25 19. The One New Man
19. The One New Man
INTRODUCTION
Several lessons have been given teaching the importance of becoming members of the church and how to become members, that the way of salvation may be seen from the different viewpoints taught in the Holy Scriptures. The lesson now before us is one of the most interesting and instructive of them all. The text of this lesson is Ephesians 2:14-15 : "For he [Christ] is our peace, who made both [Jew and Gentile] one, and brake down the middle wall of partition, having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two [Jew and Gentile] one new man, so making peace." The "one new man" was created after the "middle wall of partition" was broken down, after "the law of commandments contained in ordinances" had been removed. "He taketh away the first [covenant], that he may establish the second." (Hebrews 10:9.) Colossians 2:14 says that he took the first covenant away when he died on the cross. Hebrews 9:15-17 says that Christ is the. "mediator of a new covenant," which could not go into effect until after his death.
These Scriptures are sufficient to introduce the subject of "the one new man" that was created after our Lord’s death—after he had ended the old covenant. This subject comprehends all that God through Christ has now to offer us.
THE SIMPLEST METHOD OF TEACHING
Jesus, while here, adopted the plan of teaching by analogy. In Mark 4:30 he says: "How shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what parable shall we set it forth?" He then gives a number of things that the kingdom resembles in some point. We have also the simile, another figure of speech based on comparison; then the allegory, which is a parable stretched out more into a story, the parable itself sometimes being called a brief allegory. But the metaphor is the figure of speech with which we are dealing in this lesson. It is also based on analogy, but is used only when the analogy is practically perfect or runs all the way through the two things compared. It is a figure of speech in which one object is spoken of as if it were the other. "Ye are the salt of the earth," also "Ye are the light of the world," are examples of metaphors. A real Christian, in his influence over others, is so nearly like the influence of live salt over meat that Jesus just calls the real Christian salt. The same is true of a real Christian and light. Light drives out darkness, shows us where and how we may place our feet in safety. Just so is the influence of a real Christian—he sends light into our hearts, and we are not digressing from the path of right living when we follow in his footsteps.
There is a one-hundred-per-cent analogy between a living man and the institution which God, through Christ, created after ending the old covenant; hence he calls it "one new man."
THE OUTSTANDING ELEMENTS THAT GO TO THE MAKING OF MAN
Objectively considered. The two main divisions of man are: (1) His head, (2) his body. These two words, head and body, comprehend man objectively considered. Man cannot exist without a head, nor can he exist without a body. These two together constitute man simply considered as an object. All know these two main divisions of man, and that it takes both to make man.
Subjectively considered. The indwelling of the human spirit is necessary to have a living man. "For as the body apart from the spirit is dead," the Bible declares and human experience confirms. (James 2:26.) We must also have blood. Children know that it takes blood to make a living man. Our own son, to whom this book is dedicated, when but a little tot, after his mother had taught him all about the first man and woman—who made them and how they were made— raised the question: "But how did God get blood in them?" Then there is the law of physical life, which we violate almost daily, given by Jehovah for the good of man.
