Old Self/New Self

In my study of Sanctification, I am finding out that there are clear indications this process is working and progressing. I have broken this down in my personal study in the following way. 1. Narcissism 2. Humility 3. Old self/new self. 4. selfllessness. 5. sacrifice. 6. Holy living. Today I will write about the third one, which is Old self/new self.

Paul constantly spoke to immersing ourselves in the spirit-filled life, and in that life there are certain characteristics or fruit we see that bring on the new life and leave behind the old self. Paul wrote about the new self in 2 Corinthians 5: ¹⁷ This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! Paul states that the new me is now in place and much different from the old me, because the Holy Spirit is now involved at the soul level. We even change how we evaluate others, and the difference is we don't evaluate them from a "human" point of view! This is best seen in the verse prior to verse 17, in other words, in verse 16 ⁶ So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! If you have a tendency to be a judgmental person, all of that is different now, and you see others through the eyes of the Holy Spirit. You become concerned for their salvation, and see the need for Christ in their lives, which is the opposite of humanism. Humanism tells us that all we need is ourselves, but that is the opposite of the spirit-filled life the Apostle Paul spoke of and wrote of in 2 Corinthians. Our evaluations change from a worldly way of looking at life, which is humanism, to a Godly way of looking at things, which is a characteristic of the new self. Our human point of view is changed to a spiritual or Godly point of view, and that is driven by understanding the perfect truth from the Word of God. So study it to know the difference. This change in us is a gift from God, made possible through Jesus, as Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:18  And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.

We don't merely trade in the old self for the new self. We actually have a change at the soul level, and the old self isn't in control anymore. When we fight this change, we find ourselves convicted by the Holy Spirit, and studying the Word of God actually affirms what God is telling us through His Spirit. Thus, the battle of the old self and the new self. Paul addressed this very aspect of our faith in all of the churches he wrote letters to. In the letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul writes: Ephesians 4: ¹⁷ With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. ¹⁸ Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. ¹⁹ They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity. ²⁰ But that isn’t what you learned about Christ.²¹ Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, ²² throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.²³ Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. ²⁴ Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. The words"no longer" are powerful and lasting as Paul calls them and us to live a Godly life, which is what the new self is all about. That old self has been crucified, and the new self has the intent of living like Jesus. Romans 6: ⁶ We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. ⁷ For when we died with Christ, we were set free from the power of sin. Sin's power has been broken in this new self given to us by the Holy Spirit through the blood of Jesus. SO LIVE IT!!

Paul gets very specific about one thing we all have to live with today, and that one thing is lying. In the political realm, most of what we hear is lies and more lies, so there is not much pure truth being heard, and that aligns easily with the father of lies. Jesus called out the people who were representing the devil or the world when they wanted to kill Him. They were deaf to the message of Jesus. John 8: ⁴⁴ For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. Paul hit on this topic again, specifically speaking to lying in Colossians 3: ⁹ Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.

There is a huge void between the old self and the new self, and the old self searches for excuses not to follow the Word of God, while the new self craves the changes of the new person and the Word of God. Then we will continue to grow in the grace of God, which is the point anyway!! I call this void the pit, and filling that pit with your study and acceptance of "all" the Word of God makes your salvation come alive as God intended.

My wife, Andra, and I really like to get into these British crime mysteries, and we are so disappointed when they end a season without another one waiting. It is frustrating because they have drawn us in and then they make us wait, knowing we will come back when they release a new season. Bible study is a lot like that because you begin to study a book and really get deep in the mysteries of God, but the difference is, He doesn't quit "feeding" us. He continues to feed the new self, and the new self takes on the new nature we are called to live. The new self leaves the old self in the dust, and it is a continuous season of growth. Ecclesiastes 3:For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.

The Pilgrimage Continues,

David Warren