Focus: A Brand New Man

Text: Eph.2:15

"One new man."

In Christ a brand new humanity has arrived. The cross of Christ has ended the old man. Adam's fallen nature, which we all share in, has been taken out decisively and finally by the death of Christ on the cross. Christ died to end us and begin a new us. 

Paul writes, "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" (Rom.6:6). 

The old man resides in the body of sin. He is ruined and ruled by sin, but the cross of Christ is the coffin and cemetery of the old man and his body of sin.

Paul declares that "if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2Cor.5:17). What Paul calls "a new creature," John calls "the new birth." He says, "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" (1Jh.3:9). The new creature is new because he is born of God. Again, the one who is born of God is not in the habit of sinning. In fact, he cannot sin. The new man lacks the capacity to sin or do evil. The new man is original and authentic. His DNA is absolutely pure and his nature is not in any way contaminated. He is born of the Spirit, not of the flesh. The flesh or the old man is sinful, but the new man is sinless.

The new man does not sin. Paul says, "And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Eph.4:24). The new man is created in righteousness and in true holiness. His brand of righteousness and holiness is pure and genuine. His holiness has no holes in it.

Paul writes, "And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him" (Col.3:10). The image of God is fully back in the new man. Every moment he is being renewed and sustained by the intake of the knowledge of who he really is. He is possessed by the consciousness of his new identity and destiny in Christ. He knows and lives with the consciousness that he has been created anew in the image of his creator. 

He reflects his maker, manifests His glory, and represents Him in the world.

The new man has no regard for self or vain glory. Paul says, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature" (Gal.6:15). All that matters is the new humanity. The status symbols of the flesh are not yardsticks by which the new man measures greatness. Religious differences mean nothing to the man of the Spirit - the new man.

The old is gone; and the new has come. Paul instructs us by the Spirit, "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts" (Eph.4:22). The old man is corrupt, polluted and perverted. The new man has nothing in common with the old man. The word 'new' in the Greek is kainos, and it refers to newness in terms of quality. The new man is qualitatively different. The newness of the new man is in a class of its own. It's unique and original. It is of a different species; a species that has never been before. It is new in kind. 

The old and the new might look alike, but the difference between them is striking and outstanding. By root, branch and fruit, they are different one from the other.

Paul tells the new humanity created in Christ Jesus, "Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds" (Col.3:9).

Divinity is at the center and heart of the new man. The image of God is the icon that the new man projects and presents, and truly, all of creation waits for the manifestation of the new man - the sons of God. We exist as the brand new man for the purpose of manifesting God on earth. It is our full time job. So let us do it!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter