Ephesians 4:22-24

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; And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24

The way that we strip ourselves of our former natures is by being empowered by the Holy Spirit to know that we cannot strip ourselves of our former natures. When Jesus was here they called Him good and He asked them why did they call Him good? He went on to say that only God was good and that He wasn’t. Jesus also told the people that it was the Father within Him Who was doing all of the works and the same holds true for us today. We cannot strip out any bad habits on our own. If our Father isn’t stripping them, then they are not going to be stripped. 

Far too many in religion want rules and laws that tell us what to do and what not to do. They believe that these rules will allow us to live godly life’s, but all the rules and laws do is screw us up. They cause us to focus on ourselves and our abilities and not the real Truth that has actually set us free, which is Grace. 

For being ignorant of the righteousness that God ascribes [which makes one acceptable to Him in word, thought, and deed] and seeking to establish a righteousness (a means of salvation) of their own, they did not obey or submit themselves to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the Law [the limit at which it ceases to be, for the Law leads up to Him Who is the fulfillment of its types, and in Him the purpose which it was designed to accomplish is fulfilled. That is, the purpose of the Law is fulfilled in Him] as the means of righteousness (right relationship to God) for everyone who trusts in and adheres to and relies on Him. Romans 10:3-4

The only way that we will ever live godly life’s is by realizing that it is Jesus Alone Who has made us righteous. It is only when the Holy Spirit empowers us to realize that we can not do anything on our own that we will begin to live godlike life’s. The Truth is that because of Jesus we have died and yet because of Him we are so very alive. 

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom). 2 Corinthians 3:17

So beware of wolves who would try to cause you to look to yourself to be changed. Beware of false prophets who speak of rules and laws as a way of living godly. Pray for them that they too will see the Truth that will set them free.

[My precaution was] because of false brethren who had been secretly smuggled in [to the Christian brotherhood]; they had slipped in to spy on our liberty and the freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might again bring us into bondage [under the Law of Moses]. To them we did not yield submission even for a moment, that the truth of the Gospel might continue to be [preserved] for you [in its purity]. Galatians 2:4-5