These are the outstanding elements that go into the making of a living human being. He must then have a name. Nameless men have never existed. God never intended man should go without a name. He named the first man and woman. "Male and female created he them, and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created." (Genesis 5:2.) GOD’S OWN ANALYSIS OF THE ONE NEW MAN The new man must have a head and a body. Christ is the head, and the church he established and called "my church"(Matthew 16:18) is the body. "And he put all things in subjection under his [Christ’s] feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all." (Ephesians 1:22-23.) Read also Colossians 1:18; Colossians 1:24. The head of this "one new man" is Christ, and his body is the church. This body, or church, is "the fullness of him that fillest all and in all." Let us not be led to think, as some teach, that the church is an empty shell, out of which you can be saved as well as in it. A living human being needs but one head and one body. The Bible declares that the church is one body. "But now they are many members, but one body." Read Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 1 Corinthians 12:20. In Ephesians 4:1-5 seven things are modified with this little numeral adjective "one"—viz., one body (church), one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God. We have one church for the body and one Lord for the head of this "one new man." The "new man" must also have a name, law of life, spirit, and blood. The name. This has been discussed briefly in Lesson VI, and will be discussed more fully later. The law of life. We cannot discuss this now in particular, but, briefly stated, we have "the law of the Spirit of life inChrist Jesus" (Romans 8:2) in contradistinction to the law of works. And this does not mean that the church is without rules and regulations or any law at all. When the old covenant was removed, we were given a new law. (Hebrews 7:12.) And we are taught that only those who contend lawfully will win the prize. (2 Timothy 2:5.) We have a law then to govern this body, which is declared to be the church. The Spirit. The Spirit of this "one new man" is the Holy Spirit. God’s holy Spirit dwells in this "one new man," gives it life, and operates through this "one new man" in sending the gospel to all the nations, feeding the hungry and clothing the naked, continuing the work that Jesus began while here in the flesh. one of the blessings that comes to one in the church is this indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Many teach aliens to pray for the Spirit before becoming members of the church. The reception and indwelling of the Spirit comes to us because we are in the church. (John 14:16-17; Galatians 4:6.) In 1 Corinthians 12:13 we are taught that by the instruction of the one Spirit we are baptized into the one body, the church, and there are "made to drink of one Spirit." Read also Acts 2:38; Acts 5:32.
Consider the question: Where is the human spirit? Does it not reside in and function through the members of the human body? Certainly so. And just so the Holy Spirit resides in and functions through the members of this "one new man," and not out of him. The blood. What is the blood of this "one new man?" It is the blood of Christ. Christ purchased the church with his own blood—all of it, and not just a part of it. (Acts 20:28.) Where is human blood to be found? It resides in the human body, and by means of it the head and the body are in constant living contact. There is no other flesh that can become the beneficiary of the blood in the body unless it is grafted into the body and becomes a part of it. The Bible declares that we are grafted in. (See Romans 11:17.) Here the figure is that of the good olive tree, but the grafting is the same. THE SECRET OF BEING SAVED AND STAYING SAVED The meaning ofMark 16:15-16. When Christ said unto his apostles, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved," he meant more than we have, as a rule, taught that he meant. Savedfrom past sins is the salvation usually thought of here. It is certainly true that the penitent believer is saved from his past sins when he is baptized into this one body. The very moment we come into the body of Christ we come in contact with the blood of Christ, for the blood resides there, just as the only way you can come in contact with my blood is to break into my body where the blood is. You cannot pierce my body with the smallest cambric needle without touching my blood. Just so those who are baptized into the body of Christ at that very moment come in contact with the blood of Christ, and their past sins are blotted out or washed away. This is the explanation of Acts 22:16 : "Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name." It is also the explanation of Romans 6:17-18, King James Version: "But ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." The "form of doctrine" is the burial and resurrection with Christ in baptism. Note that it says that "then" we are made free from sin. Baptism puts you into the one body, or church, where the blood is. Your past sins are al’ washed away in this blood. But we have no right to restrict "shall be saved" here to past sins. Baptism brings you into the body, where the blood is. It not only gives you remission of past sins, but you are constantly in touch with the blood, and it keeps you washed all the time. You have come into the place where you are not only saved from past sins, but you are now where you can stay saved. Your blood right now is in your body. But what part of the body? Every part of the body. There is not a cell from the tips of the toes to the crown of the head that the blood does not touch; and this blood is constantly building Up worn-out parts of the body, throwing off waste matter, etc. There is not a mind on earth that can comprehend the wonder-working power of the blood in the body. The white corpuscles are called the "standing army" in the body. They are there to attack and make war on any poison that may get into the body and that is calculated to do it harm. This blood is doing its wonder work even while we sleep. Just so the blood of Jesus, more powerful and more wonderful in its effects, is doing for every living, active, loving member of his body, the church. The faithful members are in touch with the blood all the time—every moment. Remember that the admonition is, "Be thou faithful unto death;" and that we have shown man, at his very best, falls short. What becomes of all our ignorant and unintentional sins and mistakes? If we are in the church, where the blood is, they are washed away as we commit them. The blood of Jesus not only saves us from our past sins, but keeps us saved so long as we are faithful. This is what is meant in 1 John 1:7 : "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." Here is the gospel of his grace. Here is our hope. Who knows just when death is coming? But if you are in the body of Christ, where the blood is, and are faithful doing your best to walk as he directs, you are ready— his blood keeps you ready. When I started out to live the Christian life, the teaching I had heard so impressed me as to make me believe that I touched the blood only when I was praying. I made it a rule to pray in the morning, at noon, and at night, as did David. Am I to believe that the child of God touches the blood only in skips and jumps? No; I am in touch with it all the time, just as ready to go one moment as another, if I am faithful.
