Christ our Representative
Part 6
The Old Man
Many new Christians become discouraged when they discover evil desires still within their hearts. They thought the ‘old man’ was dead and expected their lives to be free from these inner struggles. Now they find a conflict raging within. Am I not a Christian, they ask. Have I not been born again?
Paul wrote of this experience. “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 7:18-23.
What is the law of sin in my flesh?
It is the sinful nature inherited from Adam as a consequence of his sin. It is the evil propensities and the desire for sin; this is the power that controls our lives. In Scripture, this bent to sin is called the old man, the sinful nature, the carnal mind, the law of sin, the body of death, the flesh. Romans 6:6. 7:14.18.23.24. 8:3.7.8. John 3:3-6. Colossians 3:9.
God does not impute guilt for being born in this sinful state, but it cannot go to heaven. When Christ died on the cross, “our old man (was) crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” Romans 6:6.
However, as we were not personally on the cross when Christ died, our carnal nature (or the old man) did not literally die. It is still very much alive.
When we accept Christ as our Saviour, the Christian life becomes a battle ground between the ‘law’ of the mind, and the ‘law’ of the flesh, and it will remain so until this corruptible shall put on incorruption at the second coming of Christ.
God’s plan for the believer is to build a character willing to choose to serve the Master, in spite of the fact that there is ‘another voice’ crying for the mastery.
“To be carnally-minded is death… because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be…. But to be spiritually-minded is life and peace.” Romans 8:6.7.6.
“Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him, knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him, for in that he died, he died unto sin once, but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:8-11.
The key thought is ‘reckon ye also’. If we were literally dead, there would be no need to reckon it so, but we are admonished to reckon ourselves to be dead to sin, but alive unto God.
This must be acknowledged for the rest of our lives.
When the old man cries out to be satisfied, we are to believe ‘he’ died on Calvary two thousand years ago. And if he is dead, it is impossible for ‘him’ to cry out, for the Bible says “the dead know not any thing” and “have no portion for ever of anything that is done under the sun”. Ecclesiastes 9:5.6.10.
The Christian walk is by faith all the way -- “the just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17.
If we listen to the carnal nature, we will ‘hear’ the cry for sensual and pleasurable things, or hateful and cruel things. The old man will desire unhealthful activities, junk food, everything the flesh desires. ‘I want to have it. I really feel like it. I want it. I must have it. And I want it NOW.’
As Christians, we are to “make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” Romans 13:14. Knowing that our old man has been crucified with Christ, we choose “not (to) serve sin.” Romans 6:6.
Instead, we “walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit… that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us….” Romans 8:1.4.
The apostle admonishes us, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin; but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God, for sin shall not have dominion over you….” Romans 6:12-14.
Unfortunately, most of us have learned falsely that it will take a lifetime to remove sin from our lives, and so we struggle on making promise after promise.
We cry, “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?’ Romans 7:24.
A graphic picture is painted of our predicament. “Your promises and resolutions are like ropes of sand. You can not control your thoughts, your impulses, your affections. The knowledge of your broken promises and forfeited pledges weakens your confidence in your own sincerity, and causes you to feel that God can not accept you; but you need not despair.” 31
We must ask ourselves -- Am I willing to never sin again?
This is a serious question, perhaps not considered before, but it is a decision every Christian must make at the time they choose Christ as their Saviour. If it was not made, the question still awaits an answer: Will I accept that ‘in Christ’ I have died to sin?
Christ died once to sin, and being ‘in Him’, sin was finished for us upon Calvary. “For in that he died, he died unto sin once…. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin….” Romans 6:10.11.
“He that is dead is freed from sin.” Romans 6:7.
If we claim to be Christians, we must acknowledge the truth of God’s Word -- Christians do not sin. Christ always separates the contrite soul from sin.
“Whoso committeth sin transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law, and ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not; whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
Little children, let no man deceive you, he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil, for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin, for his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil; whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” 1 John 3:4-10.
The Scriptures are clear, Christians are commandment-keepers.
It is true, “He who has not sufficient faith in Christ to believe that He can keep him from sinning, has not the faith that will give him an entrance into the kingdom of God.” 32
All who claim to be Christians and yet continue in sin, are liars in God’s sight. Their sinful course is counter-working the work of God. They are leading others into sin.
This statement is confirmed by John, “He that said I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2:4.
How is it possible for Christians not to sin?
“Everything depends on the right action of the will. The power of choice God has given to men; it is theirs to exercise. You can not change your heart, you can not of yourself give to God its affections… but you can choose to serve Him. You can give Him your will…” 33
How can this be achieved?
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you….” James 4:7.8.
Look to your heavenly Father above the line, and pray in the name of Christ,
‘Father, I choose to believe I died with Christ on the cross of Calvary, and have no right to this temptation. I put my will on the side of Christ and choose not to sin.’
“The will is not the taste or the inclination, but it is the deciding power which works in the children of men unto obedience to God or unto disobedience….. You will be in constant peril until you understand the true force of the will. You may believe and promise all things, but your promises or your faith are of no value until you put your will on the side of faith and action…. Your feelings, your impressions, your emotions, are not to be trusted, for they are not reliable… and the knowledge of your broken promises and your forfeited pledges weakens your confidence in yourself….” 34
But having submitted the will to God, it must be followed in resisting the devil. It is no use standing in front of the temptation and saying, ‘I resist. I resist. I resist’. Sooner or later, the resolve will be broken, and Satan will gain the victory.
