Ephesians 4:24

and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

(v24, NIV)

What's interesting about what we wear is that it is visible to others. Those around you who see you can see what you're wearing. They may notice the colour of your shirt, or maybe the type of shoes you're wearing. They may notice what your shirt says or whether your pockets are full or not. In the same way, people should be able to see that you have put on the new self. We are wearing our new self, so it should be apparent to others that we are wearing it. If they don't notice, maybe we aren't in fact wearing it. Now, this doesn't mean that we wear it simply for others to see. We are created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness, not to look good in front of others. It doesn't matter what others think about it. However, if people don't notice that we have put off the old self and put on the new self, I question whether we actually have put on the new self.

I've also heard that we can evangelize to others by living out the gospel. By this I understand it to mean that by our following of Christ Jesus, others will see a difference in us and simply come to us and ask us about what's so different about it. When they do this, it gives us an opportunity to tell them about Jesus. I'm not saying that this is wrong, but I feel as if we often forget to tell others about Jesus. In fact, we may rely on this so much to the point that we don't in fact end up telling others about Jesus. Because, by this method, it may never actually happen that they come to ask us about what makes us so different from others. Then, there would be no opportunity to tell them about Jesus. Regardless, putting on a new self should be apparent to others in the same way that clothes are noticeable by others. This may create an opportunity to share the gospel with others, but we must remember to actually tell them instead of always sitting and waiting.