New Man
The New Man
Preached by Apostle Aje Pelser
Harvester Reformational Church, Cape Town
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Eph 2:14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,
Eph 2:15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,
Eph 2:16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.
A friend of ours went to minister in modern Israel. He met some of the Hassidic Jewish leaders and explained that he had come to the knowledge of Christ the Messiah. One of their requests to him was quite profound: “Show us this ‘new man’ that is spoken of in your New Testament.” What our friend realized was that Jewish religious leaders are not impressed with Christians who try to keep the traditional laws of the Old Covenant, they are more interested in seeing how God removes the middle wall of separation and makes a new man out of the Jew and the Gentile, because they obviously don’t believe it is possible.
However, in the early church, we see that God did just that in the case of Peter being called to the house of Cornelius, a” a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,
Act 10:2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.”
Apostle Peter reports to the council of Jerusalem how God has accepted the Gentiles and given them the gift of the Holy Spirit
Act 11:13 And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter,
Act 11:14 who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.’
Act 11:15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning.
Act 11:16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
Act 11:17 If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?”
Act 11:18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”
Ways God makes the new man in Christ
1. We are brought near by the blood of Christ.
2. Jesus becomes our peace, through His sacrificial death on the Cross, the Prince of Peace.
3. He breaks down the middle wall of separation. Just like He tore the veil of the temple at His death, to give us access to the Holy of Holies, he removes the distinction of race and culture and makes us one in Him.
4. He abolishes the enmity (hatred, hostility G2189) – the law of commandments and ordinances.
5. He creates in Himself the new Man – we are new creations in Christ:
2Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
2Co 5:18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
2Co 5:19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Jesus makes all things new – remember He fills all things with all things? Your new creation needs to be filled with new things too, and that is the discipleship process to which we submit, both spiritually to the Lord and on the plane of human discipleship in his Church, as Apostle Paul explained to Timothy:
1Co 4:15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
1Co 4:16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me.
1Co 4:17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.
6. Jesus brings reconciliation and passes that ministry of reconciliation onto us. The cross brings vertical and horizontal reconciliation – between God and man, and in mankind too. The new man in Christ has an anointing to like Jesus to heal the broken-hearted, release captives and bring peace. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Only Jesus can give the peace that passes understanding, for His kingdom is a kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy in believing by the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
Lord Jesus be my Prince of peace. Wash me of my sins and bring me near to God by Your blood shed on the cross for me. Break down my walls of hatred and hostility both towards God and mankind. I forgive people who have injured me, and I pray for the love of God to be poured out in my heart by the Holy Spirit. Thank you that you also forgive me of my sins and make all things new in my life. Give me a ministry of reconciliation like You and let me be a peace maker and be called a son of God. In Jesus’ name. Amen.