When we are born again, we are fully God's spirit children. We have all our parts, but we don't know how to use them. And we aren't as strong as we will be.
So we aren't told to become the New Man, that's already been accomplished for us. But we are told to put on the new man, and the more we do that, the stronger he becomes.
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24)
From the context of this passage, and if you read from Ephesians 4:17-24 you will see this, that the Scripture does not support this position. We are being "recreated" in true Holiness and righteousness, By the Spirit of God dwelling in us. To "put on" is the word
endyo which means to cloth oneself. Spiritual clothing being the metaphor here. The Old man has to be "Put off", or cast off, for the new clothing to be put on. Keep in mind Paul is giving this instruction to a group of believers, Not to a group of unregenerate people. This is a process that occurs in the life of the believer.
Consider the following scriptures....
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. (1 Corinthians 13:11)
For every one that useth milk
is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age,
even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:13-14)
For we know that if our earthly house of
this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan,
earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in
this tabernacle do groan, being burdened:
not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing
is God, who also hath given unto us the
earnest of the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 5:1-5)
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and
naked: I counsel thee to
buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich;
and white raiment,
that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. (Revelation 3:17-18)
Consider the term an "earnest of the Spirit", the word earnest means:
money which in purchases is given as a pledge or downpayment that the full amount will subsequently be paid. (Strong's G728)
If i receive a downpayment on something, it assumes a full payment later on down the road. We are given a downpayment till we are able to receive the fulness of the Spirit, to be led by the Spirit completely, to Put on the clothing of righteousness and true holiness. What are the stipulation of this contract? That is what you need to be asking yourself as a believer in Christ Jesus. I cannot answer that for you personally, but I do know that saying "you have need of nothing" is detrimental to discovering what hinders the believer from reaching the fulness of Christ.
I Know you despise this sort of talk, but I must speak this until it sinks in, Putting on is not merely accepting what He has done for us, it involves us receiving from Him what he has promised us in fulness, we cannot do this with a wrong heart.... Read carefully James 4:1-10.
From whence
come wars and fightings among you?
come they not hence,
even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume
it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse
your hands,
ye sinners; and purify
your hearts,
ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and
your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
