A Noble Regeneration

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” Romans 12:2.

The setting of the sun today is a time cut short to bring us nearer to that solemn moment when all the creation upon the earth will witness the coming of the Son of Man as the bright morning star. His (Jesus) coming is not a coincidence, but a fulfillment of His words, ” if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you into myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” John 14:3. He will receive unto Himself a people that have escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust, and have become partakers of His divine nature. Hence where life attracts life so will divinity attract divinity. Should divinity attract divinity, where will the end be of the human race, that is carnal and sold under sins be? If all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, that there is none righteous, who are this that will applause the coming of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Is it not the same human race that have renewed their minds, that they may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God? Most certainty, yes! Jesus pleads for such ones, ” I pray that thou (God) shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil,” John 17:15, that is the world.

” We are living in a time when everything that is false and superficial is exalted above the real, natural and the enduring. The mind must be kept free from everything that would lead it in a wrong direction. It should not be encumbered with trashy stories, which do not add strength to the mental powers. The thoughts will be of the same character as the food we provide for the mind. The time devoted to needless, unimportant things would better be spent in contemplating the wonderful mysteries of the plan of salvation and in using every God-given power to learn the ways of the Lord, that our feet may not stumble upon the dark mountain of unbelief or stray from the path of holiness which was cast up by infinite sacrifice for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in. The strength of intellect, substantial knowledge gained, are acquisitions which the gold of Ophir could not buy.” 5T544

” The world is busy, anxious and devoted. Evil is eagerly followed as though it were righteousness, error as though it were truth, and sin as though it were holiness. Darkness is covering the earth, and gross darkness the people. And shall God’s people be asleep at such a time as this? Shall those who hold the truth be silent, as if paralyzed? Infidels declare that if they believed what Christians profess to believe, they would be far more in earnest than they. If we believe that the end of all things is at hand, ‘what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?'” 5T 546-7

THE OLD MAN

The phrase ‘old man’ as found in Romans 6:6, Ephesians 4:22 & Colossians 3:9 refers to the corrupt human nature, the inborn tendency to evil on all that are born of a woman. It’s true that even the most revered Doctors/Professors in philosophy, theology or any line of study bears the impress of the old Man who is being referred to as the corrupt human nature. Of such, Paul exhorts never to attribute their tact and skill to take the place of a ” thus said the Lord” for ” the natural man received not the things of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned” 1 Corinthians 2:14. Neither are the professors of truth in varied ranks (Pastor, Priest, Bishop, Cardinal, Reverend, Pope etc) as known to man, exceptions in understanding the spiritual warning, instruction, reprove or rebuke in their sound or corrupt human nature. The message meant for our good will ever be slighted to mean foolishness, for man says that there would be an acceptable substitute that works fairly well with our corrupt human nature than the constraining ” thus said the Lord.” ” There is a way which seemeth right into a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” Proverbs 14:12. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world and the world heareth them,” I John 4:5.

In the struggle for mastery, ” the flesh (old man) lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary, the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would” Galatians 5:17. What characterizes the old man is clearly manifest in Galatians 5:19 – 21, all interwoven in the commonly known term of self. The craftiness of Satan has always led many of us to overlook that what is featured here is not part of our nature, in refering to one or more of such traits that we need to overcome. Whether we subject all these traits to the higher powers and be left with only one strife, are we any better before a holy God? Never! His one desire in having Jesus Christ die on the cross of Calvary is ” to present to Himself a glorious church (people), not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it (they) should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:27

” Satan is playing the game of life for every soul. He knows that practical sympathy is a test of the purity and unselfishness of the heart, and he will make every possible effort to close our hearts to the needs of others, that we may finally be unmoved by the sight of the suffering. He will bring in many things to prevent the expression of love and sympathy. It is thus that he ruined Judas. Judas was constantly planning to benefit self. In this he represents a large class of professed Christians of today. Therefore we need to study his case. We are as near to Christ as he was. Yet if, as with Judas, association with Christ does not make us one with Him, if it does not cultivate within our hearts a sincere sympathy for those for whom Christ gave His life, we are in the same danger as was Judas of being outside of Christ, the sport of Satan/s temptations.” 6T 264-5.

How curious should we be in knowing what will be our barrier from entry into the holy city and presence of a Holy God? The promise is ” seek and you will find.” What do we find? ” Another book was opened; wherein were recorded the sins of those who profess the truth. Under the general heading of selfishness came every sin. There were also headings over every column, and underneath these, opposite each name, were recorded, in their respective columns, the lesser sins.

” Under covetousness came falsehood, theft, robbery, fraud and avarice; under ambition came pride and extravagance; jealousy stood at the head of malice, envy, and hatred; and intemperance headed a long list of fearful crimes, such as lasciviousness, adultery, indulgence of animal passions, etc” 4T 384 – 5. Such is the nature of the old man, who we are, but have to shake off.

It is important to note that the old man is full of selfishness, in that he ever expects to gain from others but never to benefit any, that always expects sympathy, consolation, forgiveness, good commendation reports, etc. But on the contrary, from the same mind with these positive wishes, emanates a desire for self gain, cruelty, un-forgiveness, evil surmising, envying, hatred, strife, wrath, seditions etc., to testify to our true human nature of sin. The old man is ever impressed and moved by the counsel of Jesus that ” Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” Matt. 7:12. Hence our efforts are always fruitless when in human strength and wisdom we strive to live to this call, ” for the good that I (we) would I (we) do not, but the evil which I (we) would not, that I (we) do ” selfishness will require of others that which we are unwilling to give them” 3T 31. The utter defeat of that which we perceive as noble and worthy of doing is simply because we want to be facilitators of God’s cause, with all our humanness; Christ bids us to leave them at the cross of Calvary. Hence, it is needless for us to always suffer embarrassment for failure to do the good that we would, for there is the opportunity of ” putting off” the old man and ” putting on” the new man, that our intended and expected goodness may be real and acceptable.

The new man to be put on is Christ, who regenerates us from the old man. The new man is Christ Jesus formed in the believer. And for this to be, the natural man must die and the new man Christ Jesus, take possession of the soul, so that the follower of Jesus may say in verity and truth: ” I live; Yet not I but Christ liveth in me.”

” If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17. Through the power of Christ, men and women have broken the chains of sinful habit. They have renounced selfishness. The profane have become reverent, the drunken sober, the profligate pure. Souls that have borne the likeness of Satan have become transformed into the image of God. This change is in itself the miracle of miracles. A change wrought by the Word, it is one of the deepest mysteries of the Word. We cannot understand it; we can only believe, as declared by the scriptures, it is ‘Christ in you, the hope of glory…” AA 476.

By His (Jesus) perfect obedience, He has made it possible for every human being to obey God’s commandments. When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His minds, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life” COL 312.

” Many are inquiring, ‘How am I to make the surrender of myself to God?’ You desire to give yourself to Him, but you are weak in moral power, in slavery to doubt, and controlled by the habits of your life of sin. Your promises and resolutions are like ropes of sand. You cannot control your thoughts, your impulses, your affections. The knowledge of your broken promises and forfeited pledges weakens your confidence in your own sincerity, and causes you to feel that God cannot accept you; but you need not despair. What you need to understand is the true force of the will. This is the governing power in the nature of man, the power of decision, or of choice. Everything depends on the right action of the will. The power of choice God has given to men; it is theirs to exercise. You cannot change your heart, you cannot of yourself give to God its affections; but you can choose to serve Him. You can give Him your will; He will then work in you to will and to do according to His good pleasure. Thus your whole nature will be brought under the control of the Spirit of Christ; your affections will be centered upon Him, your thoughts will be in harmony with Him.” SC 47

The merger that Christ is striving to effect in us is one that requires our full consent. To everyone he says, ” Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him and he with me” Revelation 3:20. Our duty in the great object of His mission on earth is ” to prepare the way of the Lord, make his path straight” Matthew 3:3. How straight have we and are we preparing the way of the Lord? Do it in any way, but so that the faithful guide will always approve. ” All should guard the senses, lest Satan gain victory over them; for these are the avenues of the soul” 3T 507. Hence making our path straight infers to doing away with every objectionable thing/trait that will be opposed to our harmonious blending with our guest at the door of our hearts. The objections with which we are to guard our souls/senses were long before penned down for our good as quoted below:

” I saw that many have so much rubbish piled up at the door of their heart that they cannot get the door open. Some have difficulties between themselves and their brethren to remove. Others have evil tempers, selfish covetousness, to remove before they can open the door. Others have rolled the world before the door of their heart, which bars the door. All this rubbish must be taken away, and then, they can open the door and welcome the Saviour in.
” I saw that the minds of some of the church have not run in the right channel. There have been some peculiar temperaments that have had their notions by which to measure their brethren. And if they did not exactly agree with them, there was trouble in the camp at once. Some have strained of a gnat and swallowed a camel.

” These set notions have been humored and indulged altogether too long. There has been a picking at straws. And when there were not real difficulties in the church, trials have been manufactured. The minds of the church and the servants of Lord are called from God, truth, and heavens to dwell upon darkness. Satan delights to have such things go on; it feasts him. But these are none of the trials which are to purify the church and that will in the end increase the strength of God’s people” IT 143 – 5.

