Old Man, New Man
The One who made all things also made you and me and can make us anew
GodSpeak is rooted in the Scripture found in 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." This platform shows how God speaks into our lives through His word, His church, and His people. Godspeak is a place to share and show the difference Christ makes in Christians' lives to bring light and hope into a dark world. The Bible is different from any other book because it is the only book that will read you. The book of Hebrews states, "the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of the soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:12-13. What other books can say that? Nothing can pick apart the mind, heart, and soul quite like the word of God. The One who made all things also made you and me and can make us anew.
The Flesh and the Spirit
“For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.”
Every follower of Jesus has an "old man" and a "new man." The old man is the Christian before he knew Jesus, and the new man is the Christian after he knows Jesus. Both the old man and the new man have a master. Paul writes more about the master of the old man and new man in the book of Galatians: "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law." Galatians 5:16-18.
There is a war waging within us all—the flesh masters the old man, which is the default, sinful man's nature. The Spirit masters the new man, the third person of the Holy Trinity, who God gives us when we believe in Jesus, according to John 14:26. Even people that do not know Jesus can relate to Paul at the end of this verse, "for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do." At the beginning of every year, most people create new year's resolutions because we do not do what we want. We need to have a time to recalibrate ourselves to do the things we want to do rather than the things we end up doing. In Romans 7, Paul expounds on the war within in this way: "For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me." Romans 7:15-20.
Old Man: Born in the Flesh
“...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Everyone is born in this flesh, in sin, doing that which we do not want. Paul explains in Romans, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23. Paul goes on to further describe the old man in the book of Galatians. "Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5:19-21. The old man, mastered by the flesh, lives in opposition to God and His Word and lives in opposition to his fellow man. Evil and sin mark the old man, and this leads to death and destruction. Any casual observer of news, social media, internet, and television can see that these are the default characteristics of human nature. The sin of flesh marks human behavior. It is self-evident and apparent, no one needs to be told this, but all can see it as plainly as the green grass below and blue sky above. Sinful flesh masters human nature, but that's not the end of the story for followers of Jesus.
New Man: Born Again in New Life in the Spirit
“And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.”
Paul explains earlier in Galatians the transition from the old man to the new man: "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20. Jesus clarifies in John 3 that Christians must be born again in the Spirit. "...Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God...Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.'" John 3:3, 5-6. The old man must die. There must be a death of former ways of thinking, speaking, and behaving that mark the old man living in the sinful flesh. Sometimes, God uses circumstances to cause the old man's death that are acute and severe, through difficult life situations like losing a job, losing a loved one, or having some idol ripped away. Other times God uses other ways or circumstances that cause the old man to slowly die due to a series of events over the years. Whatever it looks like, it must happen for Jesus followers. “And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?’” Luke 9:23-25. If someone claims to know, love, and follow Christ but he has the same lifestyle, identity, and sin patterns before he knew Christ, it is possible that this person has knowledge of the gospel but has never actually given himself over to Jesus and fully trusted in Him as his Lord and savior.
The good news is the death of the old man results in the death of the flesh and the works of the flesh associated with him. The death of the old man leads to the birth of the new man. The Spirit, God's Holy Spirit, masters the new man. When we repent and turn from our sin and rebel against our flesh while we swear allegiance, obedience, and submission to God instead of ourselves, God gives us His Holy Spirit (John 14:26). God works in us through His word (the Bible), His Spirit, and the church to make us that new creation mentioned in 2 Corinthians 5:17. As we swear allegiance to God, we shed the flesh and put on the Spirit, disavow sin, and put on faith, hope, and love. I think Paul says it best in Ephesians 4: "put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:22-24. The new man is markedly different from the old man and the works of the flesh. Paul describes the new man, led by the Spirit, in this way: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." Galatians 5:22-24. The new man lives a life marked by these fruits. God gives us a new heart and new desires with it. “And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 11:19.
From Darkness to Light
“Whatever sin may be defining and mastering you, you can have a new Master: Jesus.”
Perhaps there is some evil or darkness that marks your life. Maybe, like Paul noted, you continue to do things, some sin pattern, that you do not want to. Perhaps you are trapped in pornography, or maybe you are addicted to some drug or alcohol. You may have few friends and broken relationships with your family. You may possibly be struggling with some depression or anxiety, or life hasn’t turned out the way you had hoped. Some eating disorder may have its grip on you. Are you looking for some relationship to complete you that will never be able to deliver on that anticipated promise? Maybe you are abusing a friend or loved one because you can not control your anger. Or you may even be on the receiving end of some emotional, mental, or physical abuse (*see note below). Whatever sin may be defining and mastering you, you can have a new Master: Jesus. The love, grace, mercy, and power of God are stronger than any sin or darkness that may be overcoming you. "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30. No matter what you have done or what someone has done to you, there is always hope. Take your sin and pain to the cross of Christ, and let God heal your hurts. “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36. There is freedom at the cross of Jesus Christ.
*For anyone who is dealing with abuse, find help. Tell a trusted member of your church. Tell a trusted family member or friend who may be able to help. Also consider contacting your local authorities for additional help. Consider contacting an abuse hotline, such as this: https://www.thehotline.org
Scripture:
2 Corinthians 5:17
Hebrews 4:12-13
Galatians 5:16-18
John 14:26
Romans 7:15-20
Romans 3:23
Galatians 5:19-21
Galatians 2:20
John 3:3,5-6
Luke 9:23-25
Ephesians 4:22-24
Galatians 5:22-24
Ezekiel 11:19
Matthew 11:28-30
John 8:36
Music has always been a big part of my life. Worship is a primary way to maintain focus on God and hear the realities of Scripture in another way. Enjoy this tune by Austin French titled “Wake Up Sleeper”.