Ephesians 4:22
“that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid yourselves of the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit”.
As a christian, this is a common theme. However, it's quite foreign to an unbeliever. The world uses the image of being new as in adopting a different attitude, but this is more than that. We have been born again. We are actually a new person. The old one is still present. Today's passage says to be rid of the old self. That means to deny it. For it will be with us until we die.
All of this talk started with Jesus in Matthew 16:24, 'Then Jesus said His to disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."' Jesus implies that the new man and the old man have competing desires. We are to deny the old man.
What are the ways of the old man? Today's verse says, "which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit". Galatians 5:19-22 describe them this way, "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing". That's quite a list.
A few verses earlier in Galatians (verse 14-15) love is addressed. It's the way of Christ in which we are to walk. Then Paul says this about their present behavior, "But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another." That's the old self. Yes, the list of evils applies, but the primary sin is not loving others. Demanding self fulfillment over others.
The way of Jesus is different. He speaks of this in Matthew 5. In verse 42 He says something shocking, "Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two". Our convenience isn't our chief aim, but to bless others.
This is tough as our culture is all about our rights and self. We will wrestle with this until we die. When Jesus said to "deny yourself and take up your cross", it wasn't a one time thing, but daily. It's a lifestyle. Our old self will always be there making a case for ourselves. Some of those arguments are convincing. We are good at deceiving ourselves. Today's verse implies that, "the lusts of deceit".
It's shocking the amount of deceit there is. When Jesus came on the scene the pharisees and their interpretation of the Law were way off track. He gives an example of that in Matthew 15:3-6, 'And He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves also break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER,’ ...But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever I have that would help you has been given to God,” he is not to honor his father or mother.’ And by this you have invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition.' They deceived themselves into disobeying God. All the while they are convinced that are doing God's will. They deceived themselves.
Battling deception is done in an interesting way. One would think it's to be a master of the facts. It all begins with fearing God and obeying Him. When we ignore or disobey Him is when are open to deception. 2 Thessalonians 2:10b-11 says, "they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them. For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie".
It's not just an unbeliever who is susceptible to deception. If a christian ignores the truth, that same deceptions seeps in. We would feel more resistance, as the Holy Spirit is in us seeking to lead us in the ways of truth. To continue to ignore Him is to harden one's heart. We can still be saved, but have a numbed, disabled part of us.
We are to be as David. "Search me, God, and know my heart; Put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there is any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way." We should be open to Him and seeking His input.
Lord, keep us from deception and evil. Help to put the old self and those ways to death.