We all want to get better at something.
It might be related to our health, our family, our finances, our profession.
You may want to be debt-free, or to save money, or be more generous.
You may want to be a better spouse, or parent, or friend.
You might want to move ahead in your job, or to grow your income.
Maybe you want to lose weight, or get fit, or break a bad habit.
Whatever your situation, we all want to get better at something: to achieve a desired outcome; and arrive at the goal you aspire.
Now some goals can be a delusion. I am self aware enough to realize I’ll never be tall… or a professional athlete. But God didn’t promise that gift to everyone.
He did, however, promise every one of us a new life in Him. A life lived in Him is set free from sin.
In Christ, sin has no claim or dominion over us. He offers us the gift of a new nature, a new temperament, a new nature that is steadfast with faith, godliness and self-control. A new nature that reflects His nature in every area of our life.
If you are in Jesus, this is your desire. I know this, because it’s the Holy Spirit’s job to comfort us; convict us; discipline us; help us pursue God’s will. Amen?
But we wrestle with ourselves, don’t we. We want good outcomes. We want self-control. We want a new nature. But our old habits; our old nature keeps getting in the way; and we fall short over and over again.
We want to receive all that God has for us, but why do many of us struggle to make progress?
Well, have I got good news for you. Jesus wants you set free.
He has made a way for every believer to have a new life with a new nature.
Free from bad habits. Free from broken promises. Free from defeat.
Please turn in your Bibles to Romans 6.
I want to share some instruction and words of encouragement from the NT on trading our old nature for something new.
Read Romans 6:1-23 (whole chapter)
Notice in v.4, it says are raised from the waters of baptism to walk in newness of life.
Just as Christ was raised with a new physical nature, God has designed for believers to walk in a new nature. In verses 7 and 22, he describes the new nature as being “set free from sin.”
In Ephesians 2, Paul says that before Christ, we were “dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked.” He said that before Christ, “we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of our body and mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”
This is the old nature, trapped in our cravings and compulsions.
Contrast this old walk to the one Paul describes in Galatians 5:16, where he instructs us to “walk by the spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”
How we walk (or regularly conduct ourselves) reflects our nature, doesn’t it. Paul lists what he calls “desires of the flesh,” and “works of the flesh.”
If I walk in the flesh, what does that say of my nature?
He then talks about “fruits of the Spirit,” against which there is no law. And he says in v 24-25, “those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with [or walk in] the Spirit.”
I’m happy to report, we can be free from the bondage of sin. We can escape. Praise God. Paul says in Rom 8, “the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” We can be free.
How do I know this? Because in 2 Peter 1:3-13, the Apostle Peter promised:
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
Every believer can partake in the divine nature of God. We can become something we weren’t before. But how? How can I overcome my own self?
Let’s look at Romans 6:11 : “So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
Consider (reckon KJV/ASV, count NIV) = λογίζομαι logi-zo-mai
To deem, determine, decide, imagine, impute, account
This brings me to my first point:
WHO you are is WHAT you (will) do, until it’s second nature.
The first step to trading our old nature for something new is to just make a decision. Claim your new identity in Christ, and all that goes with it.
In his book, “Atomic Habits,” James Clear says that how we identify ourselves, in our own mind, is essential to changing our behavior in a way that sticks.
Most people go at this in the opposite direction. All too often, we try to change from the outside in. We imagine a desired outcome, and try to muster sheer will power to do things in pursuit of the goal. We then hope (maybe) at some point later, the things we did will have changed who we are. And no surprise, it doesn’t work.
This is backed up here in Romans 6:11.
If you want to change in a way that sticks, you must first consider yourself to be a new person: a person who has the nature you are pursuing. Then prove this choice to yourself by making the little decisions it takes to get there. It’s no longer what you DO determining your identity (who you are). It’s your identity (who you are already on the INSIDE) determining what you will do. One small choice at a time.
