and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Sermons I. THE NEGATIVE ASPECT OF CONVERSION. "Ye have put off the old man with his deeds." 1. The old man is the old unconverted self, strong in his deeds of sin. His deeds are catalogued among the "works of the flesh;" (Galatians 5:22, 23), as well as in the context. He is to be discerned, indeed, by his works like a tree by its fruits. 2. The putting off of the old man is twofold, namely, at conversion and in the gradual process of sanctification. Some teach that the old man is an unchanged and unchangeable being, and that, as he has been crucified in Christ (Romans 6:6), we have nothing more to do with him. In that case, if we have put on the new man, we are perfectly sinless. (1) There is a putting off of the old man at our justification. (2) There is a gradual putting off likewise - a "mortifying your members which are upon the earth," which is to continue till we get rid of all his deeds. The counsel, therefore, to put off the old man and put on the new man is like the similar counsel, "Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 13:14), addressed to those who had already "put on Christ" (Galatians 3:27). II. THE POSITIVE ASPECT OF CONVERSION. "And have put on the new man." This is the regenerate man. He is a "new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15). 1. The nature of this newness. (1) He has a new nature - "born from above" (John 3:3). He has "a new heart." (2) He has a new obedience, both as to its spirit, its matter, and its end (Romans 12:1). (3) He has a new citizenship (Philippians 3:20). (4) He has new desires (Psalm 51:2; Matthew 5:6; 1 Timothy 4:8). 2. It is a nature constantly renewed unto full knowledge. "Which is being renewed unto knowledge." It is not at once complete, but in a state of constant development by the Holy Spirit. Knowledge is a principal part of the new grace of the believer. (1) It is the beginning of eternal life (John 17:3). (2) It has transforming power (2 Corinthians 7:18). (3) It is necessary to our understanding the wiles of the devil and resisting the temptations of the world (1 Peter 5:9). 3. Its renewal is after a Divine pattern. "After the image of him who created him." The allusion is to Genesis 1:26. The image of Christ in the believer is analogous to that of the image of God in the original man, but will be far more glorious, as the second Man is more glorious than the first man. Thus we see the process of putting on the new man in its beginning (Galatians 3:27), in its continuance (Romans 13:14), and in its completeness (1 Corinthians 15:53, 54). - T.C.
And have put on the new man. I. Man was created in the image of God. Righteous as God was righteous he saw God in his own nature; other intelligent creatures saw God in him; and God in His offspring saw Himself.2. The image of God is now defaced. The substance remains, but its glorious attributes are gone. The form abides but the glorious features are not there. 3. To be right and blessed men must recover this image. Without likeness to God we are unable to appreciate His revelations, and incapable of filial intercourse. 4. By his own power or with the assistance of his fellows, no man can recover it. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh," therefore he must be "born not of blood," etc., "but of God." I. GOD HAS MADE PROVISION FOR THE RENEWAL OF HIS IMAGE IN MAN. 1. This provision consists in —(1) The atonement which justifies God's interposition for man's regeneration. If without a sacrifice God had restored man, the idea of misfortune, not guilt, would have been associated with man's fallen state. But now sin appears exceeding sinful.(2) The living Mediator is the way for man to God — as the source of life and light.(3) The testimony of God's Word informs men of the atonement and Mediator. How can they avail themselves of what they have not heard?(4) The Holy Spirit so acts upon the heart as to produce sympathy with the testimony of the gospel; and under His influence men believe God's Word and are born again. 2. There is provision: the recovery of God's image is possible. The aged cannot become young, the diseased healthful, the mutilated whole; but man may be renewed. Nature illustrates this. Trees shed their leaves in autumn, and remain in winter as though dead. In the spring the sap rises and circulates, the branches extend, and the foliage returns. The plumage of the bird loses its vigour and gloss, but moulting recovers strength and restores beauty. The human body is exhausted through the waste of its functional operations, and for its renewal we have provision in feed and sleep. And for the soul there is as real a provision. Let none despair. There is balm in Gilead, etc. 3. This provision is of God. He first thought of making it, not man; and He has carried out this design.(1) The creative power of God is unlimited. "The things which are impossible with men," etc.