Friday, May 3, 2013

Strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth: The Old Man and the New Man

"These all died in faith...and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." (Hebrews 11:13)
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver

Believers are misfits in the world. They walk contrary to the ways of men and are citizens of a kingdom that is "not of this world" (Jn 18:36). Furthermore, those in Christ actually experience fierce conflict within themselves. The part of them that is from the earth is at war with the part of them that has been born from above. One way this is described in the Scripture is by the flesh and the Spirit being contrary to one another (Gal 5:17). Another way this is described is by the contrary nature of "the old man" and "the new man." In Christ, men have, within their own constitution, an old man who is opposed to the ways of God and a new man who is in complete accord with the ways of God. It is the new man that is the stranger and the pilgrim here.

Illustrated. The Lord said to Rebekah, who was pregnant with Jacob and Esau, "Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels, and one people shall be stronger than the other people, and the elder shall serve the younger" (Gen 25:23). The old man is like the elder son of Rebekah. Though he was there first he is destined to serve the younger. The new man is like the younger son of Rebekah. He is born later but is stronger than the elder, old man. The fact that the "two manner of people shall be separated" from birth identifies the conflict resident within the old man and the new man. They do not get along. They are contrary one to another. Though this illustration is not perfect but it does show the experience of those who have been born again. They have two manner of people within them that are opposed to one another from birth - specifically, the new birth.

The Manner of the Old Man. Since the day we were baptized into Christ Jesus onward, "our old man is crucified with [Christ]" in order that the body of sin might be done away with (Rom 6:6). But, like the impenitent thief on the cross, this crucified old man is still alive. Though greatly hindered and weaker, he still speaks blasphemies and hurls insults. He is in conflict with the new man. Likewise, even though we "have put off the old man with his deeds" (Col 3:9) the battle is not over. In a sense, we have to keep him on the cross and continually put him off. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul exhorts the brethren, “put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts” (Eph 4:22). His corrupt “conversation” or manner of life incites the wrath of God as it is contrary to godliness. He must be put to death.
"Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry; for which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience; in which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth." (Colossians 3:5-8)
Warfare is not always wrong. The new man must be exhorted to "mortify" or "kill" (ABPE) or "put to death" (NIV) the old man and his ways. This is the task of a warrior, even one who has put on the full armor of God. This is a real "holy war" that the sons of God are engaged in. The old man "is crucified" and we must spend the rest of our lives finishing the job, so to speak.

The Manner of the New Man. Putting off the old man is not enough. Believers cannot just leave their house "empty, swept and garnished" (Mt 12:44). The “new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” must be “put on” (Eph 4:24). This new man "is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him" (Col 3:10). This is the part of the believer that is "born of God" and "doth not commit sin, because he is born of God" (1 Jn 3:9). This is the part of the believer that loves and knows God (1 Jn 4:7) and believes that Jesus is the Christ (1 Jn 5:1) and overcomes the world (1 Jn 5:4). He must be put on, accentuated, fed, and given prominence.

Conclusion. The new man is altogether good and does not sin. The old man is altogether bad and only sins. Both of them are housed in the vile bodies that we now possess and both are seeking to gain prominence in our lives. The old man must be put off and the new man must be put on. This is often an every day, even moment by moment occurrence, but the Lord has given us grace to fight a good fight and "war a good warfare" (1 Tim 1:18).

Someone well said, "two natures (manner of people) beat within my breast. One is cursed, the other blessed. The one I love, the one I hate. The one I feed with dominate." Put on the new man and feed him!

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth: Flesh and Spirit

"These all died in faith...and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." (Hebrews 11:13)
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver

When a person is "born again" (Jn 3) or "created in Christ Jesus" (Eph 2:10) or "translated...into the kingdom of [God's] dear Son" (Col 1:13) he is immediately placed into a conflict. This is a common warfare that every child of God experiences. The specific "battles" fought in this war are varied yet common. Every believer experiences the conflict between flesh and spirit; the old man and the new man; the citizens of heaven and the citizens of the earth.
Flesh and Spirit. Jesus clarified the matter to Nicodemus saying, "that which is born of flesh, is flesh; and that which is born of Spirit, is spirit" (Jn 3:6) showing the need of being "born again" (Jn 3:7). Flesh, along with blood, cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven. The flesh profits nothing. In the flesh dwelleth no good thing. So, having been born of the Spirit, those still dwelling in the flesh by necessity find that they actually have to overcome their own flesh in order to inherit the kingdom of heaven. Thus, there is an inherent conflict between the flesh and the spirit even resident within every believer. "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary one to another, so that ye cannot do the things that ye would" (Gal 5:17). That is, the inner desire of the part of man that is alive to God and born of the Spirit is faced with the opposition of the flesh that wants to resist the will of God. The Spirit is not free to work without opposition. To be sure, the believer can and must overcome but not without a fight.

This inner conflict is described by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans. He noted that "the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin" (7:14). This bondage that he is speaking of is the conflict experienced by all believers who "would do good" (7:21). There is a competing influence within redeemed man's constitution called the flesh, and though it is crucified it is still a fierce foe that must be overcome by the Spirit. The flesh is governed by "the law of sin," which is a principle that tends to act contrary to the law of God.
"I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man; but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members." (Romans 7:21-23)
The dreadful condition is burdensome to redeemed man and he longs to be delivered from it...and he will! For this law of sin and this "flesh" is all tied to this earthly body that we currently inhabit. When this body is gone, the conflict will be ended. Thus the apostle cries out, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" (7:24). Christ Jesus the Lord has delivered Paul and shall deliver us also. For if "now" there is no condemnation for those that in Christ Jesus than especially then, there shall be no condemnation. The conflict between the flesh and Spirit will end in the new heavens and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness...and only righteousness. We will be made suitable for dwelling there. For we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, our vile bodies shall be changed liked unto His glorious body. And, as the song writer said it, "this robe of flesh [we'll] drop and rise, to seize the everlasting prize."