Ephesians 4:22-24. …. that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
2 Corinthians 3:18. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
Galatians 2:20. “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
How easy it is for a new believer to embrace with great joy the glorious experience of being brought out of darkness into the glorious light of Jesus, yet thereafter to neglect being brought into the fullness of the kingdom of our Father’s beloved Son. How easy it is to rest in the knowledge of what Jesus has done for us and to overlook what we are privileged to do and to be for Him. How easy it is to satisfy the desires of the old self at the expense of bringing joy to our Father in heaven by putting on the new self ‘which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth’.
Satan is not done with those who are brought out of his impenetrable darkness but rather he concentrates on keeping as much of this darkness in the human consciousness. He convinces many a new believer that holiness can be overdone. It is not what we gladly renounce when we come to Jesus it is what we allow to remain. In fact the biggest barrier to transformation into the likeness of Jesus is our self-life which now desires to do good things and eliminate or reduce the bad things. Symphonies may take the place of rock concerts, yet both may offer competing satisfaction with Jesus. The real question remains, is attendance at the symphony (or indeed the rock concert) within God’s plan for our life? The new self chooses only to do the will of God.
When Jesus died on the cross He not only brought salvation to the sinner but, in Him, our awful distorted self was crucified too. If we could have our old self revealed to us in comparison with the holiness of God it would be unbearable. God’s intention is not to improve the old self but to transform us into the image and likeness of Jesus. The old self can only produce works that will prove to be wood, hay and stubble.
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23. This verse identifies the tripartite nature of human kind. Each one has a body that is the part of us which we encounter first when we meet others. Next as we enter into communication we encounter the soul; the mind, emotions and will of each other. If our communication concerns values, we may discern our individual response to matters of conscience. In our beliefs and choice of action we respond to something deeper than our mind, emotion or will. The conscience then must have something to do with our spirit.
Conscience prompts us to respect and value others and to treat them as we ourselves would wish to be treated. In order to disrespect or harm others we must choose to override the conscience God has placed within us. However, when we are born again, the Holy Spirit brings our human spirit to life, greatly quickening our conscience and allowing us to hear the voice of God directing us into the pathway of holiness and righteousness to do His will. Our conscience becomes the gateway into our spirit which has now become the eternal dwelling place of the Spirit of God. The new self produces works that will prove to be gold, silver and precious stones.
What of those who come to saving faith in Christ yet live much in accord with the urges and desires of the old self? To varying degrees their works will be burned up in the fire of God at the judgment seat of Christ. In keeping with Jesus’ parable of the servant who hid his master’s talent in the ground, found in Matthew 25, it seems that all who have lived largely according to the dictates of the old self will be cast into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. As with the foolish virgins in the parable that follows, these will not have come to know their Bridegroom and they will be faced with His denial of them, “I never knew you.” In the outer darkness they will be dealt with, in ways in which we have not been informed, during the thousand year reign of Christ upon the earth.
Lastly, what of those who have refused God’s offer of salvation through faith in the redeeming sacrifice of Jesus? The awfulness of their fate cannot be imagined. On the return to God of their unregenerate spirit they will have no conscience; no knowledge of good and evil. When cast forever into that place of ultimate torment each distorted soul in its sinful and purposeless state can have no communion with any other soul. Thus it is condemned forever to a state of utmost aloneness and despair.
Surely then, for those who have found eternal life and a living hope in Jesus there must be an impelling compassion to bring the message of salvation to all around as the Lord shall lead, combined with deep intercession for all the world’s people, that by any means countless numbers may be saved. Hell was created for Satan and his demons, not for the offspring of Adam.
Please feel free to share your thoughts below. When you have finished with this post you may return to the main Posts page. https://hisupwardcall.com/posts/