If it is possible to literally flee the temptation, do it. If it is not possible, keep looking up. Keep submitting to God. Keep giving Him your will.
If the temptation is in the mind, begin to sing the songs of Zion. Read the promises of God. Pray without ceasing. This is fighting the fight of faith. 1 Timothy 6:12.
If instead of submitting to God, we begin to parley with Satan regarding the desires of the carnal nature, we have already committed sin in the mind. But if we will immediately dismiss the cravings of the flesh, there is no guilt to the soul.
“There are thoughts and feelings suggested by Satan that annoy the best of men; but if they are not cherished, if they are repulsed as hateful, the soul is not contaminated with guilt, and no other is defiled by their influence.” 35
Praise God for His mercy.
“Through the right exercise of the will, an entire change may be made in your life. By yielding up your will to Christ, you ally yourself with the power that is above all principalities and powers… and through constant surrender to God, you will be enabled to live the new life, even the life of faith.” 36
As you walk by faith, the Father looks upon you just as if you never sinned. Yes, He sees the Christian, not in the polluted garments of sin, but through His beloved Son – absolutely perfect and spotless, free from sin.
What joy and rejoicing there is for the surrendered Christian!
GOD THE FATHER
JESUS CHRIST, GOD’S ONLY BEGOTTEN SON
____________________________________________
SUBMISSIVE CHRISTIAN
If along the way, you stumble and fall, God is merciful and does not condemn His blood-bought child. The apostle John says, “My little children, these things write I unto you that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2:1.
“We shall often have to bow down and weep at the feet of Jesus because of our short-comings and mistakes; but we are not to be discouraged. Even if we are overcome by the enemy, we are not cast off, not forsaken and rejected of God. No; Christ is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” 37
Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery, “Neither do I condemn thee; go and sin no more”. John 8:11. Eventually the Saviour won her heart’s affections and she became a victorious Christian.
We are not to let little mishaps trouble us. “Small mistakes may be ordered by the Lord to save you from making larger mistakes…. Instead of bemoaning your weakness, and talking unbelief…. Begin to sing. Talk of the mercy and love of God…. Believe that your Saviour is full of compassion, tender pity and love.” 38
“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy…. He hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities, for as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him, for he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” Psalm 103:8.10-14.
“The master judges by the result, but our Father judges by the effort. Failure does not always mean fault. He knows how much things cost, and weighs them where others only measure.” 39
Another word by which the sinful nature is referred to is ‘self’, and for the Christian, this is the greatest burden we have to bear, as self is ever ready to strive for the mastery.
The only way we can walk safely is by constant renunciation of self. Constant war against the carnal mind must be maintained.
Overcoming self must be done day by day and year by year, as long as Satan is able to tempt Christians to sin.
Paul said, “I die daily.” 1 Corinthians 15:31.
Self must be buried with Christ. In other words, dying to self is accepting by faith that we have been crucified with Christ, and have no right to anything self demands.
We must “resist unto blood”. Hebrews 12:4.
However, dying to self does not mean we are of little worth. “Self-negation is not a part of humility or holiness or sanctification. Self- surrender does not mean the downgrading of self.” 40
“Self is not to be consulted. Pride, self-love, selfishness, avarice, covetousness, love of the world, hatred, suspicion, jealousy, evil surmisings, must all be subdued and sacrificed forever. When Christ shall appear, it will not be to correct these evils and then give a moral fitness for His coming….
When tempted to murmur, censure, and indulge in fretfulness, wounding those around you, and in so doing wounding your own soul, oh! let the deep, earnest, anxious inquiry come from your soul -- Shall I stand without fault before the throne of God? Only the faultless will be there.
None will be translated to heaven while their hearts are filled with the rubbish of earth. Every defect in the moral character must first be remedied, every stain removed by the cleansing blood of Christ, and all the unlovely, unlovable traits of character overcome.” 41
When Jesus comes, He will not cleanse us of our sins. He will not remove the defects in our characters, or cure us of the infirmities of our tempers and dispositions. If wrought for us at all, this work will all be accomplished before that time. When the Lord comes, those who are holy will be holy still. Revelation 22:11.
“Let no one say, I can not remedy my defects of character. If you come to this decision, you will certainly fail of obtaining everlasting life. The impossibility lies in your own will. If you will not, then you can not overcome. The real difficulty arises from the corruption of an unsanctified heart, and an unwillingness to submit to the control of God.” 42
“Unless the body of sin is destroyed, we will serve sin. Unless the old man is crucified, the body of sin is not destroyed. Then the way to be kept from sinning is the way of crucifixion and destruction.
The only question then for us each to settle is – Would I rather be crucified and destroyed than to sin? If with you it is everlastingly settled that you would rather be crucified and rather meet destruction this moment than to sin, you will never sin.” 43
This victory in its fulness is free to every soul in Christ Jesus. It is received by faith in Jesus. This is “the victory which overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4.
“The secret of the whole matter is to acknowledge that in us dwells no good thing; and that God alone is good; that we are nothing, but that He is everything; that we are weakness, but that power belongs to God…. Exaltation comes only through self-abasement. Christian activity comes only through passive submission to God, as the clay is passive in the hands of the potter.” 44
Justification by faith is “the laying of the glory of man in the dust, and the doing for man what he cannot do for himself.” 45
This is our decision.
Let us be as willing to die to self as the blind song writer George Matheson wrote in his darkest hour. ‘O Love That Will Not Let Me Go’.
O cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee,
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.
The New Man