Ephesians 4:20-24

20 But you did not so learn Christ!

21 Assuming that you have really heard Him and been taught by Him, as [all] Truth is in Jesus [embodied and personified in Him],

We have learned through several verses of scripture that Jesus controls everything: John 1:3, 1 Cor 8:6, Col 1:16, and Heb 2:10. We have learned that we are one with the Holy Spirit Who causes us to walk in our Fathers ways, Ezekiel 36:27. We have learned that there is only One Body and One Spirit, Romans 12:4. So we have learned that because we are now part of the One, that we are as He is, even while we are on this world, 1 John 4:17. The Truth that we have been empowered to learn gives us peace that passes all understanding, Philippians 4:7. Our peace is that our Head will never allow us, His Body, to walk in a darkened state. Our confidence is in the Truth that Jesus is responsible to keep us and that He will use us to produce much fruit, John 15:5. 

22 Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion;

23 And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude],

24 And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God's image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.

How can anyone, on their own, put on a nature that is in God’s image? We can’t, it all has to be from our Father through Christ. Only our Father can regenerate us and renew us. If we could do this on our own, then we could boast about how powerful we are. The Truth is that our Father is our Gardener and He alone is the only One that is able to prune us, or to strip from us all unrighteousness.

I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit. John 15:1-2

All things have been entrusted and delivered to Me by My Father; and no one fully knows and accurately understands the Son except the Father, and no one fully knows and accurately understands the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son deliberately wills to make Him known. Matthew 11:27

Praise God isn’t that a great verse! Look at what Jesus tells us: the only way that we will ever know the Truth is if He first deliberately wills it. Anywhere in the Bible that we are told to do something, our Father always has verses that tell us that He is the One causing them to come to pass in our life’s. We will never fail, because Jesus will always cause us to be more then conquerors. All things will always work out for us, Romans 8:28.We are never left alone to do anything on our own. So when we read and teach that we must leave former practices, we read and preach that Jesus will cause us to leave them. That is why there is no condemnation, Romans 8:1, and there is no boasting for us, Romans 3:27. But amen, there is sure victory!