Leaving the old self behind

Celebrate the baptisms

Do the the books of the Bible.

Pauls Transformation

You know how in movies someone gets hit by lightning or caught in a freak accident and comes out totally different? That’s kind of what happened to a man named Saul—but in real life, and with God.

Saul was not a nice guy. If you were a Christian, Saul was the person you feared. He was aggressive, educated, and determined to shut down the Jesus movement. He had Christians arrested, thrown in jail, and even approved of people being killed for their faith. Think of him as a religious bounty hunter—except instead of looking for criminals, he was targeting believers.

But one day, everything changed. While traveling to Damascus to arrest more Christians, Saul was literally knocked to the ground by a blinding light. Jesus showed up. Saul heard a voice: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4)

That moment wrecked him—in the best way. Saul was blinded, humbled, and had to be led by the hand into the city. For three days, he sat in darkness. And when a man named Ananias prayed for him, Saul’s sight was restored—but something even deeper happened: His heart changed.

That old Saul? Gone. The new man? Paul—apostle, missionary, preacher, and one of the greatest influencers of the early Church. The same guy who once hunted Christians now risked his life to spread the message of Jesus to the world.

The story of Saul’s transformation into Paul is a profound example of abandoning one’s old self. Saul was once a persecutor of Christians, but a divine encounter on the road to Damascus changed everything. His old life was buried, and he emerged as a fervent apostle, spreading the Gospel to the ends of the earth. This biblical account beautifully illustrates that no one is beyond the reach of God’s transformative power; He can take our worst and turn it into our best.

Last week, we talked about living in unity with other believers, but this week, we’re going to see that Paul wants us to take it further. God doesn't just want us to get along; He wants us to live as entirely new people. Let's look at how Paul starts in Ephesians 4:17-32

17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. 

20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. 

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 

 The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Eph 4:17–32.

1. You Can’t Have it Both Ways

When Paul described this transformation, notice he didn't suggest we should "try to do better" or "work on improving." Instead, he used phrases like "throw off your old sinful nature" and "put on your new nature." It's like he was saying you can't have it both ways. In another letter Paul wrote, he put it even more directly:

17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:17 – NLT)

Thankfully, Paul wasn't telling us to improve our old selves—he was saying Jesus makes us completely new. Following Jesus isn't about balancing between our old ways and the new life He calls us into. It's about fully embracing the transformation that only He can bring.

That’s why Paul painted such a sharp contrast between life without God and life in Christ. In our main passage, he described people living without God as hopelessly confused and having minds full of darkness. He wasn’t trying to insult anyone—he was just showing that without Jesus, we’re left wandering in the dark. But when we belong to Christ, everything changes.

Just like you wouldn't wear old, dirty clothes over a brand-new outfit, Paul was saying we need to completely take off our old way of life and put on the new identity God gives us. It's not about tweaking a few things; it's about becoming someone entirely different through God's power.

2. Embracing the New

Have you ever tried to act different without feeling different? Maybe you’ve tried to be nice to someone you’re mad at or pretended to be happy when you’re not. How long did that last? Not long, right?

That’s why what Paul said next is so important. Let’s look at verses 23-24 again:

23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. (Ephesians 4:23-24 – NLT)

He was reminding us that real change doesn’t start with our effort—it starts with the Holy Spirit renewing our thoughts and attitudes.

Why? Because God doesn’t just want to change what we do, He wants us to become the best versions of ourselves from the inside out.

3. Take Action as a New Person in Christ

Have you ever tried to stop thinking about something? Like when someone says, "Don't think about pink elephants"—what's the first thing you picture? Exactly.

13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. (Philippians 2:13 – NLT)

That's why Paul didn't just tell us what to stop doing—He always pointed us toward what we should do instead. When he talked about not lying, he told us to instead speak truth. When he mentioned not stealing, he said to work hard and be generous. Instead of harsh words, he pointed us toward encouragement. Rather than holding onto bitterness and anger, he called us to be kind and compassionate.

Like we said, it's not just about stopping bad behaviors; it's about letting God transform our actions to reflect His character in our own lives. So, just as I suggested a minute ago, if you realize that there’s an area in your life where God is calling you to grow, don’t focus on what you need to leave behind. Instead, ask God to help you identify something that you can replace it with.

If gossip is a struggle, make it your goal to speak encouragement instead. If anger is a challenge, plan to take a moment and breathe before responding. If you waste too much time on your phone, commit to doing something more meaningful, like reading your Bible or helping someone in need.

And sure, breaking any habit can be difficult, but my encouragement to you is to give it time. Don’t give up if it doesn’t work overnight. And as you step more fully into your new life this week, there’s one more thing I want to encourage you to do, and that’s…