“And put on a new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth” (Eph. 4:24).
It is amazing to think that God has provided for us a new man which has been created in righteousness and holiness. The old nature which was characterized by selfishness and sin has been crucified with Christ and now we have a new nature which is produced by the Holy Spirit.
The verb here is aorist which indicates a decisive act by which the believer appropriates this God-created and God-centered life. Notice again that two things are required for the continual formation of this new man. First is the continual renewal of the mind (23) and second is the decisive action of putting on this new man.
Did you notice that this new man is in “the likeness of God?” Paul gives a more expansive definition in Colossians 3:10—“And have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him.” Man was created in God’s image but that image was marred and distorted by sin. Through the new birth there is a restoration of that image. There is a moral character to that new image which is here described in terms of righteousness and holiness.
These God-like character traits will be in evidence in everyone who has been recreated in His image. The character of the Father should be clearly seen in the lives of His children.
Prayer: Produce your righteousness and holiness in me that others may know You. Amen