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 "New Man in Christ"
Christian Character

Under the "Old Covenant, " in order to gain entry into Heaven the Jewish people were required to observe the Old Testament Law. The Old Law is said to have included over 600 laws, rituals, and ordinances.

Upon Jesus death and resurrection, the New Covenant was established. Born again Believers can now enter Heaven by accepting Christ as their Lord and Savior, through faith in what He accomplished on the cross; (not by observing laws, rituals, or works). 

Three Tests that Prove the Genuiness of Christianity

1: The test of belief:
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 
and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God... (1 John 4:1-3).

...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household (Acts 16:31).

2: The test of obedience:
Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him.

By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked 1 John 2:3-6).

3: The test of love:
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).

If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also
(1 John 4:20-21)

The New Man

The Apostle Paul said, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."(2 Cor 5:17, KJV)

According to the above Scripture, the born-again man or woman becomes a new creature, 

Jesus said:  "If ye love me, keep my commandments," (John 14:15, KJV).

So we follow Jesus' Commandments and His teachings as a result of our love and adoration for Him. 

The following scriptures offer a glimpse into the heavenly realms, and values the new man is to seek, and, those to avoid.

COL 3:1: "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

Have you ever wondered where Jesus is, this is the answer; Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God the Father.

VERSE 2: "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth."

Lifestyle and faithfulness, are indicators of the Christian's love, commitment, and faith in Christ.

The New Man's attention should be on the things of God. When we become new creatures in Christ, the matters of the world are to take second place.

VERSE 5: "Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which are idolatry."

The above Scripture tells us that  our actions matter. 

Dealing with Temptations

Being tempted is not a sin within itself; the sin is committed by giving in to those temptations.

Satan tempted Christ, and he will tempt us. We are to follow Jesus' example, by not allowing sin to gain a foothold in our lives.

On a personal level, the best way to handle temptation and resist sin is to stay away from it. Don't go to the places, or allow yourself to remain in situations, that can lead to sin.

Just as alcoholics should not go into a bar, Christians should learn to avoid anything that could interfere with their relationship with the Lord.

We are held accountable to God for our actions and Christian conduct, and we are promised that, when we resist Satan, he will flee, (James 4:3).

When we pray, the Holy Spirit will help us to resist, so we should always pray!

Paul, still talking about sin, changes direction slightly

VERSE 8-9 "But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds."

Most Christians know not to blaspheme, meaning to speak against the things of God; and about malice, and to not harm our brothers in any way; but what about anger and wrath, and filthy language, and lies?

Anger and wrath

There is a righteous anger and possibly a righteous wrath, which can only come, either by or through God. But this scripture is talking about a worldly anger and wrath, and we are told not to let it get out of control.

Filthy Language

While the new man is not to be so pious as to leave the appearance of looking down on the rest of the world, we are told not to use "Filthy Language (verses 8-9)." As Paul said in verse 5, we are to allow those things to be "dead," in our lives, (to no longer exist.)

Do Not Lie

Lying is not characteristic of the New Man:

"Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him," (Col 3:8-10).

The Elect of God Holy and Beloved

Paul is now speaking of the Heavenly/Spiritual characteristics of the new life in Christ. Note the difference in these scriptures, and the ones above.

VERSES 12-17: "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;

13: bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

14: But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

15: And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

16: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17: And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." 

God knows the heart of man, and He knows when we are sincerely trying to follow Him; so when we do sin, we have this great promise: 

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness," (1 John 1:9).

Samuel Mills

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Comments

Love: United States

Brother Samuel, I was comforted by your writings reminding me that I am a New Man in Christ Jesus.

Peace and Blessing to you and yours.

The New Man in Christ

"Lets Teach Our Children to Love"

Why is it so difficult for our educators and society, in general, to understand that love and respect for one another taught from a young age can solve much of the world's hostility and social problems!

"Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it" (Prov 22:6).

Love is the answer!

Loyalty and Faithfulness

True loyalty springs from the heart and is wrapped in love. It is often in our most private moments that true loyalty, or the lack of it, is made known.