A new standard!
V25 n2
In the last
newsletter, we talked about how a person is able to have a new beginning with
God, by becoming that new creation, by, through and in Christ Jesus. (John
3:3-8, 2Cor
Definition for standard: That which is
established by a sovereign power as a rule or measure by which others are to be
adjusted. (Webster’s 1828 dictionary).
What
people often forget, is that it is God’s kingdom that one is striving for, to
attain. Therefore, it is His sovereign power or rule that sets the standard and
guidelines that are required for obtaining and then living and abiding within
His realm.
Just as when a person changes jobs, they are soon to find out that they have a new boss. And with that new boss comes somewhat of a new assignment to the skills that one has in that field. Along with the new boss and the new assignment, also comes a different set of standards and conduct with the new place of employment, by which the worker will now be constantly evaluated. So too with one becoming a new creation in Christ; one now has a new boss with the Father. No longer does one serve the god of this world, the father of lies and deception; but they now are to live and serve the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Creator and giver of life, the Father of truth and comfort for those who will live and abide by the new standards that are required in order to remain a part of His kingdom, His realm, His family.
The
gospels give a person a clear view of how one is to live a life according to
the standards of the new creation, as portrayed for us by the example set forth
by Jesus of Nazareth in always hearing and obeying the Father by the guidance
of the Spirit of Christ within Him. By observing and following His example, one
is able to set in motion that pattern of life and living by the new standard of
living that is required for the divine nature, in full obedience and compliance
with the Message delivered to us by and through the truth of God’s Word,
Christ; and is the only way to eternal life in God’s kingdom.
Once
Jesus Christ completed or fulfilled the life of obedience to the Father here on
this earth, He laid down His life for us by His death. After the penalty of sin
and death was dealt with, then He was resurrected by and through the power of
God in our place. Once this perfect sacrifice was made and completed, then the
keys of hell and death were presented to the Father by Jesus Christ. Once this
sacrifice was accepted as complete, then and only then was the Holy Spirit made
available to man at the day of Pentecost. It is at this place and time, that
God poured out His Spirit upon all flesh. And it will be available until the
end of the Church age.
So,
once the perfect sacrifice was accepted by God, then and only then, was
reconciliation made available to you and to me. However, with this new
beginning comes a new standard of life and living. Now, one has to learn to
hear and see God’s love set forth in His commandments (standards) for how to be
able to lead and live a life that will be pleasing to Him. For one is able to
see within the gospels that Jesus Christ lived His life by this new standard
set forth in the covenant. That is, that He only spoke the things which He
heard the Father speak; and did only those things which He saw the Father do.
Thus, His life was pleasing to the Father at all times, not just when it seemed
or appeared convenient, which is how most people live.
Now,
once you become that new creation in Christ, the Spirit of truth is given to
you to lead you and guide you into all of the truth of God’s Word; that is, the
new standard of living for the new nature which you are now able to be a partaker
of.
The
problem or dilemma arises in that the spirit of man is brought to life by the
Spirit of Christ; however, the old man, the lower nature still lurks within a
person, looking for any and all opportunities to regain control in a person’s
life. So with this new life, with the new nature, this new creation, the new
standard of God must be heard, comprehended and then applied to one’s life, if
they expect to be pleasing to Father, and eventually be granted acceptance in
His kingdom.
Ephesians 4:22-24, 22 That ye put off concerning
the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the
deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye
put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true
holiness. KJV
Ephesians 4: 22. to lay aside, with your former way of living,
your old self which is on the way to destruction in accordance with its
deceptive impulses; 23. and to have a
new attitude of mind 24. and put on the
new self which has been created in the likeness of God, which fruits in right
and holy living inspired by the truth. (Williams NT)
[That
ye put off] And this has been one special part of our teaching, that ye should
abandon all these, and live a life totally opposite to what it was before.
[The old man] See the note at
<Rom. 6:6>, and especially the notes at <Rom.
[Which is corrupt] The whole of your former life was corrupt and abominable; ye lived in the pursuit of pleasure and happiness; ye sought this in the gratification of the lusts of the flesh; and were ever deceived by these lusts, and disappointed in your expectations.
[And be renewed in the spirit of
your mind] Their old mode of living was to be abandoned; a new one to be
assumed. The mind is to be renovated; and not only its general complexion, but
the very spirit of it; all its faculties and powers must be thoroughly,
completely, and universally renewed.
