The term “the new man” is often used by Christians as if it were synonymous with the new nature in the believer. This is a widespread misunderstanding among Christians. People will say, "The new man in us needs to feed on Christ." Or, "Our new man needs an Object—Christ." These statements are confusing the new man with the new life and nature in the believer, which definitely does have desires and appetites, and needs an Object. As mentioned, the new man is an abstract term—not a living thing in the believer—denoting the new moral order of perfection in the new creation race. This point was touched on in a periodical years ago: "Is the new man what we are by new birth? No. It is an abstract term standing here in contrast to both Jew and Gentile; it is a completely new order of man taking its character from Christ" (Precious Things, vol. 4, p. 302).
The “new man” first came into view “in Jesus” (Eph. 4:2121If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: (Ephesians 4:21)). That is, men first saw this moral perfection when the Lord walked here in this world as a Man. (“Jesus” is His name as a Man.) Every moral feature of the new man was seen in perfection in Him. As the old man is not Adam personally, so also the new man is not Christ personally. G. Davison said, "The new man is not Christ personally, but it is Christ characteristically" (Precious Things, vol. 3, p. 260).
The emphasis of Paul’s exhortation in the latter verses of Ephesians 4 is that we should put into practice what is true in fact. Since we are Christians, we have put off the “old man” and have put on the “new man”—it is a thing that has been done (Eph. 4:2424And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (Ephesians 4:24); Col. 3:1010And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: (Colossians 3:10) – J. N. Darby Trans.). Therefore, we are exhorted to be done with that old corrupt lifestyle that marks the old man and live after what characterizes the new man. Paul mentions a number of moral transitions that should naturally result in the life of the believer as he walks in “righteousness and true holiness.” They are:
• Honesty instead of falsehood (vs. 25).
• Unabating righteous anger against evil instead of indifference to it (vss. 26-27).
• Giving to others rather than stealing from them (vs. 28).
• Speaking with grace to others rather than using corrupt communication (vs. 29).
• Kindness rather than bitterness (vss. 31-32).
• Tenderheartedness [compassion] rather than the heat of passion (vss. 31-32).
• Showing grace to others rather than being wrathful, clamorous, injurious, and malicious (vss. 31-32).
In Colossians 3, Paul mentions ten moral characteristics of the “new man” that should be seen in the saints as they exhibit the truth of “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:2727To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: (Colossians 1:27)):
• Compassion (vs. 12).
• Kindness (vs. 12).
• Lowliness (vs. 12).
• Meekness (vs. 12).
• Longsuffering (vs. 12).
• Forbearance (vs. 13).
• Forgiveness (vs. 13).
• Love (vs. 14).
• Peace (vs. 15).
• Thankfulness (vs. 15).
Since the new man is patterned after “the image of Him who created him,” we being part of the new creation race which has put on the new (Eph. 4:2424And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (Ephesians 4:24); Col. 3:1010And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: (Colossians 3:10)), are fully able to represent God in this world. The moral features of the new man will be seen in us as we “walk in the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22-2522But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22‑25)).