Lesson 1: Putting Off the Old Man

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STRONG’S EXHAUSTIVE CONCORDANCE OF THE BIBLE

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VINE’S COMPLETE EXPOSITORY DICTIONARY OF OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT WORDS

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THE TRUTH ABOUT SALVATION III: THE OPERATION OF SALVATION COURSE DESCRIPTION NOTE TO STUDENTS

This final course in the four-part “Truth About Salvation” series offers a revelatory exploration of what truly happens at salvation—not symbolically, but spiritually and literally. It builds upon the foundational teachings of the previous courses by unveiling the divine sequence by which an individual is delivered from sin, made new, and becomes the temple in which the Spirit of Christ dwells. Through careful interpretation, explanation of Scripture, and spiritual insight, participants are provided with various opportunities to gain a deeper understanding of the threefold operation of salvation: putting off the old man, the creation of the new creature, and putting on the new man.

Learners will discover how through spiritual circumcision, the soul is separated from the body of sin, regenerated by the Holy Ghost, and reunited with a quickened body now belonging to Christ. The course reveals the mystery that Christ now lives again through the bodies of His people, thereby prolonging His life in the earth. By the end of this course, students will gain not only doctrinal clarity but also a renewed sense of identity and purpose as vessels of Christ’s righteousness.

Welcome to the fourth course in the Salvation Series.

It is not by chance that God has influenced you to join with many others who are studying about salvation. Therefore, we want you to benefit fully from all He has to offer as you learn from each lesson. To manage all that is required, here are a few tips to consider:

HERE ARE SOME TIPS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER:

Reflect and Journal Regularly.

Set aside time after each lesson to reflect on what you’ve learned. Use a journal to capture your thoughts, questions, and any revelations that arise. Writing down these reflections will help you internalize the teachings and provide a record of your spiritual growth throughout the course.

Engage with the Message from our Apostle.

Read the Word from Our Apostle closely and revisit it throughout the course. Pay attention to the misconceptions about salvation that are highlighted, as understanding these will deepen your grasp of each lesson. Let this message serve as a guide to keep you aligned with the course’s goals and expectations.

Review Guidelines from Previous Courses.

Reflect on insights and practices introduced in previous courses in this series. Building on what you’ve already learned will provide a strong foundation and help you connect each lesson to a broader understanding of salvation.1 Use Feedback Constructively.

Pay close attention to feedback on assignments and activities you may receive. Rather than focusing solely on “right” or “wrong” answers, consider how the feedback can guide your spiritual development, refine your understanding and serve as a tool to encourage growth. Make Time for Deep Study.

Don’t rush through the lessons. Approach each lesson with a willingness to dive deep. Study the Scriptures, and seek to understand not just the words, but their significance for your life and faith.

Participate Actively in Interactive Activities.

Wholeheartedly engage in activities designed to shift mindsets, change perspectives, and inspire lifelong transformation. These are intended to help you apply what you are learning practically, so approach them openly and thoughtfully.

Seek Clarity on Misconceptions.

Some lessons may challenge existing beliefs or assumptions about salvation. Use this opportunity to ask questions, seek clarity, and explore different perspectives. The course is designed to address common misconceptions, so embrace this as a chance to deepen your understanding.

Share and Discuss with Fellow Participants.

If possible, discuss what you are learning with other students. Sharing perspectives and experiences can provide new insights and foster a supportive learning environment, strengthening everyone’s journey.

Pray and Meditate on Key Lessons.

Take time to pray over each lesson and seek God’s guidance for how these truths can shape your life. Meditating on core themes, such as being “born again” or walking in the power of Jesus’ resurrection, will help you experience the course’s transformative power. Prepare Your Heart for Transformation.

This course is designed not just for learning concepts and principles but for your life to be transformed. Approach each lesson with an open heart, ready to be shaped by the truth of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

By following these tips, you will be well-prepared to engage fully and meaningfully with the teachings, activities, and reflections in this course.

A WORD FROM THE APOSTLE: A RECAP

Welcome to the fourth and final course in the Truth About Salvation series. Course 3 focused on Jesus’ born-again experience. This course, however, shifts the focus to the Church, showing how it followed the same pattern of salvation demonstrated by Christ. To prepare our hearts and minds for the truths ahead, I will begin with a brief recap of Courses 1–3. This will help position you to understand each aspect of the operation of salvation as it unfolds through the foundational principles of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.

Humanity’s Need for Salvation. Adam and Eve’s sin in the beginning had a profound and terrible impact on all of humanity. A creation that was once innocent and perfect was now marred by sinful degradation, destined for eternal separation from God. All who were born—even those who never touched the forbidden tree in the Garden of Eden—were born in sin and shapen in iniquity.1 The law of sin and death, produced by the presence of Satan within our bodies, ensured our spiritual separation from God and bondage to sin. As a result, all of humanity, by nature, walked in the very thing that God hates—sin. The penalty for sin is death, which not only brought spiritual separation from God but also held the expectation of eventual transition into an eternal prison in the lower parts of the earth.2

Romans 5:8

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Humanity was lost, slaves to the devil, and enemies of God. Yet, in the fullness of time—according to His perfect plan and great love—God sent a ransom to redeem His creation from sin and establish the way through which He would beget children.

To free us from the power of sin, He sent His Son, Jesus, to the cross and to hell, to die and pay the penalty that was rightfully ours. But when the debt was paid, He raised Jesus to life in great power and authority. It is important to remember that the penalty of death came upon humanity due to God’s Word in the Garden of Eden. He had warned them, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:17). When they disobeyed, God’s Word allowed Satan, who held the power of death, to overtake humanity, holding them captive.

1. Romans 5:14 - Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
2. There is a distinction between Jesus being born of the Spirit and being born again. He was born of the Spirit in Mary’s womb and came forth as the first Son of God to walk in the flesh, but He was born again through His resurrection from the dead.

Thus, to deliver humanity, someone sinless had to die in their place. Just as the sin of one brought condemnation upon all, so too would the righteousness of one bring righteousness to all who would believe in the provision made for them.3

Romans 5:9-10

9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Humanity’s Restoration. The death of Jesus achieved a profound reconciliation: it restored the relationship between God and humanity. This reconciliation means that all people can now approach God for the forgiveness of sins—something that was impossible before the debt was paid. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, all people everywhere can call upon the Lord for forgiveness and salvation. Our reconciliation to God was achieved through the blood of Jesus, but our salvation is made possible by His life - the Holy Spirit. It is only through receiving the Holy Ghost that we can be freed from the spirit of iniquity and the law of sin and death.

Having a spiritual leader pray for you or confessing your sins aloud is not enough for salvation; you must receive the Holy Spirit as well. God will grant you the Holy Spirit when your heart fully believes the Gospel and you desire Him above everything else in this world.

John 3:3

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Since we are all born in sin, we must be born again to be freed from the law of sin and death. This is the only way we will have the ability to please God through a holy life and be given the opportunity to enter heaven at the end of our days.

Christ’s Preeminence. In the previous course, we uncovered that Jesus is preeminent in all matters concerning the Church. This means He is the first to be born of the Spirit—the first Son of God. In exploring this truth, we also established that Jesus was the first to be born again, becoming the prototype for all who would become the children of God and members of the Body of Christ.4

3. Romans 5:19 - For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
4. There is a distinction between Jesus being born of the Spirit and being born again. He was born of the Spirit in Mary’s womb and came forth as the first Son of God to walk in the flesh, but He was born again through His resurrection from the dead.

Now, let us take a moment to review the steps of Jesus’ born-again experience. Christ Died: After the sins of the world were placed upon Him, His body was tortured, and eventually, both the Holy Ghost and His soul departed from it. His body was laid in the tomb, while His soul, now without the Holy Spirit, descended into hell to suffer for three days and nights. Christ Rose: After paying the debt of sin, Jesus’ soul was repositioned within the Holy Ghost. Christ Revived: Finally, the Holy Ghost, with Jesus’ soul within, re-entered the body that lay in the tomb, raising it to life.

Preparing for Course 4. The above lists the specific steps that are necessary for the born-again experience. Just as Christ died, rose, and was revived, so must believers undergo these stages. The born-again experience that believers undergo entails the following steps:

• The Putting Off of the Old Man (Christ Died)
• The Creation of the New Creature (Christ Rose)
• The Putting on of the New Man (Christ Revived)

Ephesians 4:22–24 (KJV):

22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. By examining Ephesians 4:22–24, it becomes evident that this passage outlines the key steps in the bornagain experience. For this reason, it serves as the foundational Scripture for the entire course. Each of these three steps also forms the core theme of the lessons that follow.

A Charge. I believe that as we journey through this final course, we will come to understand and appreciate more deeply the extraordinary love of God—who crafted a plan of salvation capable of delivering us from the power of sin and death. The previous courses revealed the dire condition of fallen humanity, and the divine steps God took through Christ to redeem us. We saw that reconciliation with God was made possible by the death of His Son, but that salvation is made complete by the indwelling life of the Holy Spirit, who brings about a literal transformation of body, soul, and spirit.