[Put on the new man] Get a new
nature; for in Christ Jesus-- under the Christian dispensation, neither
circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Therefore
ye must be renewed in the spirit of your mind. (from Adam Clarke Commentary)
Thus
we can see why Paul tells us that we must forget, lay aside our former conversation
or standard of living. That is the old man or lower nature which is corrupt,
will always be trying to lead you or steer you away from the strait and narrow
path by the deceptive and destructive impulses that used to be the standard of
living. One is only able to overcome the lower nature by a new attitude or
standard of and to the mind. It is with this new standard by which a person
enables the new creation of God within them, to follow after, that is to
imitate the example set forth by Jesus Christ.
How
is it possible that one is able to accomplish this?
2 Corinthians 3:6
It is He also who has made us competent to serve Him in connection
with a new Covenant, which is not a written code but a Spirit; for the written
code inflicts death, but the Spirit gives Life.
This new standard cannot be comprehended, understood, deciphered or ascertained by any written code of the lower nature. It is totally separate, different, and unique from any fleshly codes or translations. This code or secret of God is only able to be revealed, uncovered, disclosed or understood by the new creation, by the new standard, by the ability or enabling of His Spirit. Thus why we can see why the Word tells us that the letter kills, but it is His Spirit that gives life.
Of
the New Testament, or "covenant"; the
covenant of grace, of which Christ is the Mediator and surety; called
"new", not because newly made, for it was made with Christ from
everlasting; nor newly revealed, for it was made known to Adam after his fall,
and to all the Old Testament patriarchs, and was exhibited under the legal
dispensation, though but darkly, in types, shadows, sacrifices, &c. which
therefore waxing old is vanished away; and the covenant of grace is now more
clearly revealed under the Gospel dispensation, free from all the obscurity it
before laboured under; and therefore is called "new", as well as
because it will always continue so, and never give way to another covenant: now
the Gospel, and the ministry of it, is nothing else but an exhibition of the
covenant of grace, its blessings and promises; and the work and business of
those who are ministers of it is not to insist upon the covenant of works, the
terms, conditions, obligations, promises, and threatenings of that covenant;
but to open and explain the nature, promises, and blessings of the covenant of
grace: for such who are fit and proper ministers, are ministers
not
of the letter, but of the spirit; which is to be
understood, not of any difference between the books of the Old and the New
Testament, for a faithful minister of the word may and will bring forth things
new and old, out of the one as well as the other; nor of the literal and
allegorical, or mystical sense of the Scriptures, as if the latter and not the
former was only to be attended to; nor of the difference of communicating the
Gospel by letters, and preaching it by word of mouth; since both methods may be
used for the spread of it, as were by the apostles themselves; but of the
difference there is between the law and the Gospel. The law is "the
letter", not merely because written in letters, for so likewise is the
Gospel; but because it is a mere letter, hereby showing what is to be done or
avoided, without any efficacy in it, or communicating any to enable persons to
obey its commands, to give life to its observers, or either to sanctify or
justify any who are under it, or of the works of it; it is a mere letter, as
observed by an unregenerate man, who only regards the externals of it, being
unacquainted with its spirituality. The Gospel is "the spirit"; see
(John 6:63) it contains spiritual things, and not things merely natural, moral,
and civil, as does the law, but spiritual blessings and promises; it penetrates
into the spirit and soul of man, and comes from, and is attended with the
Spirit of God. The law is the letter that killeth, by irritating
and provoking to sin, the cause of death, which though not the design and
natural tendency of the law, and therefore not to be blamed, yet so it is, through
the corruption of human nature; and by convincing of sin when the sinner is
killed, and it dead in his own apprehension; and by not only threatening with
death, but by cursing, condemning, and punishing with it:
But
the Gospel is the spirit, which giveth life; it is a means in the
hand of the Spirit of God, of quickening dead sinners, of healing the deadly
wounds of sin, of showing the way of life by Christ, and of
working faith in the soul, to look to him, and live upon him; it affords food
for the support of the spiritual life, and revives souls under the most
drooping circumstances.
(John Gill commentary)
So as we can see, it is a new standard of life for the
new creation. That one must live by this new standard for the new creation if
they expect to be pleasing to the Father. The choice, the decision is yours and
yours alone. What will you do with this gift of life that is made available to
you this day?
That
you may know Him,
In the
service of Jesus Christ.
Larry
Gazelka
J
Copyright
© 2003