In this post, we will explore what the new creation means and what Ephesians 4 teaches about practical Christian living.
Context of Ephesians 4
To understand Ephesians 4, we must consider the context in which Ephesians was written.
Ephesians is a letter from the apostle Paul to the church at Ephesus. Ephesus was an ancient Greek city in modern-day Turkey, an important city in its time. It’s thought that Paul wrote this letter in AD 60 while he was imprisoned.
The overall theme of Ephesians is the unity of the church. In the first three chapters of this letter, Paul wrote about God’s grace and the blessings believers receive in Jesus. Chapter 4 focuses on unity and Paul’s appeal to believers to live in a new way, one which reflects God and the grace He has given us. The first part of this chapter focuses on unity and growth within the church. The second part, which we will be focusing on, is the concept of the new life believers have in Jesus and the new self.
The New Creation
So what is the new creation? The apostle Paul himself actually tells us in a letter he wrote to the people of Corinth in Greece.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
The new creation is both an instant change and an ongoing work. At the moment of salvation, the Holy Spirit makes us new – this is regeneration, the immediate transformation of the heart. But the Holy Spirit also continues His work in us day by day, shaping our character, renewing our minds, and helping us grow in holiness. This ongoing process is sanctification, the lifelong journey of becoming more like Jesus.
This is why Ephesians 4 calls us to put off the old self and put on the new self – because the new creation is something God has already begun in us, and something we actively live out as He continues to transform us.
At the time both Ephesians and 2 Corinthians were written, such a statement would have been quite controversial. But back then, Jews were under the assumption that only they could be accepted by God. And this verse and Ephesians 4 prove otherwise because God accepts anyone as long as they are in Christ. Nothing can hold anyone back from coming to Jesus. All humanity is capable of receiving salvation.
Practical Christian Living
Understanding the new creation helps us see that Christian living isn’t about behaviour modification – it’s about living the new life God has already placed within us. Paul shows us in Ephesians what this looks like in practice.
What to avoid
“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. 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. 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.” Ephesians 4:17-19
I find it can be easier to rule out the things we should avoid doing before tackling what we ought to. Some of it will seem to be common sense. Some of it you may never have done before, and that’s good. But we do have a tendency to do the things we know we shouldn’t, even if it’s not sin.
Ephesians 4:17-19 sums up some of the things we should avoid. Obviously we know that sin is bad and we should avoid it. But some sinful things have a way of coming in where they’re not wanted, and some we maybe don’t perceive the way we should because it seems harmless.
I will say first that in these verses the term ‘Gentiles’ is a generalisation because there are Christians in Ephesus that Paul is writing to. Gentile simply means not Jewish, so when Paul writes Gentiles, he is referring to the non-believers. His point being that it was not the Gentile ethnicity that was the problem but their lifestyle, which was apart from God.
The unbelieving culture around the Ephesian church was marked by idolatry, impurity, and spiritual blindness. Ephesus was famous for its temple to the Greek goddess Artemis.
Many of these non-believers worshipped other gods, made sacrifices, and did many sinful things in tribute to the gods and idols they worshipped. All of which we are warned not to do. Ephesians 4 tells us these people were greedy and indulged every whim; they had no self-control and let themselves enjoy all kinds of temporary pleasures.
They had lost sensitivity and lacked empathy. They thought only of themselves and lacked regard for others. Being separated from God, they became ignorant and hard-hearted. Paul, writing to the Ephesians, was pleading with them to turn from such wicked ways and explaining to them that such a lifestyle is meaningless. Paul is not saying that enjoying life is bad but that indulging in sin and cruelty is.
Why Paul warns the Ephesian Church
Paul warns about living like the unbelieving Ephesians because he loves the church. He knows that the old self leads us away from God, damages our relationships, and blinds us to the truth. His warnings are to protect the members of the Ephesian church, calling out to them to live in the fullness of the new life they have received through Jesus.
How to live as the New Creation
In Ephesians 4:20-32, Paul goes on to write about the conduct of the new man.
“That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:20-24
Paul tells us that living like those Gentiles is not the way they were taught to live when they heard about Jesus. Jesus taught them to live in truth according to the word of God, which is to stop living in wickedness and sin, to leave all that in the past. But to put on the new self which is created to be like God – righteous and holy.
Therefore the way to live is to:
- Choose truth over lies – we should not only live the truth but be honest in all things.
- Resolve anger quickly – so the enemy has no foothold in our lives.
- Reject stealing – instead work and be generous.
- Use words to build up – not tear down.
- Let go of bitterness, rage, slander, and malice – these belong to the old self.
- Avoid gossip – although it is tempting and common.
- Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving – reflecting the heart of Christ.
We should be quick to forgive, gentle in speech and make serving others a regular practice.
Paul teaches that the new creation is shaped by truth, righteousness, and holiness. This means choosing honesty over deceit, reconciliation over anger, generosity over stealing, and encouragement over harmful speech.
The new creation is recognised not only by what we avoid, but by the love, kindness, and forgiveness we actively show.
The reason Paul has emphasised the contrast between the Gentile unbelievers and Christian living is to show the dramatic change God can bring about in believers. The old self is marked by spiritual blindness and self-indulgence. The new self reflects God’s truth, holiness, and love.
The contrast protects the church, shapes our identity, and reminds us not to return to the life Jesus rescued us from.
Living as the new creation is a daily journey. The Holy Spirit continues to shape us, soften us, and strengthen us so that our lives reflect Jesus more and more. We don’t walk this out alone – God Himself empowers us to put off the old self and put on the new.
Remember that growth is not linear; it is gradual, and God has grace for us in our mistakes as we grow.
If this message encouraged you, take a moment today to ask God what part of your ‘new self’ He’s inviting you to grow in. Share your reflections in the comments – I’d love to hear how He’s working in your life.
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