Want to give up a bad habit. Consider yourself dead to those bad habits. Do you want to improve your health? Consider yourself the kind of person that does the little things it takes to get there.
YES, your will is involved. Who you are is what you WILL do.
If you WON’T do the little things, then you’re just lying to yourself. If you say you won’t, you’ve made a decision to remain your old self. If you say you will, it is the small acts of faith that demonstrate who we are.
If I think, “I’m just set in my ways.” Guess how I’ll act.
If I think, “That’s just not me. Maybe someday.” Guess what I won’t do.
If I think, “I just can’t quit this bad habit.” Guess what I’ll never achieve?
We change from the inside out; not the outside in. Romans 3:28 says, “For we hold (consider) that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law…” And 10 times in the following chapter, Paul states that Abraham’s inner faith was “counted to (considered) him as righteousness.” Romans 4:6 promised, “God counts (considers) righteousness apart from works.”
It’s not what we do that changes who we are. It’s who we consider ourselves to be already that changes what we’re willing to do… until these little habits become second nature.
If you want to replace bad old habits with good habits and godly pursuits, then by faith, count (consider) yourself among those who do those things. You belong to Jesus now. His will be done.
This is not the same as saying you’ll be perfect. Paul says in Philippians 3:12-14 “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:8-9
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about (consider) these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me (within me), practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
An athlete never quits practicing. A musician never quits rehearsing. Are you on the team? Are you in the band? Show up in uniform. Put your heart in it. Press on toward the prize, the upward call of God in Christ. Whether you win or lose today, just keep going. Never give up. Rinse and repeat, day after day. In this way, your identity, in almost no time, becomes second nature.
This brings me to my second point:
Discussion
- Consider. Reckon. Count. What is the difference between deciding you are a new person and hoping you will become one?
- “It’s no longer what you DO determining your identity. It’s your identity determining what you will do.” Where have you had that backwards?
- Name one small decision this week that would prove the identity you say you already have.
Put your old self in the past: dead to sin (not dead in sin).
Let’s look again at Romans 6:11. We just talked about the consider part on our identity. But what are we to consider? Consider yourself “dead to sin.”
Hebrews 12:1 | …let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us
Like a dead weight, lay it down. Anything that holds you back, put it down. Stop trying to keep it in your backpack to pull out later. It’s part of who you used to be.
You’ve got a race to run. You don’t need the baggage. You don’t even want it. So why carry it around? Get rid of it. Put it in the past, where it belongs.
G0659 : ἀποτίθημι apo-tithē-mi | lay aside, lay apart, put off, put away, cast off
Ephesians 4:22 | put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires
Romans 13:12 | let us cast off the works of darkness
Turn to Colossians 3:1-9.
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices…
What is earthly in you is who you once were. Not who you are now in Christ.
Cast the old self behind you. Put it to death with all its practices.
The old self is not who you are any more if you follow Jesus. It is not your new self.
It’s like when an athlete changes teams. He puts away the old uniform.
If we want to trade our old nature for something new, we must cast off the old nature. Like an old garment, remove it and throw it in the trash.
Evil desire? In the trash.
Obscene talk? In the trash.
Anger or malice? In the trash.
Impurity of any kind? You know where it belongs.
You don’t need it. You don’t want it.
You were once dead in these sins. But now you are dead TO these sins. Put them in the past.
This is why it’s so important when we pray to our Father in heaven, “your will be done.” There are maybe hundreds of little choices we make every day. We must decide to make it our practice to choose God’s will every time.
In small things and big things, “Your will, not mine.”
Do this often enough, it becomes second nature. As believers, this is our routine. Your will, not mine.
The old self? He’s dead. Buried symbolically in the waters of baptism.
Tell that old self, “Depart from me.” You belong to Jesus now.
I’m afraid this is not a one time practice. It’s not a set it and forget it thing. Until we receive our glorified bodies, it is a daily thing.
2 Corinthians 4:16 | So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
And that brings me to my third point.
