Lord’s Day, Vol. 10 No. 40
The New Man (3)
The new birth brings forth the new man – a spiritual man, living on a new plane touching on the divine. He is (1) a man of faith, (2) a man of holiness, (3) a man in sweet communion with God, (4) a man hungering after righteousness.
The new man is a man of understanding.
(5) A Man of Understanding
The wisdom of God fills His heart and soul, endows him with the skill for this new life – Ephesians 1:8-9 (KJV) Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Life is purposeful, fulfilling the will of God. As the new man meditates upon God’s Word there is a sanctifying effect granting him wisdom and prudence (moral insight) for life.
Proverbs 1:2-7 (KJV) To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
He learns the fear of the LORD that is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom the application of knowledge.
Proverbs 3:7 (KJV) Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
He learns to fear God and be weary of himself. He understands that he is a sinner saved by grace. When he is not vigilant, he can fall.
(6) The New Man’s Blessing
(a) Peace with God
Romans 5:1 (KJV) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
The first blessing of being a child of God is peace with God. This is the first of seven blessings delineated in Rom. 5:1-11 for every child of God. There is no more enmity but reconciliation with God. A reconciliation that comes because man’s sin has been fully dealt with by Christ’s death on the cross – Colossians 1:20-21 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.
God’s wrath is averted. Friendship and goodwill with God restored. This is the powerful consequence of what faith in Christ brings for the sinner. He is translated from one consigned to hell to one bound for heaven.
In our daily life, when we do wrong, our conscience will give us no peace until we set right the matter. This peace comes as a result of sins forgiven. Peace comes to our hearts. This peace is a sense of quiet rest in the heart. There is no longer a guilty conscience. This is what God does to our heart when we repent of our sins and put on the righteousness of Christ. Peace comes to our hearts.
A peace that God supernaturally bestows to the reconciled sinner. Every born-again Christian experience this peace.
(b) Access to God’s Favour
Romans 5:2a (KJV) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand…
Our salvation in Christ brings us access to God’s unfailing and inexhaustible favour. This blessing of God’s grace is appropriated by faith.
And this blessed standing before God begins when we become a child of God and continues forever! It is mind-boggling as we are brought to the realisation of this great privilege we have in Christ. This access for the believer is by way of prayer to the Father in heaven in the name of Jesus Christ.
Whenever we have any need, we can call to the Father in heaven to supply and He hearkens to our cry each time. The psalmist testified how he loved his LORD who has been his ready helper.
Psalm 116:1-10 I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. 2 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. 3 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. 4 Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. 5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. 6 The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me. 7 Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee. 8 For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. 9 I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living. 10 I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:
Truly, we have a great God in Jesus Christ whom we can through life’s pathway. Have you any need? Do take time to call upon the Lord.
(c) Hope of the Glory of God
Romans 5:2 (KJV) … and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
The child of God is confident of his good standing before God through Jesus Christ. He has assurance in his heart that God will always do him good.
As Solomon testified in Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. The richness of spiritual blessings in Christ is to be experienced on earth, here and now, but the best is yet to come. The splendour and beauty of blessings in heaven cannot be fully comprehended.
When we travel to different places, we marvel at the beauty of God’s creation. This will pale to the glories of heaven. God would give us a supernatural body to enjoy the perfect splendour of heaven in eternity. We cannot fully fathom this great privilege now. We catch glimpses of it through the eyes of Scripture. This is the third blessing of being a child of God. Greater blessing is yet future and this is a sure hope!
Saved by Grace
Someday the silver cord will break,
And I no more as now shall sing;
But O joy when I shall wake
Within the palace of the King!
Chorus
And I shall see Him face to face,
And tell the story – Saved by grace;
And I shall see Him face to face,
And tell the story Saved by grace.
May the meditation upon this third blessing bring you great encouragement to press on in life.
(d) Glory in Tribulation
Romans 5:3a (KJV) And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also …
The fourth blessing of being a child of God is that we can face trials in life with courage and strength. Be assured that we are not struggling alone but God is with us. Jesus gave these words of encouragement to His disciples before He went to the cross in John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
The word “tribulation” means “being pressed to a breaking point”. The trials in the believer’s life can be so overwhelming, but Jesus assured His disciples to take courage and be confident and rest in the truth that He is with them to help them overcome and have victory. Therefore, in the believer’s heart, there is peace and quiet confidence that with Christ he will yet triumph. There is an interesting illustration called “Two Pictures” that help illustrates the restfulness or peace that Jesus gives:
Two painters each painted a picture to illustrate their concept of rest. The first chose for his scene a still, lone lake among far-off mountains. The second threw on his canvas a thundering waterfall, with a fragile birch tree bending over the foam; at the fork of a branch, almost wet with the cataract’s spray, a robin sat on its nest. The first was only Stagnation; the last was Rest. For in rest, there are two elements—tranquillity and energy; silence and turbulence; creation and destruction; fearfulness and fearlessness.[Drummond]
The believer is able to glory in tribulation, not be afraid of trials and not buckle under its pressure because of God’s assured help for His children.
Tribulation Produces Steadfast Endurance
Romans 5:3b (KJV) … knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
In the Christian’s life, we are to expect tribulation. Troubles, sufferings, tears, affliction and distress are a part of this earthly life. We cannot avoid it. It is allowed by God in His sovereign will to mould us so that it may bring forth godly virtues.
To be continued…
Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee