7-28-25 Weekly Devotional-Putting on The New Man
When a Christian seriously considers the cross that Jesus endured for him, he will see the glorious exhibition of God’s love for those who are brought to realize that they are sinners and separated from Him. That love moved Him to do something that could not have been done by any other in the world. He took on human flesh (John 1:14) so that He could die for those who would look to Him for their salvation. The apostle John wrote of this in the Gospel that bears his name, The Gospel according to John. Consider >
“16 For God so loved the world (mankind) that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” (John 3:16-21).
A Christian is a Christian only because God transforms him from being anti-God and a lover of that which his fallen nature longs for, the desires his flesh, his physical nature. These things are enumerated in Paul’s letter to the Galatians. > “19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21).
Paul, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit emphatically states that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Oh!-Oh! Not inherit the kingdom of God, this is serious business.
A person just cannot believe that he is a Christian yet live a life defined by the above passage. Such people are described by the earlier passage of John 3:16-21 esp. vs. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
Those who are truly saved, are truly Christian, will strive to live differently. Verse 21 of that passage make this contrast “But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
Me thinks it would be good for every person who believes they are Christian to consider their lifestyle because verses 22-25 of the Galatians passage contrast the life of the true Believer, the true Christian, with those who are not. Consider >
“22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness, self-control. against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
Each of us will sin from time to time but we will not make sin our practice. About this the apostle John wrote: “8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1st John 1:8-10).
John was one of the original apostles and had a strong relationship with Jesus. He was used of God to write the gospel that bears his name (the gospel of John), three letters to the churches of Asia minor, and the book of Revelation but knew that even he would sin from time to time. The point is, all Christians sin. That is because they/we still possess an old nature, a nature that denies the authority of God over their/our lives. But because the Christian has been reborn spiritually he is to put off the old man which grows more and more corrupt according to his deceitful lusts, but he is to be renewed in the spirit of his mind, 24 and he is to put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (See Ephesians 4:22-24).
Paul wrote that the Chistian is to put on the new man (vs. 24). The Christian is to no longer live as the Gentiles (the unregenerate). To put on the new man means to give up self-rule and let Christ rule in our lives. We are to live to please Him and be intolerant of sin. Spiritual life necessitates a change from our old self, its desires, and practices.
Among other testimonies Christians testify of becoming a new man by being publicly baptized with water. Water baptism identifies a Christian with the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
If a person is not sure of his salvation, he should put off being baptized until he is able talk with someone about his doubt. There are many passages of Scripture that can assure a person of his salvation, or lack thereof. If there is any doubt, a person/ should talk with his/your pastor or a person that is knowledgeable about this. He or they will joyfully walk them/you through these passages.
The importance of this is found in Jesus caution to a crowd of people that was following Him and His disciples emphasizing the importance of true conversions—–“ 34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Mark 8:34-37.
Considering that nothing is more important than putting on the new man (man’s response to having been born again) except being born again (of being born from above (God’s work) that commitment should not be put off. Today is the day of salvation. Tomorrow may never come.
Steve
Stevelampman.com
Transforming Power; The Work of God on Behalf of man