The Resurrection In The Believer's Daily Life
The Resurrection: The "New Man" And The Need Of Enablement.
The provision of cleansing in the Crucifixion is largely
negative. It is a cleansing from the power of the fallen
nature. The believer, however, needs more than cleansing. He
also needs a divine enablement to obey God and to possess
and to practice the virtues commended in the Scripture.
Even the most careless reading of the Bible will indicate
the importance of obeying God. Throughout the New Testament,
obedience is presented as an evidence of salvation. Those
who do not practice the commandments and Word of God are not
true believers (1 John 2:3-5). Obedience to God is equated
with salvation (Hebrews 5:9) and forgiveness (1 Peter 1:2).
In the return of Jesus Christ, those who will be judged are
described as those who "know not God and that obey not the
gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 1:8).
Even more emphatically, obedience is described as a
characteristic of sanctification. To love God is to obey Him
(John 14:15, 21, 23; 1 John 5:3; 2 John 6). According to
Paul and Peter the secret of progressive sanctification is
found in the practice of obedience (Romans 6:16-18;
Philippians 2:12, 13; 1 Peter 1:14-22). The four great
exhortations of sanctification, to "put off" (Ephesians
4:22; Colossians 3:9); "put on" (Ephesians 4:24; Colossians
3:10); "resist" (Ephesians 4:27; 6:11-13; 1 Peter 5:9); and
"be filled" (Ephesians 5:18) are amplified and applied
throughout the New Testament in principle and precept. there
is no substitute nor alternative for obedience.
In regard to sanctification and obedience two things of
importance must be kept in mind. The first has to do with
motivation. Happy is the person who lives in a culture which
demands a morality paralleling the Bible. Not stealing from
the neighbor but being kind to him is approved by the
Scripture. However, if we refrain from stealing simply
because of our culture we are not reflecting our
sanctification. Even the non-Christian lives according to
the demands of culture. Sanctification grows out of a
relationship with God - not culture.
It is necessary, therefore, to question our motivation. To
act in harmony with the Bible because of our culture, or
because of our fear of criticism, or because of our
reputation, or because of our desire for success, is surely
not an expression of loving obedience to God.
The second factor of importance in regard to sanctification
concerns one of its characteristics: sanctification is
positive. Too often the emphasis is placed upon a negative
separation. Many of the commandments of the New Testament do
exhort the believer not to engage in certain activities
(Ephesians 4:25-31; Colossians 3:5, 8, 9; 1 John 2:15-17).
This, however, is so we may be free to give God His rightful
place in our lives and to practice His will. In the
Scripture sanctification is inseparably related to the
positive manifestation in daily life of the virtues of love,
faith, and hope (Matthew 22:36- 40; 1 Corinthians 13;
Hebrews 11:6; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 3:6; 1 John 3:14-18). It
is not enough to abstain from loving the world (1 John
2:15); we must love God (Matthew 22:37, 38). We must do more
than refrain from putting faith in ourselves (Jeremiah 17:5;
Luke 18:9; we must put our faith in God (Jeremiah 17:7;
Hebrews 11:6; 1 John 3:23). Freedom from despair and
pessimism is not sufficient (Romans 4:18); one must practice
hope in God (Romans 15:13; 1 Peter 1:1,3).
Sanctification is, therefore, a process whereby the believer
is increasingly brought into a spiritual conformity with
Jesus Christ (Romans 8:28, 29). For this the Christian needs
divine enablement. The Resurrection: The 'New Man" And The
Provision Of Enablement.
In the New Testament almost all of the positive benefits of
salvation and sanctification are traced back to the
Resurrection of Jesus Christ. In this great deed of God in
history, the Lord Jesus Christ not only verified the
truthfulness of His divine Sonship (Romans 1:4); presented
evidence that His work of atonement was finished and
accepted (Acts 13:29-39); assured all men of a future
judgment (Acts 17:31 ) and resurrection (John 5:29; 1
Corinthians 15:20-28; Revelation 20:11-15); but also made
adequate provision for the Christian to live in "newness of
life" (Romans 6:4).
In his salvation the believer was given spiritual life (John
3:3, 5; 10:10. 28; 17:2 Ephesians 2:5; 1 John 5:11, 12).
through this work of regeneration his character was
transformed and he was given a "new nature" (1 Corinthians
6:11; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatioans 6:15). The believer now
has the ability, through his new nature, to say "no" to the
old nature with all its evil, and to live with faith, love,
hope, and spiritual power, as part of his daily experience.
These benefits all find their source in the work of Jesus
Christ in His Resurrection (Romans 6:4; 7:4 Colossians 2:12,
13; 1 Peter 1:3, 21).
As the recipient of this work of Christ, the believer is
described as being "alive unto God" (Romans 6:11) and
"married to another" (Romans 7:4). These terms indicate the
revolutionary change which has been brought into the life on
one who was once dead and alienated from God. They also
describe the potential enablement which has been given to
every believer.
The Apostle Paul explains this provision as a divine power.
He prayed for the Ephesian Christians that they might know
this power in their daily lives (Ephesians 1:19, 20) and
stated that he sought to live so he might experience the
same enablement (Philippians 3:10).
The practical result of this divine provision is that the
Christian need no longer live under the dominion of sin nor
the influence of the old nature. He has been set free and
has the ability to live a life of obedience, righteousness,
and holiness (Romans 6:11, 12; Philippians 1:11). Such a
life has been described by the Apostle Paul as "bringing
forth fruit unto God" (Romans 7:4).
One of the greatest sins and one that is found in the lives
of all Christians is our failure to appropriate the
provision God has made available through the Resurrection.
It is not the will of God that we live the Christian life in
our own strength. He said, "without Me ye can do nothing"
(John 15:5).
The Christian stands without excuse before this reality of
divine provision.
The Resurrection: The "New Man" And The Conditions For
Enablement.
It is one thing to know that Jesus Christ has made an
adequate provision for our daily lives but it is quite
another to incorporate this provision into our daily
practice. What must we do to appropriate this power to live
a holy life?
In the Crucifixion Jesus Christ provided a cleansing from
the believer's old nature. We are therefore exhorted to "put
off the old man" (Ephesians 4:22; Colossians 3:9). In the
Resurrection Jesus Christ provided an enablement to live a
holy life through the provision of a new nature. We are
therefore exhorted to "put on the new man" (Ephesians 4:24;
Colossians 3:10). Until we learn to obey God in this way -
we are doomed to spiritual failure. No amount of pious talk
or ambiguous praying can be a substitute for clear-cut
decisions of faith.
By the use of the term "new man" the Apostle Paul is
referring to the new nature and ability which has been given
to every believer in his salvation (2 Peter 1:3, 4;
Colossians 1:29; Philippians 4:13). This ability to live the
Christian life successfully is not automatic: it must be
appropriated by faith. One must learn how to "put on the new
man" by deliberate choice and practice.
In the previous lesson we found that the Bible presents
three conditions for cleansing from the old nature. These
conditions are to be put into practice through five steps
which are all decisions of faith. Now, in regard to the
Resurrection and the new nature, the conditions and the
steps are the same but with a positive emphasis. The key is
found in the Biblical exhortation that, having "put off," we
are now to "put on" (Colossians 3:9, 10). The former
exhortation refers primarily to the cleansing provided in
the Crucifixion and the latter to the enablement which is
ours in the Resurrection.
By a decision of faith we are to "put off," for example, the
sin of selfishness and to "put on" the contrasting virtue of
love. Or it may be lust, or doubt, or fear, or jealousy that
must be rejected by faith and the virtues of purity, faith,
courage, or praise to be chosen in their place. The specific
sin from which a believer may need cleansing and the
specific virtue with which he may need enablement depends
upon his spiritual life and circumstances. The hypocrite,
for example, needs a different type of enablement than the
alcoholic.
We may not live as though the Resurrection did not happen.
It did happen and God has made adequate provision for our
spiritual life. Therefore, we must make the spiritual
decision to think and live in harmony with the Resurrection
(Romans 6:11). We must also make the decision to live in the
strength of the new nature (Romans 6:12) and to do so in
active dependence on God (Romans 6:13).
These three conditions of success must be put into practice
through the five steps mentioned earlier. We must sincerely
and honestly acknowledge our need of help, confess our
failure to manifest His grace, deliberately forsake our sins
of omission, receive Jesus Christ as our specific
enablement, and then live our daily lives practicing the
virtues provided in Jesus Christ through the Resurrection.
These are all necessary decisions of faith.
Without this type of involvement with God and the
resurrection, we may expect only failure.
The use of these five steps in regard to the Crucifixion and
the Resurrection is one of emphasis only. In fact, the
"putting off" and the "putting on" can be done at the same
time. Once the believer learns how to make the decisions of
faith, the rejection of selfishness and the appropriation of
love may be but the two aspects of the same decision.
The important factor is that the decisions be made and made
as a response of genuine surrender and faith in God. Diagram
12 indicates some of the choices that a believer has. The
Christian must make a choice. Simply stating the words is
worse than worthless. Mere platitudes invoke the judgment of
God.
The Key To Success: Daily Choose By Faith To Live In The Enablement Of The New
Nature. We May Have Purity Instead Of Lust, Courage Instead
Of Fear, Etc., Through The Crucifixion And Resurrection Of
Jesus Christ.