THEME: The Renewed Spirit - Eph.4:23.
Study Topic – The New Man - Eph.4:24.
Digging Deep (Into The Word) – January 30, 2024
A. Introduction
- We have come to the last aspect of our study of our theme for the month-The Renewed Spirit. The summary of what we have learnt this
month is how to be born again. We learnt about how we put off the ‘old man’ by ‘crucifying the flesh’ or dying to self. This involves that which the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross achieved for us(our salvation) which laid the foundation for our sanctification, which is the putting on of the ‘new man’. - Undoubtedly, the complete work of salvation (propitiation, redemption, justification, reconciliation and sanctification) is the work of grace from start to finish and no one merits it by his works. However, as we saw in the last study, the grace of God is never bestowed in vain but for us to work and endeavour in the exercise unto godliness. Whoever claims to have the grace of God working in his life, but fails to make use of this grace to exert himself, labour, endeavour, fight, struggle, and contend unto godliness deceives himself into thinking he is born again.
B. Putting On The New Man
- To put on the ‘new man’ is to actively pursue the life of holiness and righteousness. The grace that is poured on us is used to labour – Jhn.6:27,strive – Luk.13:24, fight – ITim.6:12, abstain – IPet.2:11, contend – Jud.3. The new man is ‘born of God’ and so does not deliberately commit sin – IJhn.2:29 and avoids anything that defiles or corrupts – IJhn.5:18. He is therefore always watchful of the company he keeps, what he sees – Job31:1, what he listens to, the way he does business and generally the
way he lives. ii. This does not mean that the new man is perfect and sinless. The indwelling sin resides in him but the Holy Spirit also dwells in him, helping
him to overcome temptation and seduction always. That is why the man is always striving against sin. He is not lazy or complacent, because he depends on the grace of God always. - The new man is in the world, but not of the world Jhn.17:11, 14, 16. The new man lives in the world, but he does not conform to the culture and traditions of the world system – Rom.12:2. He knows how to enjoy the things God gives him in this world without being controlled by them Phil.4:11, 12. He can absorb the loss of them without complaining.
- The new man ‘abides in Christ’. His entire lifestyle revolves around pleasing God and Christ. He has the Spirit of Christ. His motto is “That I may please Christ” – Phil.3:8. He does not seek to please himself, has no personal ambition or goals, but seeks to know what Christ wants him to do and then diligently pursues them, relying on the resources that Christ supplies. Whoever lives in this way has ‘put on the new man’
C. Conclusion
At the end of this study, the question that we should ask is this: am I born again? This will lead us to asking other questions: do I live by the motto ”That I may please Christ?” Or do I seek to please myself? Am I abiding in Christ? Am I controlled by the pleasures of this world? Am I seeking Jesus for the purpose of securing the things of this world? Do I live by the grace of God or by my own willpower? Even if one cannot get clear answers to these questions, the desire to probe one’s life by these questions will make this month’s study worthwhile. May we become truly born of God, by reason of this month’s study, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Awesome Presentation.