Tenchi
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- Oct 10, 2022
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Romans 6:6-11
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he who is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more; death has no more dominion over him.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he lives, he lives unto God.
11 Likewise reckon yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he who is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more; death has no more dominion over him.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he lives, he lives unto God.
11 Likewise reckon yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Who is the "old man"? He's who we are apart from God: self-centered, worldly, focused on the impulses and desires of the flesh, living for now rather than eternity. (Philippians 3:18-19; Ephesians 2:1-3; Titus 3:3, Colossians 1:21, etc.) The "old man" rules in every person who is not under God's control, who's following their own will and way, a rebel.
Though they have been freed from the power of the "old man," Christians are not exempt from battling against the habits of thought and conduct established while still under his control. They never have to yield to the power of the "old man," united to Christ as they are; but they do anyway, exercising old "reflexes" formed while under the "old man's" control. This is, in part, why Paul wrote what he did in the passage above to Christians, urging them to stand, by faith, in the freedom from the "old man" that was their spiritual birthright.
Discerning the influence of the "old man" can be difficult. He attempts to intrude into things that aren't obviously immoral, or irreligious. In fact, very subtly, the old man slips into God's place in the Christian's life, standing where God ought to stand, and trying to do for God what only God can do. Because the "old man's" usurpation of God's place looks on the surface like proper Christian living, his corrupt "fruit" in a believer's life can go unnoticed, sometimes for years. For example, though a rebel in doing so, a usurper, the "old man" is allowed to infringe on the saving work of Christ, taking on the responsibility for the maintenance of a believer's salvation and in so doing becoming a "co-Savior" with Jesus; the "old man" is permitted to exert his will, his powers of determination and self-effort, in the achievement of godliness in a believer's life, doing for God rather than allowing God to do for the believer what only He can do; the "old man" is relied upon to produce the Fruit of the Spirit, to stifle sinful desire, to serve God, to love others - none of which the "old man" can actually do, being fundamentally opposed to God, as he is (Romans 8:5-8).
When the "old man" is the source for Christian living, this fact does, eventually, reveal itself. A person under the Spirit's control, in his power manifesting the life of Christ, isn't the hyper-sensitive believer taking offense easily, quick to assume evil of their brothers and sisters in the Lord; a believer under the Spirit's control isn't craving attention and applause in their service to God, but is entirely content that God knows and is pleased with their service; the Spirit-controlled person is always moving farther and farther from the influence and occupations of the World, the flesh and the devil, becoming set apart unto God more and more fully, as time passes (2 Corinthians 6:14-18; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15); the Christian submitted to God's will and way, operating in His power, gains an ever-increasing personal, concrete knowledge of Him, not just a greater Self-knowledge. Perhaps most crucially, the person living free of the "old man" manifests Christ, not an improved version of him/herself (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 4:7-11). Such a manifestation must necessarily be supernatural; for there is nothing of Christ in the unregenerate, fleshly "old man."
Are you operating under the control of the "old man"? Are you trying to achieve a godly end by fleshly means? Are you trying to do for God rather than letting Him do for you? The life of Christ can never be found in the "old man." Only in God is His power and life found.
Philippians 1:6
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 2:13
13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Philippians 4:13
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.
Romans 8:13
13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Ephesians 6:10
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
