Calvin on The Old Man.

When Paul speaks of the old man he means the things that we have received from Adam, all of which must be done away. He is not speaking of the physical body or of the essence of the soul but of the sinfulness in us. The blindness that makes us go astray, and the wicked lusts and passions which are utterly disobedient to God’s righteousness, must be beaten down because they have come from Adam.

How is this to be done? Not by our own power or effort but by our Lord Jesus Christ who, by dying for us to wipe away our sins so that they would no longer be charged to our account, has purchased for us this prerogative through the power of the Holy Spirit which enables us to forsake the world and ourselves. By this, our sinful desires shall not master us.

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Calvin draws our attention to very important truth in these words by teaching us that what we have received from fallen Adam is still very much with us.  Even as Christians, we have a level of blindness, and if this is true of us, what is the condition of the unsaved.  They are totally blind to things spiritual therefore go astray so easily. They allow their wicked lusts free rein in their lives and their unruly passions do despite to God’s righteousness. These must be put to death daily; we must reckon them ‘dead,’ and not allow them to rule our living.  But when they do raise their ugly heads, we must immediately confess to God, and seek His forgiveness.  There is forgiveness with God.  Come to Him in true repentance, pleading His gracious promises, and He will pardon you.  If He doesn’t, He has broken His Word – and God will never do that!