Ephesians 4:22–24, “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.”
All who remain “in Christ » shine with the complete holiness of Christ Himself, because God applies all of His son’s virtue to us as a free gift that we neither earned nor deserved. 1st Corinthians 1:30, “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God, that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.”
Without weakening this truth in any way, we need to see another way in which the Bible speaks of holiness. Though we receive perfect holiness, we also pursue holiness as an ongoing actively. The Bible says make every effort to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. We purify ourselves in the sense of staying away from “everything » that interferes with pure living, whether physical or spiritual.
Already the divine blood make us completely holy. Then we must "perfect holiness" That is, we must become completely holy in the way we do thing and live. We are « light in the Lord » Ephesians 5:8, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” Then we must “live as children of light.” In the darkness of this world, we shine like stars.
Remember the story told by Jesus: - An evil spirit left a man like a “house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order” So the evil spirit brought seven more wicked spirit. “And the final condition of that man is worse than the first” Matthew 12:45, “Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of the man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation. » Our Lord was showing that a thorough cleaning is not enough. Life must be parked with good and put to use, otherwise rebellion against God returns worse than ever. In the spiritual world, as in nature, a vacuum must be filled. Life will not remain a blank page. Either we let God write our new story or the devil will return to write terrible things on our lives. That is why each item to be “put off” must be replaced by something to be “put on”
Ephesians 4:25, Ephesians 5:4 and Matthew 12:34–37. Give up the devil’s language, which is lying. John 8:44, “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” Learn God’s language, which is telling the truth. Quit making jokes or remarks that hurt and debase people. Instead lift up praise and thanks. Stop your foolish and careless words that bring condemnation. In their place grow caring, encouraging words that give the fruit of live.
When you let the old sinful nature live again, it deceives you and destroys you. Therefore you must “put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desire” Ephesians 4:22, “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.” This means more than ceasing selfish activity. It means getting involved, becoming active in selfless service to other. Acts 20:35, “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus himself said: It is more blessed to give than to receive.” 1st Timothy 5:8, “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
Let Jesus cleanse you and renew you. His death removes the guilt of sin and also its powers to enslave you. Sometimes He allows tests to know whether we are truly depending on Him. But God always gives a “way out” a way to avoid sinning. 2nd Corinthians 3:17–18, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”