Not only are we to consider our new identity as dead to sin, putting our old self in the past. But Romans 6:11 also says we are to consider our new identity “alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
Discussion
- Dead to sin, not dead in sin. Why does the preposition matter?
- “Stop trying to keep it in your backpack to pull out later.” What are you still carrying that you have already been told to lay down?
- Colossians 3:8 names anger, wrath, malice, slander, obscene talk. Which one of those is hardest to put in the trash and leave there?
Put on the new you, free to pursue God’s will. Then stick with it.
Since we’re in Colossians 3, look down at verse 10.
10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
3 times in this passage:
G1746 : ἐνδύω end-yō | put on, to clothe with, have on, arrayed in, enter into, get into
The old self wasn’t just put to death. A new self emerged from the waters of baptism. So put that new self on.
Put on the new you. Like a new suit, get into it. Clothe yourself with it. The neighbors will notice. And so will you.
The new self looks like Jesus. Look at these words.
Compassionate. Kind. Humble. Meek. Patient. Forgiving. Peaceful. Thankful.
The new you isn’t a slave to a carnal appetite. The new you isn’t in bondage to an impulsive desire. The new you is alive to God and free in Christ.
So put on the new you. Then stick with it.
Ephesians 4:23-24 | and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and… put on (get into) the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Romans 13:12 | put on (get into) the armor of light.
1 Thessalonians 5:6-11 | So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on (get into) the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
The new suit is like iron man. It’s got a helmet of hope and a breastplate of faith. And that is encouraging, amen? So put it on.
Want to trade the old nature for something new? Take off the old self and put this on instead.
Let’s look at Ephesians 6:10-18 |
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on (get into) the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on (gotten into) the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on (gotten into) the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.
Woah. Not only does this suit have a helmet of hope and breastplate of faith. But it’s got a utility belt of truth. And shoes that are ready to go. And a shield. And a sword.
It’s like Iron Man, Batman, Flash, Captain America and (I don’t know, who’s got a sword?), anyway, all these in one. That’s some suit.
You want to be strong in the strength of God’s might? You want to stand against the schemes of the enemy? You want to be truly alive in Christ? I know you do.
Then put on the suit, man. Get into it.
Discussion
- Endyo. Put on, clothe with, get into. What is the difference between admiring the new self and getting into it?
- “The neighbors will notice. And so will you.” Who would notice first if you put this on?
- The armor has a belt, a breastplate, shoes, a shield, a helmet and a sword. Which piece are you going out without?
Something to Sit With
Consider yourself dead to sin and alive in Christ.
Cast off the old self. Put on the new you. And stick with it.
Dead or Alive, your identity (whether in sin or in Christ) will become your nature. Choose life. Choose Jesus.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “consider yourselves dead to sin” mean in Romans 6:11?
The Greek word logizomai means to deem, determine, or account as true. It is a deliberate act of faith where believers reckon themselves dead to sin’s power and alive to God. It is not pretending sin does not exist but recognizing that sin no longer has dominion over those who are in Christ.
How is identity connected to behavior change in the Bible?
Romans 6 teaches that lasting change starts with identity, not effort. When believers consider themselves new creations in Christ, their behavior follows. The inside changes first. Then the outside reflects it.
This is the opposite of trying to earn a new identity through willpower alone.
What does “put off the old self” mean in Ephesians 4:22?
The Greek word apotithemi means to lay aside or cast off. Paul is urging believers to throw away the habits, desires, and patterns that belonged to their former life. Like removing an old garment, the old self is to be discarded, not stored for later use.
What is the armor of God in Ephesians 6?
Paul describes spiritual equipment for standing against the enemy: the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit (the Word of God). Each piece is something a believer “puts on” through faith and practice.
Is sanctification a one-time event or an ongoing process?
Both. Positionally, believers are set apart at the moment of salvation. Practically, sanctification is an ongoing, daily process.
2 Corinthians 4:16 says the inner self is being renewed day by day. It is a race to run, not a finish line to cross once.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway.