THE NEW MAN

The epistle of Paul to the Ephesians has fascinated me since the first days of my service as a Pastor of a Church. It became the theme of most of those first sermons I preached, and is still the springboard of much of my ministering today, over sixty years later. For me, it is one of the richest portions of the whole Bible.

In this book, we witness the "welding together" of two classes of people into ONE body. The Israelites and the Gentiles are welded together by the Gospel into "ONE NEW MAN". Let me give you some scriptures.

Eph 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being ALIENS FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF ISRAEL, AND STRANGERS FROM THE CO VENANTS OF PROMISE, having no hope, and without God in the world: :13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. :14 For he is our peace, WHO HATH MADE BOTH ONE, AND HATH BROKEN DOWN THE MIDDLE WALL OF PARTITION BETWEEN US; :15 Having abolished in his flesh the ENMITY, EVEN THE LAW OF OMMANDMENTS CONTAINED IN ORDINANCES; for to MAKE IN HIMSELF OF TWAIN ONE NEW MAN, SO MAKING PEACE; :16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: :17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. :18 For THROUGH HIM WE BOTH HAVE ACCESS BY ONE SPIRIT unto the Father.

Just this last week, the Lord has chosen to add to my understanding by shedding light on some scriptures in the letter to the Galation Church, that I believe are dealing with the same portion of the Workings of God in the earth. It has to do with a better understanding of the NEW CREATURE.

Gal 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, BUT A NEW CREATURE. (ONE NEW MAN)
Gal 6:16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the ISRAEL OF GOD.

Listen while I tell you about it! The NEW CREATURE is the same as the ONE NEW MAN. I had always thought that the NEW CREATURE was talking about what happened to US when we accepted the Lord as our Saviour. (And it CAN mean that also). But this last week I saw it in an entirely different light than ever before. Look at:

Rev 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, THE BEGINNING OF THE CREATION OF GOD;

It all began when Jesus came out of the grave, Immortal.

He had broken down a barrier (middle wall of partition—the Law of Moses) between two classes of people, and provided a way whereby both of them could become ONE in HIM.

This CREATION OF GOD would become known by the Spirit as the ISRAEL OF GOD. It is a combination of Israelite and Gentile people who trust Jesus Christ for their salvation. It is the CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD. It is the "Mystery, kept secret since the world began."

Rom 16:25 Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,:26 But now is made manifest, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
Listen to Paul, again in Ephesians, reveal the inner workings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Eph 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, :2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: :3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, :4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the MYSTERY OF CHRIST) :5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; :6 THAT THE GENTILES SHOULD BE FELLOW HEIRS, AND OF THE SAME BODY, AND PARTAKERS OF HIS PROMISE IN CHRIST BY THE GOSPEL: :7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

Paul, in the letter to the Romans, gives us a picture of the "nuts and bolts" of God's program to weld both Israel and the Gentiles together to form the NEW CREATURE, the ONE NEW MAN.

But, before we get into that aspect of it, let me direct your attention to a wicked, cruel king whom God forced to pantomime a prophecy about how He intended to work in the earth.

The King was Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon who was gloating about how he had captured God's people of that time. The time was about 600 years before Jesus was born.

The king had a dream one night about a tree being cut down and left lay on the ground until "seven times" had passed over it. The STUMP, however, was left, and in the dream the tree was restored after the “seven times” had passed. That wicked, cruel king was forced to act out a prophetic pantomime to show that God is always in complete control, and that He can and will do whatever He pleases with His people, as well as with whole nations. The king thought he was bigger than the God of Israel, but he learned a hard lesson in those seven times (years).

Dan 4:15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:
Dan 4:16 Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.
Dan 4:17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
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Dan 4:23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;

What happened to the king was a PROPHECY of how God intended to deal with Israel.
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Dan 4:26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.

Romans 11 tells us a little more about the cutting down of the tree that was typified in the king's dream. It was a prophecy about the cutting off of Israel at the time of Calvary and the Resurrection. The difference now is that NOT THE WHOLE TREE was cut down. Just a part of it-- the part that did not accept Jesus as the Messiah. Those who did (and there were thousands who did) accept Him as Saviour, became "charter members" of the ONE NEW MAN, the NEW CREATURE, the ISRAEL OF GOD.

THE STUMP, which furnishes the life of the tree, is indicative of THE FAITH OF ABRAHAM. As many as were able to make the transition from the "dead works of the Law and ceremonies" remained as branches of the great "Tree" of Israel (the Israel of God). All others were cut off, for "Moses (THE LAW), My Servant, is DEAD".

Circumcision and ceremonies no longer serve any purpose. Whereas it had formerly been "all the law or nothing", it is now "all faith or nothing." God had given humanity 1500 years to prove that no one could keep the law well enough to satisfy God.

The branches that were cut off of the stump of the Faith of Abraham are all in the same condition as those who had never been a part of Israel (the Gentiles). They were lost and undone, and without a hope of Salvation. Let's listen to Paul.

Rom 11:17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; :18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. :19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. :20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: :21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. :22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. :23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. :24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

Heb 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath FOUNDATIONS, whose builder and maker is God.

No EARTHLY city has the FOUNDATIONS that Abraham was looking for.

The Lord is building that City for Abraham, right now, using the lively stones of men who have put their trust in Jesus Christ for the welfare of their souls. It is known presently as the Church of the Living God. The City is made without hands, and it has come down from God out of Heaven

WE ARE THAT CITY OF GOD! WE ARE THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM! WE ARE THE ISRAEL OF GOD! WE ARE THE ONE NEW MAN! WE ARE THE NEW CREATURE!