The New ManThree key passages on the New ManOur two most recent blogs have been on the subjects of Regeneration, and the Baptism by the Spirit. Some of the key Bible passages on these two subjects also referred to the subject we are going to consider now. That subject is the New Man. When we were born again and placed into Christ, we were made a new creation. We were born again as a new kind of human species so to speak. A new kind of humanity. The new man. 2Co 5:17 So this week we are going to learn about this New Man. How did he come into being? What are his characteristics and make up? What is his life like now? What is in store for him in the future? What is his destiny? There are three key passages that speak directly about the New Man. They appear in the epistles to the Colossians and to the Ephesians. This is significant and I’ll tell you why. Colossians is the pre-eminent book about the Head, our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians is the pre-eminent Bible book about the Body of Christ, the church. The one , “corporate” New Man is made up of the Head and the Body. So let’s begin. And we will begin with the book of Colossians. Here we will see that what is emphasized about the new man is the Head, our Lord Jesus Christ. Col 3:1-12 5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new man who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him — 11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. Here we are to put aside the attitudes and behaviors of the old man BECAUSE we have died, and our life is hidden with our Head, Christ. The second passage that speaks directly of the new man is in the second chapter of Ephesians: Eph 2:11-16 Here the emphasis is on the corporate, singular new man – the Body of Christ. In the body of Christ, there is no Jew or Gentile. The Old Man, the human race in Adam, was divided in all sorts of ways: Race, Language. Gender, Social status,Nationality, Religion Just to name a few. The New Man is one new man. No distinctions based on any of these things. Unity. 1Co 12:12-13 Here is the third passage that speaks of the new man directly. It too is in the book of Ephesians. Eph 4:11-24 17 So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; 19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 You were taught, with reference to your former manner of life, to lay aside the old man, who is corrupted in accordance with the deceitful desires, 23 to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and to put on the new man, who has been created in God’s image – in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth. This passage in Ephesians chapter 4 starts with the corporate aspect of the new man – the one whole body, and then moves to the individual members of the body. This is fitting, because chapters 4-6 of Ephesians deal with practical Christianity: how are we to live in light of the fact that we are the fullness of Christ in this world ( see Eph 1:22-23). We can learn so much about the New Man by spending time in the books of Ephesians and Colossians..
Just the factsAnd there is a lot to learn! Here are fourteen facts about the new man:
Php 3:20-21
A day in the life of a new manAnd now it’s time to see what a typical day in the life of the new man is like. “The whole art of Christian living is to know how to talk to yourself”. (Lloyd-Jones) In the morning, when you wake up and take the sheets off your body, remind yourself that you are no longer the old man. You have been created brand new! Remind yourself of what a horrible character the old man was. Then remind yourself about the wonderful character of the new man – righteous, holy, loving, faithful and true. This is part of the renewing of the spirit of your mind. The devil will speak to you the moment you wake up. Sometimes even before that! And he will say a thousand and one things – influencing your feelings, suggesting his thoughts, insinuations, accusations - lies! He tries to totally depress us before we even get out of bed! Resist him! Talk to yourself! “No! I am NOT going to live my day like that!” I am the new man. I am not the old man. I do not belong to the world. I belong to God. To Christ. My old man has been crucified with Christ. I am born again. I am a partaker of a new kind of humanity that is directly from God. (see 1Pe 1:13-16) I have been taken out of the kingdom of darkness and have been placed in the kingdom of God’s beloved Son. How can my conduct and behavior today be that of the old realm, when I am a member of this new realm? Therefore, I am not going to make any provision for my flesh today. This means there are places I won’t go, things I will not look at, web pages I will not visit. And I will stay away from certain people who always have a corrupting influence on me. So once again, today, consider yourself to be dead to sin but alive to God in Christ. It is because you ARE a new man in Christ that you are to put on the new man. Get out of bed, stand up, and present yourself to God as alive from the dead. (see Rom 6:12-14) During the day, do the things that remind you of the new man, things that help to build up the new man. That includes reading the Bible, prayer, and spending time with like-minded folks. Php 4:8-9 Putting on the new man is reminding yourself of who you are. You are born again. You are a child of God. You are a member of the body of Christ. You are in union with Christ. The life of our blessed Head – Christ’s very life – is flowing through you. Christ is in you. The Spirit is in you. You are being renewed, day by day, by the Spirit, and by the truth of God’s word. Finally, keep reminding yourself about your destiny: where you are GOING. One day soon Christ will return and your mortal body will take on immortality. You are headed for glory. Stop being what you aren’t any more. You are no longer part of the old that is decaying and corrupt. You are the new. Now go be who God has made you to be.
Until the next time, we’re all …. In His grip, Pastor John If you found this helpful, please pass it on! Post it on Facebook, or tweet about it!
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