(2) Power connected with malevolence is a fearful combination, but how changed the aspect of power when the hand and arm of love. What benevolence is here. "Behold what manner of love," etc.This proves — (1) (2) (3) (4) 4. There is but one provision. If men could have restored themselves or each other, God would not have made provision. As you cannot respire by the light, nor see by the air, but vice versa, so you cannot be regenerated by intellectual or social education. II. MEN ARE, THROUGH THE DIVINE PROVISION, ACTUALLY REGENERATED INTO THE IMAGE OF GOD. 1. Its sphere.(1) Not the body, although regeneration does effect salutary changes here. Where vice has reigned, regeneration arrests disease and restores health. Where passions have been dominant, the countenance is changed. It also affects temporal circumstances by improving habits.(2) The soul is its true seat, and the change consists in the leading forth Godwards of all its powers, and the awakening of all its susceptibilities.(a) A renewed man thinks, and his knowledge is of God and Christ.(b) He feels, and his affections are led away from the unlawful and are fixed on the good.(c) His conscience is rectified and made sensitive, and His will and actions are brought under its control.(d) Over the world he is a conqueror.(e) He is made like Christ, and through Christ like God. 2. Its nature.(1) It is radical and general. It penetrates to the core of the soul, and spreads itself over the entire surface. The likeness of a statue to its subject is merely on the face of the marble; as you get below you reach the unlike.(2) Its perfection is a work of time. A man is born again so soon as he believes in Christ; but into the likeness of God he grows up. Conclusion: Such changes are ejected, and cannot be questioned. John 1:13, James 1:13, and 1 Peter 1:23 hold good to-day everywhere. 1. When the provision of God's mercy for the regeneration of the race is unknown, no such change is observed to take place. 2. When regeneration does take place, the remedial dispensation of the gospel is acknowledged as the means. (S. Martin.) I. The Scriptures teach that GRACIOUS AFFECTIONS ARISE FROM SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING (1 John 4:7; Philippians 1:9; Romans 10:2; Psalm 93:3-4; John 6:45; Luke 11:52). 1. Affections which arise from external impressions on the imagination are not gracious. 2. The same is true of those which are awakened by texts of Scripture which come to the mind without carrying any instruction in them. When Christ makes the Scriptures a means of the heart burning with gracious affections, it is by opening the Scriptures to men's understandings (Luke 24:32). 3. Affections that have their ground in bodily sensation, freedom of speech in prayer, aptness of thought, and the like, are not derived from spiritual instruction. Hence the affection is not gracious, unless the light in the understanding, which is its origin, be spiritual. There is, therefore, a "spiritual, supernatural understanding of Divine things that is peculiar to the saints, and which those who are not saints know nothing of" (1 Corinthians 2:14; 1 John 3:6). II. This SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT CONSISTS IN "a sense of the heart of the supreme beauty and sweetness of the holiness or moral perfection of Divine things, together with all that discerning and knowledge of the things of religion that depends upon and flows from such a sense." 1. There is tans a difference between speculative knowledge and that which is experimental (Romans 2:20; 2 Corinthians 2:14). 2. He is led by the Spirit who is first instructed in his duty, and then powerfully inclined to comply with such Divine instruction. III. SOME CONCLUSIONS. 1. This spiritual sense will enable the soul to determine what actions are right and becoming to Christians more readily than the greatest abilities without it. 2. This sense will be distinguished from forms of enthusiasm and supposed discoveries of truth and communications other than those which the Scriptures have always contained. 3. Satan and evil spirits have power to tempt us through the imagination. We need to guard against vain imaginations. 4. We need to distinguish "between lively imaginations that spring from strong affections, and strong affections that arise from lively imaginations." What is external and natural in its origin cannot be spiritual and gracious. (L. O. Thompson.) 1194 glory, divine and human 4030 world, behaviour in 4060 nature 5005 human race, and redemption May 5. "If Ye Then be Risen" (Col. Iii. 1). February 17. "Your Life is Hid" (Col. Iii. 3). May 18. "For Ye are Dead" (Col. Iii. 3). Fifth Sunday after Epiphany Easter Wednesday Also Suited to Easter Tuesday. Risen with Christ The Christian Training of Children. Unity and Peace. Christ is All Christ is All Some General Uses. Cups Running Over What have I to do with Idols? Christ Our Life. Meditations of the Misery of a Man not Reconciled to God in Christ. Christ all and in All. But, after that He had Made Mention of These Evils... "But Now do Ye Also," Saith He, "Put Down All... Epistle xxxiii. To Dominicus. How Servants and Masters are to be Admonished. How Subjects and Prelates are to be Admonished. Third Sunday after Trinity Humility, Trust, Watchfulness, Suffering What the Scriptures Principally Teach: the Ruin and Recovery of Man. Faith and Love Towards Christ. |
    |