SOME SCRIPTURES STUDIED IN THE LIGHT OF THIS
"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be the glory in the church." (Ephesians 3:20-21.) Do you note that this promise is to those in the church, the body of this "one new man?" And what about the assurance? It is that God is able and does do for us exceeding abundantly above all of our thoughts and asking. We can think a great deal and we can ask a great deal, but he goes above it all—"exceeding abundantly" so. This Scripture is not hard to understand when you realize that the work that the blood does for the members of our own fleshly body does this very thing—viz., goes beyond our thoughts, "exceeding abundantly" so, and that the church is compared to this.
"Wherefore also he is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:25.) In our left side there is the heart or pump whose duty it is to see that the blood is sent out to every member of the body. The heart of this "one new man" is Christ. He is now at God’s right hand in our behalf. (Hebrews 9:24.) Making intercession simply means he is praying and offering his blood for our every need. He is "High Priest of our profession." He functions as such in the church, his body, or over the church, which is his body. He is in the holy place with his own blood in our behalf. (See Hebrews 10:19-22; Hebrews 3:1.) Yes, he saves us, and keeps us saved constantly so long as we are trying to walk in the way he would have his children go. He teaches us that at our best we will stumble here and there, but not to worry; that his blood will take care of all such mistakes and keep us clean. CAN WE FALL FROM GRACE?
We are taught that we can fall, hence admonished to take heed. (1 Corinthians 10:12.) We are taught that some did fall. (Galatians 5:4; Hebrews 12:15.) We are taught how to keep from falling. (2 Peter 1:5-11.)
There is such a thing, because of disease, as some member of the body not getting its needed amount of blood. There is such a thing as physical paralysis. Since there is a Perfect analogy between the physical body and the body of Christ, we should expect such a thing as spiritual paralysis. Knowingly, consciously sinning will produce spiritual paralysis. David says: "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear." (Psalms 66:18.) But you do not have to do this. If you see your need of Jesus, come in to him, because you know at your best you fall short; then allow yourself to be faithful to him; he will take care of your unintentional sins and shortcomings instantly along the way as you need the blood. To "regard iniquity" in the heart is to welcome it there and give it a place to dwell. It does not mean some thought or imagination that flits through the mind. It is stopping the evil thought and entertaining it that produces spiritual paralysis, that breaks the connection with the blood. As it has been well said: "We cannot keep birds from flying over our heads, but we certainly can keep them from building nests in our hair." But when we allow ourselves to sin consciously or knowingly, repentance, confession, and prayer will cure this disease that has broken the connection, and the blood resumes its wonderful work. (See James 5:16.) This is talking about our confessing our sins as erring church members. Read verses 19, 20 of the same chapter.
You can now see how to be saved and stay saved continuously. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" comprehends all the blessings God has in store for those who take Christ as their Savior. This, doubtless, is the ground for the expression: "Which also after a true likeness Doth now save you, even baptism." (1 Peter 3:21.) Just how long these Christians to whom Peter wrote these words had been baptized, I know not; but baptism was saving them right then. He says it "Doth now save you." It put them into the body of this "one new man, " where the blood is and where they were constantly in touch with it.