The Old Man. The Essence and Nature of Sin
May the peace of the Lord be with you and your households. We give thanks to God, creator of heaven and earth, for His grace and mercy that allows us to approach His Word. This teaching seeks to help us reach the unity of faith and the stature of Christ, growing in the knowledge of God.
Today we begin a series about the old man, a term inspired by the Holy Spirit and used by the Apostle Paul. Although old things have passed away and everything is new in Christ, it is crucial to understand what the old man is, because sometimes attitudes or behaviors persist that we have not discarded. The Word teaches us that Christ will come for a people without spot or wrinkle, and any trace of the old man can frustrate God’s purpose in us. Therefore, knowing this topic is essential, not only because it relates to a life of sin or vice, but because the old man is corrupted day by day, like a metal that oxidizes until it disintegrates, as Paul describes it.
The apostle, under the guidance of the Spirit, uses this term in passages such as Ephesians 4:22, where he exhorts us to abandon the former way of life, the old man corrupted by deceitful desires; Colossians 3:9-10, which speaks of stripping off the old man and its deeds to put on the new one; and Romans 6:6, where we are told that the old man was crucified with Christ so that the body of sin might be destroyed. These texts, along with related terms such as “body of sin” or “body of death,” point to the same reality: the old man is an obstacle that we must identify and eliminate to grow in faith.
What is the old man? To answer, we must first understand who we were before Christ and who we are now in Him. Like the people of Israel, who left Egypt and understood their new identity, we must recognize from where God has brought us out. Romans 3:23 reminds us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and Romans 6:23 affirms that the wages of sin is death. We were enemies of God, dead in trespasses and sins, part of the kingdom of darkness, regardless of whether our life seemed “less sinful” than others. We all carried a death sentence.
In Titus 3:3-7, Paul describes who we were: foolish, disobedient, deceived, slaves to various passions and pleasures, full of malice and envy. But through God’s mercy, we were regenerated and renewed by the Holy Spirit, made heirs of eternal life. Romans 8:9-11 adds that now the Spirit of God dwells in us, and our mortal bodies are given life by Him. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit, a holy people, a royal priesthood, called out of darkness into God’s marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). This contrast between what we were and what we are helps us appreciate our redemption and identify the old man.
Three definitions of the old man
1. A sinful nature: disobedience
According to 1 Peter 1:14-16, we must be holy as God is holy, not conforming to the desires we had in our ignorance. The old man is a sinful nature called disobedience, which manifests not only in disobeying instructions but in rebellion and opposition to authority. This nature entered the world through Adam’s disobedience (Romans 5:12). Even in believers, it can persist when, for example, we reject corrections or rebel against spiritual leaders. Disobedience creates an environment that strengthens the old man, leading us to act against God’s will. If we continue in rebellion, the old man remains active, even if we have abandoned obvious sins.
2. A worldly influence
In 1 John 2:15-17, we are warned not to love the world or the things in it: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. The old man is an influence that seduces and pushes us to adopt the world’s system of evil: its values, behaviors, and competitions. This influence leads us to make decisions based on worldly ambitions, such as seeking jobs, places, or relationships that do not please God, just to compete or achieve something. Many believers tolerate this influence, allowing the old man to guide them in decisions contrary to the divine will, such as forming marriages or pursuing goals for selfish reasons. Paul, in 1 Timothy 5:11-13, warns about those who let themselves be carried away by worldly delights, living spiritually dead.
3. A diabolical being
In 1 Corinthians 15:49, Paul says that, just as we have borne the image of the earthly, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. The image of the earthly refers not only to Adam but to the image of Satan, adopted when Adam and Eve obeyed the serpent (Romans 6:16). The old man is a diabolical being, an evil influence that operates in us if it has not been crucified. In Matthew 13:19, Jesus explains that the evil one snatches away the seed (the Word) from the heart of those who do not understand it, showing that the active old man prevents spiritual growth. Signs such as falling asleep when hearing the Word or not advancing in faith reveal its presence. Ephesians 2:2 confirms that the old man obeys the prince of this world, prioritizing personal benefits over God’s will, like Esau who despised his birthright.
What should we do?
To overcome the old man, Ephesians 4:17-22 gives us three clear instructions:
1. Do not live as the Gentiles do
Abandon worldly models, behaviors, and vocabularies. Many believers adopt improper language or habits because they find them attractive, but this strengthens the old man.
2. Put off your former way of life
This includes habits, thoughts, mannerisms, and even diets that tie us to our previous life. For example, eating foods that we associated with sinful practices can keep the memory of the old man alive.
3. Learn from Christ
Nourish ourselves with the Word and the instructions of the Spirit. Many believers do not grow because they do not feed on the truth, allowing the old man to persist.
Conclusion The old man is not just the past life of obvious sin, but a disobedient nature, a worldly influence, and a diabolical being that may be hidden in believers. Although we are in Christ, if we do not crucify it, it continues to operate, preventing our growth and putting us at risk of not fulfilling God’s purpose. Today is a day of confrontation. Let us not hide behind excuses or deny its presence. Let us recognize any trace of the old man, repent, and bring it to light so that it may be destroyed. May the peace of God be with you.
