New clothes for a New Man
New clothes for a New Man
Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Colossians 3:9-10
Did you ever entertain where the phrase the clothes make the man comes from?
Well according to (phrases, sayings, idioms, and expressions) at the Phrase Finder, one’s appearance makes a major difference. It is believed that a comparable expression was current among the ancient Greeks: 'The garment makes the man.' In the manner 'apparel makes the man', the idea turned up in England as early as the 16th century. A century afterwards, it was at times expressed as ‘the tailor makes the man.’
In addition, the Dictionary of Cliches by James Rogers (Ballantine Books, New York, 1985) suggests that a similar phrase was used by William Shakespeare in "Hamlet."
Our opening text turns us to the truth that our former man who dressed himself in the deeds (practices that promoted our unbelief) of the world has been discarded and stripped off. This old man has been replaced by a new man who enjoys a new spiritual makeup, new mentality, and a constitution consistent with the image (likeness) of the one who created him.
Ephesians 4:22-23 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
The new man, by the power of the Holy Spirit, purposes to pursue a personal and deeper knowledge of and fellowship with Christ. The objective of the new man is to bear His creator’s image and His creator, God, wants to make believers like Himself that are righteous and genuinely Holy.
Ephesians 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Therefore, a new man needs the new clothing of his creator God who is also Christ the Lord God. As I mentioned earlier, as a new creation in Christ we need to go to Christ’s closet and adorn ourselves in anointed attire. The Christian’s clothing is covered in Colossians 3:12-15:
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Typically, when we put on clothes, we looked in the mirror for validation assessment and acceptance. I invite you to join next time as we look into the mirror of spiritual understanding and explanation with our clothing, consulting Christ as we consider together the new clothing for the new man.
Not a sermon, just some thoughts.
For the Glory of God,
PBKSR