Putting on the New Man

OUR NEW LIFE IN CHRIST is predicated upon a fundamental truth. “We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” (Heb. 2:9) Additionally, believers who have been baptized into Christ’s death have surrendered their wills to the Heavenly Father. These have the prospect that carrying out a life of full consecration will result in their resurrection to the divine nature, and participation in blessing the human family during God’s kingdom of righteousness.—Rom. 6:3-6

As believers who have devoted our lives to following in Christ’s footsteps, we are admonished to set our minds upon spiritual pursuits. From God’s standpoint our old will is dead, and we have relinquished any hope of the earthly resurrection which the world in general will experience. An added privilege for us is the hope of attaining glory, honor and immortality.—Rom. 2:7; Col. 3:1-4

In order to achieve this spiritual inheritance, however, we must be consistent in our efforts, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to eradicate the sinful defilements and selfish inclinations which we and all members of the human race inherited from birth. We are to wage an unceasing warfare against the works of the flesh as well as all other tendencies toward worldliness and impurity.—Gal. 5:17-21; Col. 3:3-9

On the other hand, we are to have the mind of Christ controlling our actions as we put on the new man that has as its chief endeavor the doing of God’s righteous will. Additionally, any identifications based upon race, nationality, ethnicity or culture which are associated with our former status, have no part in our present standing as New Creatures.—Col. 3:10,11

Our Key Verse addresses the fact that it is not sufficient that we merely acquire an intellectual knowledge of God’s truth. We also are required to put on such graces as mercy, kindness, meekness and longsuffering, which are further evidences of having a new mind.

The head of the body is Christ. Its members are composed of those who are willing to be directed by him, just as the human body is controlled by the head, where the brain is in charge and the various body members respond to its direction. To the degree that the human mind is functioning properly, the actions of its various body parts will operate in an appropriate manner.

Even though the “one” body has many different members, it will possess one spirit or mindset reflected within every member of the church. The standard for knowing whether this exists in each believer might be determined by applying the following criterion: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”—Phil. 2:5

How blessed we are to appreciate God’s merciful provision in permitting us to have those experiences that will make us a part of his divine family. We will praise him forever as his goodness continues to be manifest throughout eternity.