A Fresh Start

By Frank Williams

January 19, 2026

Ephesians 4:22-24 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

There are times you need a fresh start. It may be daily if you are going through a trying season in your life. No matter who, there is always something to put off and something to put on.  No matter how high you’ve climbed the Mountain of Spiritual Growth, or how low you’ve wallowed in the Pit of Fleshly Iniquity—you need to begin again. 

And by the Grace of God, you can!

In Ephesians, Paul is speaking to saved people. It has been about 20 years since Jesus was on earth. Yet, through the Apostle’s preaching of the Word of God, they had heard Jesus and had been taught by Him. 

Sometimes, we must go back to school. And when we pull our chairs up to the desk, we must take the Textbook and be reminded of the basic truths concerning new life in Christ. Putting off and putting on are basic exercises of a growing Christian.

We are to put off that old sin nature that we were born with. It makes us a sinner by nature and by choice. Put off, like putting off dirty, smelly clothes at the end of a workday. Are you hanging on to a few old rags in your life?

And we are to put on the new, born-again person that you are now. The new man is a creation of God, “created in righteousness and true holiness.”

This act of submission will result in being, “renewed in the spirit of your mind,” as the new man takes dominance in your life, and the old man is brought under control.

Reflection—Don’t try to sanctify the old man. He’s already dead and buried, crucified with Jesus. (Gal 2:20)