14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
What is the significance of this verse? Is Paul simply saying that we should adopt a Christ like behavior?
When you are a fan of your favorite football team, say, Barcelona FC and go crazy with its successes and failures, you are, as it were, "dressed in your team", you "put on" so to say your infatuation with the play of your team and even can tatoo on your chest: "I am Barcelona FC".
Same holds here: if you invite the Lord Jesus Christ in your heart and life and He starts working in you, like He worked in Paul, then this working of the Lord in you and your co-working with His working becomes your life, to the effect that just like Paul, you also can be able to say, "not any more I, but Christ lives in me" (Gal 2:20). Moreover, if you will not be able to say this, that is to say, if your Christianity is just a nominal thing and you do not really co-work with Lord's working in you and make the grace of holy Baptism wither in your heart, then such a Christianity will not only not lead to salvation, but will lead to a most despicable damnation, for even in damnation there are gradations - as Dante well intuited in his theological visions in "Divina Commedia" - and pharisees and hypocrites will be "beaten more" than various Hitlers and Al Capones (cf. Luke 12:47), and unlike them their beating will contain also an element of a specific pussillanimous shame.
However, a good Christian, a co-worker of Christ's working in his heart and life can be said to "wear Christ", just like a Barcelona FC aficionado can be said to "wear Barcelona FC", with an important difference that Barcelona FC will eventually betray expectations of all fans, for football is a transient thing, while a wearer of Christ will continue to wear Him and rule together with Him, the Heavenly King, in His Kingdom forever and ever.
The illustration the people who received Paul's letter would see is to put on Christ like putting on clothing. That is after taking off:
The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. (Romans 13:12, ESV2016)
Figure 1. Senses of ἐνδύω as used in the New Testament (generated by Logos Bible Software.
Paul had the most thorough explanation in Ephesians 6:10-20.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. (Eph. 6:10–20, ESV2016)
He means to live according to the fruits of the holy spirit rather than the lusts of the flesh.
Galatians 5:16-26
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
1 John 2:16-17 (KJV)
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
