PUT ON THE NEW MAN

2 Cor 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Eph 4:24
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

… And that ye put on the new man,

This new man, spoken of in these two passages of scripture, is the part of us that is in complete union and communion with Almighty God. It is our regenerated spirit man, the one third of us that was and is created in righteousness and true holiness. In other words, it is this part of us that became born again, and the only part of our triune man which was completely changed – made new in Christ. This is the new man we’re told to put on – the spirit man, not the soul or the flesh /carnal man, which weren’t changed when salvation took place.

But how do we put it on this new man? Here’s your answer.

These five things are a start…
1) Through an attitude of right thinking – desiring truth above all else.
2) Through our thoughts and ponderings of God’s great love to the heirs of salvation, in light of his word - scripture.
3) Through revelations and insights gained by personally reading God’s word on a regular basis, reinforcing our commitment to serve him only.
4) Through understandings, gained by the aid and counsel of the Holy Spirit.
5) By establishing a truly unique and righteous relationship with God, untainted by denominational religion.

John 3:3
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Vs 5
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

2 Cor 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Note: It is important for you to reread these passages of scriptures (and all scripture for that matter) slowly and repeatedly, so you’ll get the full meat of what God intends for you to have.

Take this portion of 2 Cor 5:17 “Old things are passed away and all things are become new”.

What else is it telling us? It’s revealing that something dramatic and marvelous happened at the moment we accepted Christ as Lord and Savior. It also identifies the true nature of man as a triune creation—body, soul and spirit; that one of these parts, the spirit, was forever changed and sealed by the Holy Spirit in its new condition.

Gaining insight into the mysteries of God…
So, according to these verses alone, we’re presented with a reality that is seldom, if ever taught in churches. The third part of our triune being is the only part that has been changed and now resembles that of Christ – created in true righteousness and holiness.

If we want a stark reality check, all we need to do is gaze into the mirror the morning after our born-again experience. Though we stare at ourselves intently, we’ll see, at least from the physical standpoint that absolutely nothing changed. It’s the same ole us staring back. Harder yet is to see our soul’s condition. It hadn’t changed either. While the soul is the seat [source] of our thoughts and emotions, it remains untouched for the moment. It’s what we often call the carnal man. Both of these parts remain active and alive just as they were the day before.

So what changed? Our spirit man changed. It became a brand new creation, in the image and likeness of Jesus Christ; as perfect, righteous, and holy as he is. It’s our spirit that was resurrected from of the ashes of the fallen nature, and now reigns with Christ.

You should praise God for this wonderful event. Thank goodness, our old nature passed away with that glorious born-again event. We were freed from the bondage of sin, which separated us from the Godhead.

Here are some of the things associated with that old nature [man].
1) The sin nature ceased to exist.
2) The nature of wrath passed away.
3) The nature that identified us as servants of the devil passed away.

When we became children of God through the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, all those things passed away [died].

Now turn with me to…
Eph 4:17-24
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

We see from this scripture that there is a separation from the abundance that Christ said that he came to give us. Sin hinders us from receiving good things from God because we don’t understand that they’re rightfully ours as heirs of salvation. Now, having been enlightened, by the renewing of our mind, we’re not to revert once again to the ways of the Gentiles.

John 10:10
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Christ came to give us abundant life. But few experience this abundance because their understanding has being darkened.

We should come to the realization that it is not God who is alienating himself from us. Rather, we’re the ones alienating ourselves from God because we don’t understand what has been done for us.

Eph 4:18
Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

It’s through ignorance and the blindness of our heart [soul] that brings alienation from God and then not knowing or understanding the great things he desires for you and I to possess as heirs of the Kingdom.

This is such a powerful truth for you to know.

This is the reason I emphasize the importance of knowing scripture for yourselves, which bring these truths to light, with the aid of the Holy Spirit. It is this very knowledge that literally transformed my life. My life today is a full 180 degrees different from where I was over fifteen years ago. My understanding is no longer darkened since I found the source of all light [his word. I fully know who I am in Christ and have such an intimacy with the Godhead that I never thought it possible.

This same life has been extended to each of you, as it was to me. I am special because God says I am, and I believe it completely. This intimacy is a place of high honor and privilege for all who enter in. It gives you a boldness to enter into the very throne room of Almighty God – my father and yours, without intimidation. What a place! What a place!

So, we alienate ourselves from the abundance that God has for us…
1) By our darkened thinking / understanding.
2) By our own ignorance of God’s word.
3) By our blindness to the truths revealed.

Remember this always. God is always abounding towards you in all things. We retreat from him.

When I became born again I received a brand new spirit that is identical to his spirit, but my darkened understanding prevented me from receiving the best that God had to offer. Thus, ignorance of his word alienated me from him, because of the blindness of religion. These falsehoods kept me from embracing what I needed so desperately in my life. It was those things that kept me from experiencing abundant life and the victory in Christ, as scripture promised.

Verse 19
Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
But ye have not so learned Christ;
If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
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.

Listen to the command of God - …put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

This scripture relates specifically to your new man [nature] - your spirit. Scriptures tells you the condition of this new creation; that it is created in righteousness and true holiness.

The new you, created by Almighty God when you chose to become born again, is righteous and holy.

Honest questions we should ask ourselves…
1) How many years did I strive to do things so that I might become righteous?
2) How many years did I do religious things so that I might become holy?

Are you one of those people who find themselves immersed in religious things that they hope will make them righteous and holy?
The churches are filled with such people, hoping against hope that they’re pleasing God through their actions, performance, and good works. Religion has deceived multitudes throughout history.

Quote – Living a Christian life is difficult. No, living a Christian life is impossible.

Apart from Christ, it is an insurmountable task. Religion says you can achieve it through these things, but it is a lie perpetrated by the Devil himself. It cannot be done - not in this body – not in this soul – not in this lifetime.

You’ll never attain perfection you desire in your body or soul. You’ll never stop dealing with the negative emotions that torment your body and soul. You will continue to fall short in these two areas.

Coming to the place of perfection and holiness in this body and soul is just a religious illusion. The perfection of these two areas of your life can only be achieved once you receive your glorified body. Since that is the case, then we need to walk daily in our regenerated spirit, according to the scriptures. Walking in the spirit, we ultimately become more and more like Christ.

Gal 5:25
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit .

One of the ways of walking in this new regenerated spirit is by pressing toward the mark of high calling in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Phil 3:14-17
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

We’ll always be insufficient in our earthly body, until the day we receive our new body. In our soul, we’re continually changed through the renewing of our minds, though in our regenerated spirit we’re completely righteous and holy since we have been created righteous and holy by Almighty God.

Created----is not something we grow into, or attain to by human effort. We were created righteous and holy because of the new birth [born-again experience]. The work is finished in our spirit.

Now, because of this transformation, we’ve been made just as righteous and holy as Jesus.

The word of God is vividly plain. The reason that we don’t grasp this awesome truth is because of our darkened understanding and
blindness of our heart [our ignorance].

One more time… No, our body isn’t as righteous or holy, and our soul isn’t as righteous and holy as Jesus, but our spirit is.

Now read it for yourself…
Rom 8:10
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Eph 4:24
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Created in righteousness and in true holiness

You need to understand this…
If there’s a true righteousness and holiness that comes from Christ, in the form of our new birth, created in our spirit, then there is also a fleshly righteousness and false holiness that can manifest itself in your flesh. This false righteousness and holiness are expressed through human actions or achievements, which are strongly encouraged by religion and religious teachings.

False righteousness or holiness is always a human comparison to the condition of other people. It always expressed by comparing oneself against someone who you perceive to be worse than you.

Scriptural example:
Luke 18:10-13 KJV
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

Your false righteousness means nothing and is of no value to God.
Why? Because scripture says, that according to the standards of God we’ve all fallen [come] short.

Rom 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

According to the word of God, neither our body nor soul measures up to his standards. That includes everyone.

If none of us measures up to the standards of God in our flesh or soul, doesn’t it stand to reason that anything we do in either of these areas is a total waste of effort?

Nothing brings us into right standing with God apart from our spirit which is made perfect through Christ’s atonement. If God were to accept your human efforts, then he would have to do so apart from the sacrifice of his son Jesus.

Ask yourself this…
How many times have I done human things and felt sure that it pleased God?

We all have at one time or another, but it is not actions that please God. Only faith pleases God.

Heb 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

What are actions?...
Actions are nothing more than the by product of a person who does not walk in faith.

Faith alone pleases God. You can never have a relationship with God through the law or on the basis of performance, only faith. It’s impossible to do and yet religion says it is possible. In fact it is the tradition of the church to garner God’s good graces because of efforts on their part. These people are deceived. The word of God stands against them at every turn.

There’s absolutely no way that you’ll ever come into the abundance of life, or have Godly peace and joy in your lives through your works.

Scripture already told you that you’ve fallen short, and you will always be short in this body and soul. This is how Satan has been so successful in bringing about defeat in the life of the child of God. He keeps their understanding darkened concerning scriptural truths.

When a child of God begins to trust in their own abilities and actions, condemnation soon follows because of the inevitable failure associated with not doing enough or the right things they think will please or appease him. The reason that condemnation stays with you and hinders you is because you don’t believe that God is able to do what he says he’ll do. Rather, you believe that though he is able to do it, he won’t do it through you because you’re too unworthy.

That’s the reason that multitudes of people travel hundreds of miles to be in a meeting with a televangelist. They’ll drag sick people great distances to try and get them healed; all because they think God won’t use them.

Let’s make one thing perfectly clear…
You don’t deserve it in your body and soul, but in your spirit you do deserve it. Why?

Here it is…
Gal 4:5-7
To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Gal 3:26-29
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

This is a blessing for you…
Phil 2:6
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Look at the preceding verse, and then let the next verse embolden you.

Phil 2:5
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Remember, it’s not something to be earned. It is a gift to you as a child of God.

So dear friends, I say… “PUT ON THE NEW MAN”