Note 1 at Col. 3:10: Verse 9 is not a complete sentence by itself nor is it an independent thought. Verses 10 and 11 are part of the same sentence. Therefore, putting on the new man is just as important as putting off the old man. You can't do one without the other.

Often the emphasis of preaching is on denying our flesh (see note 3 at Rom. 7:18, p. 790) which is described in verses 5 and 8. But we can't conquer our flesh in our own strength; we need the supernatural ability of God for that to be accomplished. That is what Paul was referring to when he spoke of putting on the new man.

This is speaking of letting the attributes of our born-again self begin to dominate our thoughts and actions. We don't have to conquer the old man before the new can be revealed (see note 8 at Gal. 5:16, p. 1082). But instead, we receive the new man while we are still dead in our trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1) as a gift of God's grace. Then as our new man begins to manifest himself, the effects of our old man are diminished (see note 8 at Rom. 6:6, p. 778).

Note 2 at Col. 3:10: There are many attributes of our new, born-again spirit (see note 9 at 2 Cor. 5:17, p. 1005; see note 16 at Eph. 4:24, p. 1123). Here Paul is singling out one amazing attribute, which is our spiritual mind.

Every Christian has two minds-our physical mind and the mind of our born-again (see note 2 at Jn. 3:3, p. 92) spirit. Any believer who has not subjugated his physical mind to the control of his spiritual mind is "double minded" and cannot receive from the Lord (Jas. 1:5-8). We should bring our physical mind into complete agreement with our spiritual mind so that they function as one, with the mind of the spirit in control. This is done through studying the Word of God and yielding to the revelation knowledge (see note 1 at Lk. 2:26, p. 56) of the Holy Spirit.

The mind of our born-again spirit is just like that of Christ because it is the Spirit of Christ which enters us at salvation (see note 23 at Rom. 8:10, p. 796). First Corinthians 2:16 says, "...we have the mind of Christ." That is a reality in our born-again spirit (see note 6 at 1 Cor. 2:16, p. 870). The perfect knowledge of Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (see note 18 at Col. 2:3, p. 1196), is present in our spirit and can be drawn out and utilized by our physical minds (see note 5 at 1 Cor. 14:2, p. 943).