Tag Archives: old man

Come Down From The Cross – Who?

By Ian D’Souza

The title suggests that this may be a Good Friday message.  It is the crucifixion scene for sure and the words “come down from the cross” we know were spoken by the soldiers, pharisees and the crucified thieves to Jesus, mocking Him to come down, save Himself and them too.  But, that is not what this message is about.  There is someone else who was crucified on that day together with Jesus.  That is the Christian believer.  Paul says in Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ; 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 for me.” Continue reading →

The Bible Speaks Today – No Longer Slaves To Sin

If any man is in Christ, he is a new creation

If any man is in Christ, he is a new creation

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come” (2 Cor 5:17)

We need to realize that we have two natures within. First is the Old Man (also referred to as sin nature or flesh nature or old self) which has its source in the fallen first Adam and causes us to do the very thing we do not want to do – Sin! (Rom 7:15).  All temptations to sin make their appeal to this corrupted flesh nature called the old man.  Unfortunately, for a long time we have believed the lie that it was Satan who was the cause of our sin.  While he may be an instrument, he is not the source.  Thus we have been overly occupied with him, rather than the true source of the problem, our sin / flesh nature.  Continue reading →

Does God Accept Me?

You-Are-AcceptedThere are two questions that every believing Christian must settle as soon as possible.
(1) Does God fully accept me and
(2) If so, upon what basis does He do so?
This is crucial. While studying this vital subject we need to look closely at some scriptures that talk about this.
  1. (Eph 1:5-6 RSV) – He destined us in love to be his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
  2. (Eph 1:5-6 NKJV) – Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

Some translations use the word “grace freely bestowed” while others translate it as “grace by which we are accepted”. The root Greek word used for both is the same = “Charis / Charitoo” which means that you can translate it either way. The conclusion is clear – The Father has accepted us in the Beloved (Christ) by grace alone. Continue reading →