In the 1st three chapters of this amazing letter Paul defines the new and true identity of the Christian ��� an identity that is New; not in the sense of not being old ��� but new in the sense of a totally different kind. This identity has nothing to do with what I can do, or what I���ve done, or what I hope to do someday. It isn���t rooted in what I possess or what I hope to possess. It isn���t rooted in my social status or wardrobe or mode of transportation. It isn���t rooted in what I eat or don���t eat. It isn���t even rooted in religion. It is rooted in all that God has done for us in Jesus, with Jesus, by Jesus and through Jesus. Every Christian is a new creature ��� a new kind of human ��� recreated in Jesus. The old has passed ��� everything about my humanity is new. Everything about my new humanity is rooted in the person of Jesus and the very life of Jesus.

Here in Ephesians 4 Paul is telling us that WHO WE ARE in Jesus transforms HOW WE LIVE! We can���t have a ���new life��� without having a ���new lifestyle��� ��� a new way of living.