Prepare to discover not only what God has done for us, but also what He has done in us—and who we have now become. Commit to applying spiritual truth, as a way of life, out of love for our Father .

OVERVIEW

This lesson addresses a concept that many believers have either failed to discern or have mistakenly interpreted as merely symbolic. However, Scripture reveals that, in order to save humanity, God had to incorporate literal death into the salvation experience. This death is referred to in the Bible as the “putting off of the old man.” It is only after this form of death that God raises the believer to new life, making it possible to be truly born again.

To deepen our understanding and bring clarity, this lesson will focus on why the death at salvation brings about a literal separation from the old nature. We will begin by defining the key terms found in the foundational Scripture and engage in various activities designed to help us fully grasp and achieve the objectives of this lesson.

OBJECTIVES

Use prior understanding of Jesus’ death and resurrection to meaningfully engage in real-life ministry contexts. Students should be able to connect the truths they know about Jesus’ death and resurrection to real situations in ministry, such as counseling, evangelism, or teaching.

Define the terms “old man,” “body of sin,” and “circumcision of Christ” using scriptural support. Students should be able to explain what each term means and provide at least one Bible verse for each term to support their definition. Explain the literal death that occurs at salvation according to Ephesians 4:22 and Romans 6:6. Students should be able to describe how salvation involves a real physical death where the old man (sinful body) is put off, using the specific verses given.

Distinguish between symbolic interpretations of “old man” and the actual sanctification of the body described in Scripture. Students should be able to tell the difference between seeing the “old man” as a metaphor and understanding it as the physical body.

During this lesson, you should be able to:

OBJECTIVES cont’d Describe the dual circumcision (of the flesh and heart) and its significance in the sanctification process. Students should be able to use biblical examples to show that at salvation, the body of sin is removed (circumcision of the flesh) and the heart is made new (circumcision of the heart), and say why this matters for living a holy life.

Use supporting Scriptures to confirm the operation of salvation through death based on the circumcision of Christ. Students should be able to find and explain verses (such as Colossians 2:11–12) that show how salvation includes a spiritual cutting away of the sinful body—called the circumcision of Christ.

PREPARATION ACTIVITYActivity

1.1 Using the Recap from the Word from the Apostle, what do you think is the similarity between the born again experience of Jesus and the born again experience of a believer? Use your response to complete the table below.

JESUS’ BORN AGAIN EXPERIENCE CHURCH’S BORN AGAIN EXPERIENCE

Christ Died: At His arrest, Christ’s body was burdened with sin. At His death, His soul was removed from His body and descended to the lower parts of the earth.

Christ Rose: The Creation of the New Creature:

Christ Revived: Jesus’ soul, now concealed within the Holy Spirit, returned to His body in the tomb, raising it to life.

THE OLD MAN - THE BODY OF SIN

In the Garden of Eden, God established that the penalty for sin is death. He emphasizes this in Ezekiel 18:4, stating, “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Thus, God cannot break His Word, even in His plan to save humanity.

Therefore, the first step of the born again experience, is that the believer literally dies. Consider the foundational scripture verse below.5

Ephesians 4:22

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

In this verse, the term “ye” simply means “you” and, in this context, refers to the souls of the individuals being addressed. Additionally, “put off” means to remove or cast off, much like taking off a piece of clothing. Interestingly, the word “conversation” here does not refer to a dialogue between people; rather, it means lifestyle, behavior, or conduct.

To define the term “old man,” it is helpful to reference another scripture verse.

Romans 6:6

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Notice that in this verse, the term “old man” is replaced with the term “body of sin.” This tells us that the “old man” refers to the body we are born with, or our bodies before salvation. This body is influenced by the spirit of iniquity and bound by the law of sin and death, hence it is called a body of sin.6 In fact, Romans 7:24 refers to this same body as a “body of death,” because death is the final product of sin.7

5 The entire foundational Scripture—Ephesians 4:22–24—was referenced in the Word from the Apostle.

6 Genesis 2:7 uses the word “man” to refer to the fact that the body was made from dust. Therefore, “man” is another term used in the Bible to signify the body.

7 Notice that Romans 7:25 begins with, “I thank God through Jesus Christ...” This response follows Paul’s previous question, “Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” emphasizing that deliverance from the body of sin and death comes through Jesus.

Whatever spirit is within the body supplies it with its nature, whether good or evil. Therefore, the term “body of sin” does not imply that the body itself is the source of sin, but rather indicates that the spirit of iniquity is within the body. It is significant that the old man is actually referring to the body of sin we were born with, because many often put a symbolic spin or spiritualize the Scripture above, stating that the old man refers to the lifestyle we lived before we received the Holy Ghost. However, on the contrary, the old man is referring to our body, defiled with sin, that caused the ungodly life we lived.8 Thus, if we were to paraphrase Ephesians 4:22, it would read:

“That your soul has removed or cast off the body you were born with, which was corrupted by the evil desires instilled by the enemy, leading to your sinful way of life.” 9 Thus, the Scripture above clearly states that at salvation, the body is cast off or removed from the soul. However, as covered in Course 1,10 We know that the body cannot continue to live without the soul within it.11 Therefore, the removal of the soul from the body at salvation is not a symbolic death but a literal physical death, performed by the Holy Ghost faster than a split second.12 How does this take place? It happens by a process called the Circumcision of Christ.

8 The term “old” means previous and is used here because the author is addressing those who have already put on the “new” man. Since there is now a “new” man, the “old” refers to the previous body before salvation.

9 The verse begins with “that” because it follows from verse 23, which speaks about the truth that is in Jesus. Therefore, the truth in Jesus is that we have put off the old man, along with everything that follows.

10 Course 1 is Introduction to Salvation.

11 James 2:26 - For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

12 Colossians 2:9-13 explains that the putting off of the old man, the creation of the new creature (being made complete in Christ), and the putting on of the new man (the quickening of the flesh) are all part of the operation of God (Colossians 2:12). Thus, this entire process is accomplished by the Holy Ghost at salvation. Examine Romans 6:3, Romans 6: 6-7, Galatians 5:24, Colossians 3:9 using The Bible Teacher App 1.2a

Use the symbolic ‘Death Certificate’ to document the death of the ‘old man’ at salvation, based on Part “a” above. Be sure to answer:

Who died?

What was crucified or destroyed What was separated? What new identity followed?”

1.2b

THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST

In Genesis 17:9-11, 13 God established circumcision as a practice in the covenant between Himself and Abraham. To circumcise means to remove the foreskin in the male. Since circumcision bound an individual to the only covenant God had with humanity at the time, anyone uncircumcised was considered unclean and was ostracized from God.14 Therefore, to be circumcised was to be made clean and to be joined to the holy covenant of God. It is important to note that this covenant between God and Abraham served as a type, shadow, or a symbol, of the circumcision of Christ, which would be accomplished at salvation.

Colossians 2:11

In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

Even as the foreskin was removed in Abraham’s circumcision, so is the body of sin removed from the soul in the circumcision of Christ. In doing so, this allows the sin that affected the body, soul, and spirit to be totally removed and eradicated.

In a general sense the circumcision of Christ refers to the removal of the soul from the flesh, however, it goes even further to include the removal of sin from both body and soul.

1. Circumcision of the Flesh: The removal of sin from the body.
2. Circumcision of the Heart: The removal of sin from the soul and spirit.

13 Genesis 17:9-11 - 9 And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. 11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.

14 Isaiah 52:1 - Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.

Use the guiding questions in the diagram below to compare circumcision under the Old Covenant (Genesis 17:9-11 & Jeremiah 9:25-26) with circumcision under the New Covenant (Colossians 2:11–12 & Romans. 2:28–29)

1.3 Circumcision - Old Covenant Guiding Questions Who is circumcised?

What is important about it?

What is circumcised?

What does it produce?

Is it internal or external?

Circumcision - New Covenant

Which is better, bearing a mark that says you belong to God or being empowered to live as He intends?

THE CIRCUMCISION OF THE FLESH THE CIRCUMCISION OF THE HEART

Colossians 2:11 indicates that circumcision is the putting off of the body of sins .

Romans 6:7

For he that is dead is freed from sin.

It is important to remember that the spirit of iniquity was never meant to reside in the human body. He was a foreign spirit that infiltrated God’s creation. Without the soul’s presence, he is unable to live in a human body. Therefore, by removing the soul from the flesh, Satan can no longer abide in the flesh. This explains why the putting off of the old man is such an essential step in the operation of salvation.

Hebrews 10:22

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.15 Through the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus and the water which is the Word of God, God sanctifies the body at salvation, making it holy and blameless.16 The circumcision of the flesh is a crucial step in the operation of salvation, as it addresses a common belief: that as long as the sons of God remain in human bodies, they will always sin. However, this is a misconception, as sin has been cut away from the flesh. As part of our sanctification, it was essential for God to remove and destroy the influence of the devil that operated within the flesh, enabling us to live holy before Him for the rest of our lives.

Hebrews 10:22 above reveals that even the conscience is purged from the influence of the devil; however, the soul must also be purified.

Romans 2:29

But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

As a result of the circumcision of Christ, the body, soul, and spirit have all been sanctified from the spirit of iniquity. The next step is the creation of the new creature, which we will examine in the following lesson.

15 1 Peter 3:21 indicates that outward baptism in water cannot cleanse the filth or sin within the flesh. Rather, this “washing of water” refers to the sanctification of the body accomplished by the Spirit of God. Ephesians 5:26 describes sanctification by the Word as a washing of water, while Titus 3:5 refers to the work of salvation as the “washing of regeneration.

16 1 Thessalonians 5:24 affirms that the body is indeed holy and blameless. It states: “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

17 Mark 3:27 - No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.

CONCLUSION

This lesson has established that the “old man” is not merely a metaphor for sinful behavior, but the actual physical body corrupted by the spirit of iniquity—the body of sin. At salvation, a divine operation occurs where the soul is removed from this body, causing a literal death that severs its ties to sin and Satan. As Mark 3:27 illustrates, Christ binds and evicts Satan - the strong man - to reclaim the body as His home.17 The circumcision of Christ ensures that both the soul and the body are cleansed by the Holy Spirit and made ready for God’s use.

Understanding this death as literal, rather than symbolic, challenges many traditional views, but anchors us in the truth of God’s power. He does not merely forgive sin! He destroys its dominion by removing the soul from its old sinful house. What a powerful beginning to the born-again experience: a complete disconnection from the influence of darkness through death and sanctification? Here are some key points from this lesson that you should remember:

• The Old Man Is the Body of Sin – Not just a lifestyle, but the physical body born in sin, influenced by the spirit of iniquity.
• Death at Salvation Is Literal – The soul is removed from the body, and both body and soul die in a moment, sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
• Circumcision of Christ – A spiritual operation where sin is cut away from both the flesh and the soul.
• The Body Without the Soul Is Dead – The old man is destroyed when the soul is separated from it.
• Sanctification Begins Here – The soul is freed from Satan’s influence in the body, preparing it for a new life in God.

The self-evaluation serves as a tool for you to examine how you have been applying that which is taught in the lesson to your own life and/or to further probe your knowledge of the lesson. Please answer honestly and thoroughly.

Reflect on the following statements and indicate your level of agreement or understanding

SELF-EVALUATION Statement Strongly Agree Agree Unsure Disagree

I understand that the “old man” refers to the original body of sin, not just a sinful lifestyle.

I can clearly explain the operation of death that takes place at salvation.

I have embraced the truth that the circumcision of Christ is a literal death caused by the separation and sanctification of the body and soul.

I have considered how this understanding affects my view of sin and deliverance.

I am walking in the reality that I have been separated from the body of sin through a divine operation.

Creative Integration: “The Death and Resurrection in Me” Project

1. Choose one of the following formats to creatively minister concepts and biblical truths from Lesson 1, showing how they apply to your life:

• Digital presentation (e.g., PowerPoint or video) illustrating the spiritual journey from “death to self” to “new life in Christ.”
• Spoken word or poem that connects Christ’s death and resurrection to your own transformation.
• Poster Display: Design a poster for a Bible study (5 –7 minutes) aimed at helping others understand how these truths can be applied.

2. Use the creative piece to reflect with others using the question: What stood out for you and why?

EXTENDED STUDY

NOTES

24 24

THE CREATION OF THE NEW CREATURE

OVERVIEW

Having been separated from the body of sin, the soul must now be made new. It is this change that Lesson 2 addresses as the second stage of salvation: the creation of the new creature. The focus is on how the soul is regenerated and placed in the Holy Ghost, forming a new spiritual being with a divine nature. We will explore what it means to be “in Christ” and how this union fulfills Jesus’ prayer for oneness with His people. Through the various activities, opportunities are provided for delving into truths about the renewing of the inner man, and the forming of a new identity, evidenced by a life empowered to live righteously and in fellowship with God.

OBJECTIVES

Explain the renewal of the soul, highlighting how it differs from mental or behavioral change. Students should be able to say why salvation is the renewing of the soul through the spiritual operation of God that changes its nature and not just its responses.

Illustrate how the soul is regenerated through the born-again experience to become a new creature in Christ. Students should be able to use Scripture such as 2 Corinthians 5:17 and an analogy to describe the spiritual change that makes the soul literally born again.

Examine scriptural evidence that believers are “in Christ” and what that means for their spiritual identity. Students should be able to locate and interpret scripture verses that explicitly state believers are “in Christ,” noting how this position defines the believer’s spiritual identity.

During this lesson, you should be able to: