Lesson 62 September 10, 2003
The Old Man and the New Man Some Observations.
1. Both of these terms are used to designate the whole person in terms of a relationship.
2. These terms designate first a change in one's position:
Old Man = refers to all that we were in Adam, as an unregenerate unbeliever.
New Man = refers to all that we are now in Christ.
3. In examining both of these terms we must recognize that there are 2 ways of viewing them that is old man/new man:
(must examine the context to discover which is in view)
a. positionally that is legally or forensically
b. experientially or as lived out in one's life.
4. Old man when used of our pre-salvation position (Rom. 6:6); it characterizes this time as living under the tyranny of sin and death.
a. Old Man as used here and in Col 3:9-10 is not just referring to the OSN; not an equivalency; but the OSN is a major player in the Old Man!
b. Scripture draws a distinction between the Old Man and the sin nature.
Paul also refers here to the sin nature as "the body of the sin" (sin possessed body) which emphasizes the place of residency of the sin nature, this disposition to sin it resides in the flesh.
Another reason for this distinction between the Old man and the sin nature is seen in vs:7 where the person who has died, who was crucified with Christ is freed from the sin nature.
c. Our sin nature has been dealt with positionally in that now it no longer has to rule, we no longer have to be slaves to it as before salvation.
5. The term New Man refers to our new life as new creations in Christ; our new position!
- Col 3:9-10 looks at the new man from the impact of our new positional, or what should flow from this new man.
- Our context in Eph 4:22-24 looks at the new man from the standpoint of the spiritual growth and maturity of the individual in Christ, reflecting the character of Christ.
6. Know that we are given all the assets needed to make this new man, this new creation that you are to become all that God intends for you to be. The provision is complete.
7. What makes this new life possible? What are the assets!
a. First the positional assets:
#1. Regeneration; the imparting of a new life, eternal life, act of God H/S; this occurs as the result of one thing only, faith in Jesus Christ!
- Synonyms:
- "being born again" Jn 3:7 born from above
- being made alive Eph 2:5; Col 2:13
- a new creation 2 Cor 5:17
- becoming children of God 1 Jn 3:1-3
#2. Identified with Christ's death on the Cross; Rom 6:6
#3. Placed into union with Christ at the R/hand of the Father.
- All the "in Him" or "in Christ" passages 30+ in Eph alone
#4. H/S indwells all believers Rom 8:9
#5. H/S gives to each one a spiritual gift "as He wills" 2 Cor 12:7,11
#6. Are given a human spirit; spiritual integrating system; spiritual brain stem; which provides the link between the brain-computer and the soul when the Holy Spirit is empowering the life ensuring a clear readout of truth!
b. Next the Experiential assets;
#1. The Holy Spirit must not be quenched or grieved so that He is able to empower us to live the CWOL; can't do it on your own. Rem it is the H/S who fills us with Christ
#2. A knowledge of the Word of God.
#3. Illumination of its message as we learn what it says;
Some Summary Observations:
The primary emphasis of our context in Eph 4 is experiential, on the ongoing daily life after salvation.
There is to be a change in the direction and character of our lives; putting off those things related to the Old life, its thinking/viewpoint, and putting on those things related to the New Life in Christ, developing new patterns of thinking, new norms and standards in the new man consistent with divine viewpoint.
- What Paul is exhorting here is to continue getting our thinking straight; developing a F/O/R of truth, ensuring that the standards of our conscience are in line with DVPT;
This is the only way to know the will of God so that we are able to live the CWOL, to walk worthy of our calling in Christ.