THE WAY OF CHRIST - PART 2

FRIDAY 28 OCTOBER 2022

The way of life in Christ is absolutely a matter of conforming daily to His image. Entertaining the old man puts us out of God's way. But this will not be the case, if we embrace the counsel of God by meditating on His Word and by continual prayer. In doing so, we would be renewed in the spirit of our mind and walk in the newness of life.

Reference: Ephesians 4:20-24 New King James Version (NKJV) "But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness."

Learning Christ is all about being introduced into the participation of God's grace and salvation benefits. It is the act of being brought into a more effective and enriching communion with God. One of the ways we do so is by dedicating or consecrating ourselves to the service of Christ. When we get busy with the works of the Spirit, there will be no room to fulfil the desires of the flesh.

The new man is energised by an intense faith in Christ who has given us such a proof of self-sacrificing love. As we continually renew our minds, our thoughts and memories will be filled with divine truths until we become strong in faith. The new man has a new desire, new delights and new disposition, because it is no longer the old man that was put off. This is because the new man is created in truth, righteousness and holiness. Now watch this: If you're created in truth, righteousness and holiness, it means that they are what you're made of. Therefore, you should to incline your ears to the truth first. This is because, if you pay attention to the truth, it will cause you to practise righteousness and keep perfecting in holiness.

"Why did I mention, "pay attention to the truth first?" Its because you can't practise righteousness, except by the precise knowledge of the truth. Therefore don't just hear God's word, study and look into it meditatively and then apply it to yourself, which denotes its practice. In hearing the Word, we look into it for instruction, inspiration, counsel and direction, and when we practice it, it produces a successful spiritual life. As for the word, "Holiness", it is the state of being holy. A life of holiness is characterised by absolute sanctity and sacredness. We function in that state by refraining completely from anything that can defile the body and the spirit. The Bible says, "Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God" (2 Corinthians 7:1 NIV).

Now that we know what the new man is made or created of, which are truth, righteousness and holiness, we can equally mark their distinctness, one by one through today's article. Therefore, having been made dead to sin and the world, we must put on the new man which was created according to God and be apt to function correspondingly. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Ezekiel 11:19; Colossians 3:10-14; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 John 3:9.

Exuberant Declaration: I am born again, constantly renewed and set apart for God's purpose. I have put on the new self, which in the likeness of God, has been created in righteousness and holiness. The principles of divine life and the essence of God's righteous character work permanently in me. Daily, I'm spiritually transformed as I cleanse myself from all defilement of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God through the living Word of truth. Hallelujah!