through Jesus.
The Father’s heart is revealed through His saving grace.
He desires that His children increasingly reflect the character of His Son.
And His Word provides the truth through which our thinking can be renewed.
This does not mean that the Father overlooks sin or treats our choices as unimportant.
He calls us to holiness.
He corrects us through Scripture.
And He teaches us to turn away from attitudes and behaviours that do not reflect His character.
But His correction is not an invitation to return to endless self-condemnation.
It is an invitation to recognise what is true and respond accordingly.
We can acknowledge an old pattern without allowing it to become our identity.
We can recognise a mistake without concluding that transformation is impossible.
And we can continue growing without believing that we must earn the grace God has already provided.
The Father is not asking us to create a new life independently of Jesus.
He is teaching us to walk in the new life we have received through Him.
Recognise the Old Pattern
One of the most familiar patterns in Christian living is trying to change our behaviour without examining the beliefs beneath it.
Perhaps you recognise this experience.
You respond impatiently during a conversation.
Later, you feel disappointed.
You promise yourself that next time you will remain calm.
You decide to try harder.
And for a while, things improve.
Then another difficult conversation arises.
You feel misunderstood.
Your emotions become unsettled.
And before you realise what is happening, you respond in the same familiar way.
You may think:
There I go again.
I haven’t changed at all.
This is simply the kind of person I am.
But what if the behaviour is connected to a belief that needs renewing?
Perhaps beneath your defensiveness is the assumption that being questioned means being rejected.
Perhaps beneath your impatience is the belief that everything must happen according to your expectations.
Or perhaps beneath your people-pleasing is the fear that someone else’s disappointment will make you unacceptable.
If we only address the outward behaviour, we may overlook the thinking that continues to influence it.
Consider a woman who has always described herself as someone who worries.
She worries about her family.
She worries about making mistakes.
She worries about disappointing people.
And she has begun believing that anxiety is simply an unchangeable part of who she is.
She genuinely trusts Jesus.
But when uncertainty arises, her familiar thoughts quickly take over.
Now consider what Ephesians 4 reveals.
Her former patterns do not need to become the final authority on her identity.
She belongs to Christ.
And she is invited to allow God’s Word to renew her understanding.
This does not mean that every anxious feeling will immediately disappear.
Nor does it mean that experiencing anxiety is itself evidence of spiritual failure.
But she can begin examining the conclusions she draws from those feelings.
She can ask whether her thoughts reflect the truth of God’s character.
She can learn to bring her concerns before Him.
And she can make wise, practical decisions without allowing fear to determine every response.
The same principle applies to anger, comparison, resentment, perfectionism and the need for approval.
We do not need to pretend these patterns are harmless.
But neither do we need to accept them as permanent definitions of who we are.
Through Christ, we have received a new life.
And through the renewal of our thinking, we can learn to live consistently with it.
Renew Your Thinking
Ephesians 4:20–24 invites us to recognise the relationship between identity, belief and behaviour.
Paul does not simply tell believers to improve their conduct.
He reminds them of what they have learned through Christ and calls them to live accordingly.
Consider how this truth can reshape familiar patterns of thinking.
The Old Pattern Says:
I will become a new person once I have successfully changed all my old habits.
Renewed Thinking Says:
Through Jesus Christ, I have received new life. I am learning to put away the patterns that no longer reflect who I am in Him.
The Old Pattern Says:
If an old habit appears again, nothing has really changed.
Renewed Thinking Says:
An old habit may reveal an area where further growth is needed. It does not automatically undo what God has accomplished through Christ.
The Old Pattern Says:
Transformation depends entirely upon how hard I try.
Renewed Thinking Says:
God calls me to respond actively to His Word, but spiritual growth is not something I must accomplish independently of His grace and the work of the Holy Spirit.
The Old Pattern Says:
My thoughts are simply the way I am. I cannot change them.
Renewed Thinking Says:
My thinking can be renewed as I learn what Scripture reveals and begin responding to life from God’s truth.
The Old Pattern Says:
If I make a mistake, I should criticise myself until I finally improve.
Renewed Thinking Says:
I can acknowledge wrongdoing honestly, repent where necessary and take practical steps towards change without making condemnation the foundation of my growth.
The Old Pattern Says:
Putting on the new self means pretending that I never experience difficult emotions.
Renewed Thinking Says:
My emotions are real, but they do not need to determine every belief or choice. I can recognise what I am feeling and seek to respond in ways that reflect Jesus.
Notice how renewed thinking changes the way we approach spiritual maturity.
We no longer need to treat every struggle as proof that we have failed.
We can recognise the difference between our identity in Christ and the patterns we are still learning to change.
And this gives us a foundation for honest, practical growth.
We can examine our thoughts.
We can compare them with Scripture.
We can recognise where repentance is needed.
And we can practise responses that reflect the character of Jesus.
Not because we are attempting to create a new identity.
But because we are learning to live in the light of the one we have received.
Walk It Out
Imagine arriving at a peaceful woodland clearing.
The ancient trees surrounding it have stood for many years.
Their branches stretch overhead, providing shelter and shade.
But beneath them, something beautiful is happening.
Young trees are beginning to grow.
Fresh ferns emerge beside the pathway.
Wildflowers flourish in the sunlight.
And a gentle stream continues flowing through the landscape.
The clearing is filled with signs of new growth.
Some plants are only beginning to emerge.
Others are becoming established.
And each one is developing according to the life within it.
This offers a lovely picture of our journey of renewal.
Our new identity in Christ provides the foundation.
And as we continue learning His truth, the way we think and live can increasingly reflect that new life.
Here are three practical ways to begin.
1. Recognise One Old Pattern
Read Ephesians 4:20–24 slowly.
Consider what Paul means by putting off the old self.
Then think about one familiar pattern that no longer reflects the life Jesus has called you to live.
Perhaps you frequently compare yourself with others.
Perhaps you become defensive when questioned.
Perhaps you feel responsible for keeping everyone happy.
Or perhaps you continually define yourself through past mistakes.
Choose just one pattern.
Ask yourself:
When does this usually happen?
What do I tend to believe in that moment?
How does this belief influence my response?
The purpose is not to criticise yourself.
It is to begin recognising where your thinking may need renewal.
2. Discover the Truth That Speaks to That Pattern
Once you have recognised the belief influencing your response, consider what Scripture reveals.
For example, if you continually measure your worth through achievement, return to Ephesians 2:8–10.
If you struggle with condemnation, consider Romans 8:1.
If you believe that your old life still defines you, reflect upon 2 Corinthians 5:17.
And if you are learning to respond differently in relationships, return to Ephesians 4:25–32.
Read the passage in context.
Ask what it reveals about God, your identity in Christ and the way He calls you to live.
Then consider:
What have I been believing?
What does God’s Word actually reveal?
How might this truth change the way I respond?
Allow Scripture to become the foundation of your renewed understanding.
3. Practise One New Response
Renewing our thinking is not simply collecting more information.
It is learning to respond to life in ways that reflect the truth we have discovered.
Consider one situation where your familiar pattern usually appears.
Then choose one practical response that reflects your new life in Christ.
If you normally become defensive, practise listening before answering.
If you continually seek approval, practise making a wise decision without needing everyone to agree.
If you tend to speak harshly when frustrated, pause and choose words that are truthful and kind.
Or if you habitually condemn yourself over mistakes, acknowledge what needs correcting without allowing the mistake to redefine your identity.
You may not respond perfectly every time.
But you can continue learning.
And each opportunity becomes another place where the truth of God’s Word can influence your everyday life.
Pause and Reflect
Take a quiet moment to consider what putting on the new self means for your life.
1. When I think about my identity, do I primarily see myself through my past experiences and familiar habits, or through what God has accomplished in Christ?
What does Ephesians 4:20–24 reveal about the difference?
2. Is there one old pattern of thinking that continues to influence my everyday responses?
What belief may be beneath that pattern?
3. What truth from Scripture could help renew my understanding in this area?
How does that truth differ from what I have been believing?
4. What is one practical response I can begin practising that reflects my new life in Jesus?
Consider a specific conversation, responsibility or decision.
You do not need to change every familiar pattern at once.
Begin with one truth.
One area of renewal.
And one opportunity to respond differently.
A Prayer of Response
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the new life You have given me through Jesus Christ.
Thank You that I do not need to manufacture a new identity through my own efforts.
Through Your Son, You have graciously brought me into a new relationship with You.
And Your Word invites me to live in ways that reflect what You have accomplished.
Father, help me recognise the old patterns that no longer belong to my new life in Christ.
Where I have continued defining myself through past failures, familiar fears or the opinions of others, teach me to return to Your truth.
Where I have believed things about myself that do not agree with Your Word, renew my understanding.
Where I have responded through anger, pride, resentment or fear, give me humility to acknowledge what needs to change.
And where I have become discouraged by slow progress, help me remember that my confidence rests upon Jesus.
Teach me to put away the attitudes and behaviours that do not reflect Your character.
Renew my thinking through Scripture.
Help me recognise the difference between what I once believed and what You have revealed through Christ.
And give me wisdom to practise new responses in the ordinary situations of my life.
May my words increasingly reflect Your kindness.
May my choices reflect Your truth.
And may my relationships reveal the love and humility of Jesus.
Thank You that transformation is not an attempt to earn Your grace.
It is learning to walk in the new life You have already provided.
Continue Your work in me through Your Holy Spirit.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Before You Continue Along the Path
Perhaps you began this reflection wondering why familiar thoughts and habits sometimes remain even though you have been made new in Christ.
Perhaps you have spent years trying to improve yourself through determination.
Or perhaps you have become discouraged because your everyday responses do not always reflect the person you desire to become.
Ephesians 4:20–24 invites us to begin from a different foundation.
Through Jesus Christ, we have received new life.
And Paul calls believers to put away their former way of life, be renewed in their thinking and put on the new self.
This is not an invitation to manufacture a new identity through endless striving.
It is an invitation to live consistently with the new relationship God has established through His Son.
Our old patterns may still feel familiar.
We may recognise beliefs that need correcting.
And there may be areas where change requires patience, honesty and repeated practice.
But those patterns do not need to become the final authority on who we are.
We can acknowledge what needs to change without defining ourselves through our weaknesses.
We can repent when we sin without believing that God’s grace has become insufficient.
We can examine our thinking without becoming consumed by self-criticism.
And we can practise new responses because we belong to Jesus.
Putting on the new self is not about trying to become someone God might eventually accept. It is learning to think and live in ways that reflect the new life we have already received through Christ.
As you continue along The Woodland Path, return to Ephesians 4.
Remember what Paul says about your former way of life.
Consider his invitation to renewed thinking.
And allow the truth of God’s Word to influence the way you approach your everyday responsibilities and relationships.
There is no need to hurry.
New growth takes time.
And the One who has brought you into new life is worthy of your trust.
Continue exploring The Woodland Path — Living in Your New Identity in Christ.