“… to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” – Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV)
Many Christians know they are called to change, but the practical process can still feel unclear. In an episode of the Transformed Podcast, Dr. Greg Gifford explains that biblical change involves more than simply stopping sinful behavior. It includes putting off the old way of life, putting on conduct that reflects Christ, and having the mind renewed through the work of God.
This framework comes primarily from Ephesians 4. Gifford presents it as a practical pattern for sanctification, especially for believers who understand that change is necessary but are unsure what to do next.
“Many of us know that we can change. We know that we should change, but we don’t always have the practical how-tos, the next steps,” says Dr. Gifford.
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Putting Off the Old Way of Life
The first part of biblical change is putting off what belongs to the old self. This includes sinful habits, desires, attitudes, and responses that correspond to a person’s former way of life.
Gifford emphasizes that repentance matters, but stopping a sinful behavior is not the entire process. Christians can become highly focused on what they should not do while overlooking the positive obedience Scripture calls them to pursue.
He illustrates this from Ephesians 4 with the example of stealing. A thief certainly needs to stop stealing, but that alone does not represent complete biblical change.
“Just because you’ve stopped stealing doesn’t mean you’ve changed,” says Dr. Gifford. The person is also called to begin working honestly and using what he earns to help others.
Putting On Christlike Actions
The next part of the process is putting on conduct consistent with the new self.
Ephesians 4 supplies several examples. Falsehood is replaced with truthfulness.
Stealing is replaced with honest work and generosity. “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” (verse 25)
Sinful anger must be addressed rather than allowed to develop into bitterness or provide an opportunity for temptation. “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” (verses 26 – 27)
Gifford also applies the pattern to issues such as anxiety and complaining. In his discussion of anxiety, he describes the put off as anxiety and the put on as an active decision to trust the Lord. A habit of grumbling, meanwhile, should be replaced by thankfulness and gratitude.
The important point is that biblical change is not simply about becoming better at avoiding certain behaviors. It involves cultivating new responses that reflect Christ.
Renewing the Mind With Biblical Truth
The third element is the renewal of the mind. Gifford points to Ephesians 4:23 and Romans 12:2, arguing that genuine transformation involves a change in the inner person.
He describes the mind as immaterial rather than simply equating it with the physical brain. It encompasses thinking, attitudes, disposition, and choices. As the mind is renewed, a believer increasingly learns to think in ways consistent with Christ.
“If you have a renewed mind, it will change everything,” says Dr. Gifford. “Your actions will be different because your inner person is different.”
Importantly, Gifford does not teach that Christians simply renew themselves through greater effort. He notes that the language of Ephesians 4:23 points to God as the one performing the work of renewal. The believer nevertheless has a responsibility to participate in sanctification by filling the mind with biblical truth.
Practically, that can mean identifying particular passages of Scripture to memorize and meditate on. Someone struggling with anxiety might focus on truths about God’s sovereignty. Someone battling impurity might meditate on His holiness. The biblical truth should correspond specifically to the area in which change is needed.
The same basic questions can be useful wherever Christians seek spiritual counsel, whether through a local church, an individual counselor, or a California women’s rehab center: What needs to be put off? What should replace it? What biblical truths should shape the person’s thinking?
Who Is Dr. Greg Gifford?
Dr. Greg Gifford is Chair of the School of Biblical Studies and Assistant Professor of Biblical Counseling at The Master’s University. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Baptist Bible College, his master’s degree from The Master’s University, and his Ph.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Before joining the university faculty, Gifford worked in biblical counseling and pastoral ministry and served as a captain in the United States Army. His research interests include the relationship between habits and desires as well as post-traumatic stress disorder. He is also an ordained pastor, an Association of Certified Biblical Counselors fellow and counselor, an author, and the host of the Transformed Podcast.
A Practical Pattern for Sanctification
The central message of the Transformed episode is that biblical change should address both outward actions and the thinking from which those actions flow.
Putting off sin is necessary, but it is not the stopping point. Believers also put on righteous actions while deliberately turning their attention toward the biblical truths relevant to their struggle.
Gifford does not present this as a magical formula for instant change. Rather, he describes a practical pattern Christians can follow as God works through His Spirit to renew them and increasingly conform them to Christ.
Get Help Today
Help and healing are possible through our Christian rehab programs.
If you are ready to take the next step and learn more about how a Christian rehab center can aid in your recovery, feel free to reach out to us at any time.