“Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”

Ephesians  4: 22-24

Some time ago a friend who was on his own spiritual journey over the last few months, told me of what he called a transformation in his life. He has been attending an area church with his wife. He’s asked some honest questions and now said that he never knew this kind of life could have so much meaning.

Now, he takes notice when others express their frustration with religion – today some call it deconstructing their faith. The attend services regularly. They conform to the church rules and make every effort to reform their lives, but there is no joy. There is no transformation and then doubt enters in.

In the verses above, Paul underscores our participation in the process. As followers of Christ, we willingly throw off the old and allow our hearts to be renewed by the Spirit and then we put on the new life promised by God. He goes on to say to the Ephesians –

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4: 25-32

I think A.W. Tozer summed it up well when he wrote that “religion can reform a person’s life, but it can never transform him. Only the Holy Spirit can transform!”