Christian Message Boards: The old man is dead!

This is topic The old man is dead! in forum Bible Topics & Study at Christian Message Boards.

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Posted by Michael Harrison (Member # 6801) on :

The reason why Paul said, as a matter of actual fact, that the old man is dead, or that the natural man receiveth not the things of God, is because they didn't get it. He was preaching to them because their behavior was evidence that their old man was indeed 'not' dead, and they needed to know the fact so that they could 'experience' it. The epistles are filled with this.

In fact, to emphasize the point, he even said of himself, "I die daily." Else the old Paul would be evident. But the new Paul was a different person.

Posted by Zeena (Member # 7223) on :

John 8:32
and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Posted by Michael Harrison (Member # 6801) on :

One is not made free if they abide in unbelief!

Posted by Billy (Member # 7193) on :

The first epistle that the Apostle John wrote was to the church. Obviously, there were those that were trying to pass themselves off as Christians, but not truly Christians, within the congregation. This has always been the case in most churches. Therefore, John is writing to them in an effort to give them some clarification on how someone can know for sure that they are of the faith.

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The First Epistle of John, Chapter One:

1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life--

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The Word being Jesus.

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2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us--

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Still referring to Jesus.

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3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.

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An appeal to unity within the church as a whole, that all churches would be as one body, unified in the essential doctrines.

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5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

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Jesus did not merely come to free us from death, which is the result of sin, but from our earthly bondage to it, as well. When we are born again (from above) we are instantaneously given a new heart with new desires. We will no longer delight in walking in darkness, but will seek after the things of the Light.

Now, if Paul, an apostle, did not dare make the claim that he had arrived at full spiritual purity (Philippians 3:12), how can we say that we, who have not been gifted with apostleship, have arrived. Thus, with greater understanding, and further conviction from the Holy Spirit, comes a greater propensity to walk closer with the Lord. We should not expect the same level of sanctification from a newly reborn Christian that we expect from a thirty year vet.

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8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.

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Even Christians sin. However, if our conversion is genuine, we will no longer walk in a lifestyle of sin. We will more often bear the fruits of the Spirit that are explained in Galatians 3.

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9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

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Daily confession of sin is vital to our ever growing relationship with the Lord, Jesus Christ. Surely, a Christian cannot approach the Father if they have unconfessed sin in their life.

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10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

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Let us not put a burden on one another that is too heavy to bear. All of us sin. To say that you are not a Christian if you sin is to admit that you don't believe that you yourself are in Christ. For if we say that we do not sin, His word is not in us. Thus, Christians are not free to live in sin, though we might occasionally stray.

In Christ,
Billy.

Posted by Carmela (Member # 4817) on :

I am sure I saw this exact topic listed in another forum. I don't understand why it's brought up again.

Posted by Michael Harrison (Member # 6801) on :

Carmela, things get discussed and rediscussed. I don't suppose that anyone goes to the beginning of the history of the site and reads through until they have read it all. It doesn't work that way. And for that matter, one may get the opportunity to say something over again in the same post. Sometimes one thinks of a way to say something in a different way. But it is refreshing to see a name that I don't recognize, even if you don't recognize which side I am on. [Wink]

As for Paul doing that which he would not do, he was saying that when he tries to keep the law, he does that which he would not do. When he keeps the 'faith', he finds himself delivered. That is Romans in a nutshell. If one reads it with this in mind it 2will become clearer.

Posted by Carmela (Member # 4817) on :

Hi Michael. I'm an old face with new posts. It's nice to meet you and I'm sure that it won't take me long to find out more about you.

As for bring up new posts, I guess that just isn't my thing. I say it once and wait to see what type of soil it lands on.