The Bible begins with creation and has man at the center of creation. When man ate from the tree of knowledge, sin and death entered. The creation became the old creation and man became the old man. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ a new creation was brought forth and a new corporate man was created.
On one hand, by believing and being baptized we have put off the old man and put on the new man. On the other hand, we need to exercise daily not to live anything of the old man but to live the new man. This is like
traveling to a foreign nation; our position has changed but we still might live the culture of the old nation.
Therefore Colossians 3:9 says “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his practices.” Positionally we “have put off” but we still need to exercise not to lie. Verse 10 then says, “and have put on the new man, which is being renewed unto full knowledge.”
Positionally we “have put on,” yet this new man still needs to penetrate much of our inner being. Thus there is the renewing, mainly in our mind (compare Eph. 4:23) as indicated by “unto full knowledge.” The outcome of the renewing is that the new man, composed of millions of believers is “according to the image of Him who created him.”
The goal of this renewing is New Jerusalem with the glorious image of God in Christ.
Photo courtesy of NASA.
New Jerusalem - the Consummation 