Thursday, September 20, 2012

Goodbye, Farewell, Adios, Adieu, Shalom, Aloha to the Old Man



Rom 6:1  What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7  For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9  Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10  For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Honestly, I don't know how to get rid of the old man. He is the flesh that desires autonomy and sinful pleasures against God. We that are believers are now possessed of a dual nature composed of the old and new man. The soul is redeemed and spirit is quickened, but the body remains corruptible and mortal until the day of our home-going when it shall be made immortal and incorruptible.

You can't really part with the old nature until that day, if you would, what parting word could be used? You wouldn't want to wish it anything good, so goodbye is inappropriate. You don't commend it to God, therefore Adios and Adieu don't suffice. Aloha? Not something you want to say to one you are more than willing to part with. Shalom? I suppose peace is not too bad of a wish for the old man. You get my meaning though, right? The sooner we part, the better, for it is this body of death, this old nature, the old man, which breaks sweet fellowship with the Savior. It tries to get the upper hand, to gain control. It struggles for preeminence over my soul and spirit.

At least I can slay it each day as I yield myself to God and my parts to His service. How about "hang loose and so long?"

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