Putting Off The Old And Putting On The New

Putting On The New Man

Colossians 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

The Holy Ghost speaking through the pen of the Apostle Paul is imploring you to put on the new man.  This new man is renewed by and through the knowledge of God through his holy word. In this short verse there is both command and transformation, and the central action is contained in the phrase “put on.”

The Weight of “Put On”

To put on is an intentional act. It is the language of clothing yourself. No one accidentally puts on a garment; it requires a conscious movement of the will. In the same way, the Holy Ghost describes the believer deliberately clothing himself with a new nature.

The old man—the former pattern of thinking, reacting, desiring, and living—must be laid aside like worn and soiled garments. Pride, bitterness, corruption of thought, selfish ambition, and the blindness of the old life cannot remain when the new life is embraced. They do not belong to the wardrobe of the new man.

The Process of Change

The renewal in knowledge acts as a catalyst, allowing you to embody qualities such as compassion, kindness, humility, and love. This is not merely about surface changes but a core evolution that reflects a deeper awareness of what it means to exist in unity with one another and the divine. 

Your New Identity

Clothing is both public and private. The “new man” is inwardly formed—renewed in knowledge—but “put on” makes it outwardly manifest. The renewal of the mind shapes speech, conduct, relationships, and witness to others. The image of the Creator becomes the pattern: the new garment is tailored after the One who made you, so the transformation is restorative (returning you to intended form) and formative (shaping you toward a likeness).

Finally, “put on” acknowledges temporality and realism. Clothes wear, get dirty, and need replacing; spiritual formation is ongoing, subject to wear and to renewal. The phrase therefore invites vigilance: keep dressing yourself each day in the attitudes and choices that reflect the renewed mind—image of God.