The New Man

In seeking light from the Lord on this important subject of the “new man,” we must first be absolutely clear of the thought which is so general in Christendom, that God’s Son became a Man in order to repair and rehabilitate the first man—the race of Adam.

The Lord Jesus Christ risen is absolutely unique, a Man of His own order, and in His death unto sin the first man was completely set aside in judgment, and the new man is therefor according to God. Consequently we must not be deceived by thinking that the human mind (must be the mind of Christ—NC) can form a correct conception of any trait of the new man, or that it can imitate the Lord Jesus Christ, though many read the Gospels with this object.

Now our inquiry is: What is the new man? First of all it cannot be learned by any effort of the human mind, as its structure and nature are entirely beyond the conception of man. How then do we learn it? It is not by reading or mere study of the Scriptures that we learn it, important as that is. Basically, it is by association with the Lord Jesus Christ, by beholding His glory, and thereby being “changed into His image.”

You cannot explain what you get, but you receive that which corresponds to Him; as you are with Him you acquire it. “That you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Eph 4:14) is addressed to the believer who is in conscious union with the Lord Jesus, seated in the heavenlies in Him (Eph 2:6).

Now he comes out here in a new way, beginning with the mind: “renewed in the spirit of your mind”—not making works prominent, but in the renewed mind which is able to judge of the works that suit the Lord Jesus. “We have the mind of Christ.” The believer realizes the tastes of the new man by association with the Lord Jesus.

It is important to see that we derive from Him, we are in Him, and He lives in us (via the Spirit of course—NC). He is altogether of His own order, and it is only by association with Him that His nature and mind become experientially known to us. It is so little known because personal fellowship is so little known.

No one can tell what he acquires by association; but he knows that he has acquired a taste for the company of the Lord Jesus, and that when not in His company he has not that which suits his taste; he finds it very partially here among His own, and he is glad to return to His presence, and he knows the benefit of it.

This draws the great line of difference between mere students of the Word and those who enjoy His presence, beholding His glory; the latter can form a conception of what suits Him which the former cannot. We see from Colossians 3:10, “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him”—that we cannot be with Him without becoming enlightened; the Word comes with more definiteness to our souls; we are “renewed in knowledge,” etc. Thus we see that as we become more like Him by being with Him, we also become more intelligent in His mind; we know Him as life and put on “tender mercies, kindness and humbleness of mind.”

May our hearts have the rich enjoyment of being in spirit with the Lord Jesus in glory. Everyone likes to think of Him as known in His great works, but how blessed the consummation of being partakers with Him in His glory (Jhn 17:22)!


- J B Stoney
 
You cannot explain what you get, but you receive that which corresponds to Him; as you are with Him you acquire it. “That you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Eph 4:14) is addressed to the believer who is in conscious union with the Lord Jesus, seated in the heavenlies in Him (Eph 2:6).
- J B Stoney

Hello Netchaplain;

Ephesians 4:24 is teaching that we put on the new role, new way, new person filled with the Holy Spirit. However, at first we will not know the transformation and feel we are still in the old role. Its gradual as we choose to believe in Christ but it has to be a daily new conscious commitment.

So, in order to make that new commitment what are ways you teach new believers during their transformation?

God bless you and your family, brother.
 
Hello Netchaplain;

Ephesians 4:24 is teaching that we put on the new role, new way, new person filled with the Holy Spirit. However, at first we will not know the transformation and feel we are still in the old role. Its gradual as we choose to believe in Christ but it has to be a daily new conscious commitment.

So, in order to make that new commitment what are ways you teach new believers during their transformation?

God bless you and your family, brother.
Hi Brother, and thanks for your replies! I believe the Spirit teaches all reborn according to the maturity at which He has us. Thus, the most effective method to me is by getting a good concentration on reading and continue rereading the Gospels and Epistles, and the more consistent one remains in this, the more efficient will the Spirit's teaching will increase.

It's easier to just talk about the Word without this type of learning exercise, but it depends on how much you want to be used by Him, which will be seen by how much you read and study His Word. and His Word is all He teaches (1Co 2:12). I've been doing it for 40 years now and I find it is the same success for anyone reborn to mature.

Before you know it, you can more easily understand Bible commentators with much more understanding, and I've found that being able to use a couple good commentators is the same as having a personal tutor the Spirit is using for you. It clearly becomes a great advantage to see what others know, esp. godly people who've spent the majority of their life in in the study of the Scriptures.
 
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