The Truth as It Is in Jesus - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2025

But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind.
Ephesians 4:20-23

The Truth as It Is in Jesus
If our ears are opened to hear Him and there is willingness to be taught by Him, our entire character and conduct will be in total contrast to that of the unsaved. The truth as it is "in Jesus" is a seldom used expression in Scripture. It refers to the truth exemplified in the lowly life of the Lord Jesus on this earth. If I think of truth regarding character and conduct, I see it perfectly in Him as the dependent Man. "Christ" is His official title (v. 20), and as we learn more of Him exalted at God's right hand, we more rightly value and understand practical truth as we see it in His entire conduct in Manhood on earth. Learning Christ is learning Him as the Object of my adoration high above me, but "as the truth is in Jesus" is learning Him as my practical Example come down to earth.

The old man with its former manner of life has been once and for all time put off. No believer can ever again be what he was before conversion. He has been renewed in the spirit of his mind—the attitude of his mind has changed. Although the fleshly nature remains in him, this no longer dominates him, for there is a new controlling factor. He has put on the new man that is consistent with God's own nature, created in righteousness and holiness of truth (v. 24). Righteousness is acting rightly in consistency with whatever relationship we may be in. Holiness is the love of what is good and the hatred of evil. But it is the truth of God that decides what is good and what is evil, not merely someone's conscience or opinion. Since such is our new character, let us be true to it in practice.

L. M. Grant