NEWNESS OF LIFE

"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin" (Rom 6:4-6)

Devotion 7 of 11

PUT OFF THE OLD, PUT ON THE NEW

Rather than reforming the old, we are admonished to put it off, and to put on the new. "Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have PUT OFF THE OLD MAN with his deeds" (Col 3:9). "That ye PUT OFF concerning the former conversation THE OLD MAN which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye PUT ON THE NEW MAN, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Eph 4:22-24). The fact that we are exhorted to "put off" the old, or unregenerate self, confirms what Paul confessed: "For I now that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing" (Rom 7:18). Our blessed Lord also declared this to be the case when He said, "the flesh profiteth nothing" (John 6:63). Let all who name the name of Christ acknowledge this to be the case.

Although God works in us "both to will and to do of His own good pleasure" (Phil 2:13), there remains a work for us to do. It is no small task, and will require all of our energy and commitment. Those who imagine they can be saved without doing anything must come away from such foolish thinking. The remnants of our old self remain like little foxes, seeking to regain dominance in our lives. There are also unspeakable benefits that belong to us, and can be obtained by faith. But we must "put off the old man" and "put on the new man" to realize these benefits.

In all due respect for those attempting to counsel hurting people, there is altogether too little of this type of advice in our time (i.e., "put off the old man," and "put on the new man."). Too much time is being expended trying to discover WHY people do unacceptable things. In my judgment, this is an unwise use of our resources. We already know why people do what is wrong; it is because nature has been so corrupted, that a new birth is required. People who sin are living in the flesh: it is just that simple. If they have never been born again, our unequivocal message is that they MUST be born again. If they have been reborn, but are living in the flesh, the word is, "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh" (Gal 5:16).

When professing believers live in the flesh, being dominated by the devil, the new nature has been pushed to the background, starved and neglected. The result is that the flesh has reawakened and taken the dominance. This condition makes people unacceptable to God. Unless they recover from the condition, rejection by God is sure. That is how corrupt nature is. No one will aggressively oppose and reject sinful inclinations until they are convinced of this truth.

PRAYER POINT: Father, I yearn for the strength only You can give in the good fight of faith. I want to effectively renounce and put off "the old man," and confidently put on "the new man." In the name of Christ, I ask for grace to accomplish these things.

-- TOMORROW: NEWNESS OF LIFE --