We are who we are as an individual or church organization because of the choices and priorities that we have made in our lives. To us all (those who are advancing to grow in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ as giants and those who are satisfied with this grace to the level of dwarfs) is the thought that ” The power of a higher, purer, nobler life is our great need. The world has too much of our thought, and the kingdom of heaven too little” AA 478. Upon this state of being everyone is called to make a decided noble substitute for the incorruptible nature of God in place of a corruptible man; through the strength and power of Jesus working from within, that we may acknowledge the great reformer’s entreaty, ” He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30.

The result of us changing sides is to enable us to receive the gift of the heavenly kingdom, which is our Father’s good pleasure to give. In and through Paul, God is making a constant reminder saying. ” know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners (old man), shall inherit the kingdom of God” 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10.

” Jesus Himself, in His infinite mercy, is working on human hearts, effecting spiritual transformations so amazing that the angels look on with astonishment and joy.” 5T 731. ” Which in time past were not a people, but are now a people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy” 1 Peter 10. All that have been and are yet, are under the threat of eternal condemnation; ” But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Yet, we will hear a consoling offer, ” I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in fire that thou mayest be rich; and a white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear” Isaiah 64:6, Rev. 3:18.

Christ is the Creator. ” For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him all things consist” Col. 1:16, 17. Many of us stumble at our very blessing(s) when we fail to identify the fullness of Christ that is for our good when He testifies that, ” The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head” Matthew 8:20. With the first thought of the broken body of the King of kings on the cross of Calvary, one could easily assert to the false accusation that He claims to be the Son of God. However, if we would but give a second thought to that which Jesus tells us, we certainly will know why Jesus the Creator of heaven and earth is poor. The apostle Paul recounts, ” For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your (our) sakes he became poor, that ye (we) through his poverty might be rich.” II Corinthians 8:9.

Upon the Mount of Olives, Jesus had beforehand unfolded this noble exchange, in saying, ” Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” Matthew 5:3. ” This kingdom is not, as Christ’s hearers had hoped, a temporal and earthly dominion. Christ was opening to men the spiritual kingdom of His love, His grace, His righteousness… His subjects are the poor in spirit, the meek, the persecuted for righteousness sake. The kingdom of heaven is theirs. Though not yet fully accomplished, the work is begun in them which will make them – meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light.” Col. 1:12

” All who have a sense of their deep soul poverty, who feel that they have nothing good in themselves, may find righteousness and strength by looking unto Jesus… He bids you exchange your poverty for the riches of His grace. We are not worthy of God’s love, but Christ, our surety, is worthy, and is abundantly able to save all who shall come unto Him. Whatever may have been your past circumstances, if you will come to Jesus just as you are, weak, helpless, and despairing, our compassionate Saviour will meet you a great way off, and will throw about you His arms of love and His robe of righteousness” MB 8 -9.

GROWING UP INTO CHRIST

“Christ expects that men will become partakers of His divine nature while in this world, thus not only reflecting His glory to the praise of God, but illumining the darkness of the world with the radiance of heaven. Thus will be fulfilled the words of Christ: “Ye are the light of the world” 5T 731. Becoming a partaker of the divine nature of Christ, is to ” grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18)

“We have a work to do to fashion the character after the divine Model. All wrong habits must be given up. The impure must become pure in heart; the selfish man must put away his selfishness; the proud man must get rid of his pride; the self-sufficient man must overcome his self-confidence, and realize that he is nothing without Christ… We must have a living connection with God.” Amazing Grace 232

“All defects of character originate in the heart. Pride, vanity, evil temper and covetousness proceed from the carnal heart unrenewed by the grace of Christ.”

” It is by the renewing of the heart that the grace of God works to transform the life. No mere external change is sufficient to bring us into harmony with God. There are many who try to reform by correcting this bad habit or that bad habit and they hope in this way to become Christians, but they are beginning in the wrong place. Our first work is with the heart: Ibid 223.

” Let us represent the Christian life as it really is; let us make the way cheerful, inviting, interesting. We can do this if we will. We may fill our own minds with vivid pictures of spiritual and eternal things, and in so doing help make them a reality to other minds. Faith sees Jesus standing as our Mediator at the right hand of God. Faith beholds the mansions He has gone to prepare for the those who love Him. Faith sees the robe and crown all prepared for the overcomer. Faith hears the songs of the redeemed, and brings eternal glories near. We must come close to Jesus in loving obedience, if we would see the King in His beauty.” Ibid 341

Bible religion has and will always elevate reason until Christ is blended with all our thoughts. ” The noble powers, of the mind may be so dwarfed by lack of exercise on themes worthy of their concentration as to lose their ability to grasp the deep meaning of the word of God. The mind will enlarge if it is employed in tracing out the relation of the subjects of the Bible, comparing scripture with scripture, and spiritual things with spiritual.

” There is nothing more calculated to strengthen the intellect than the study of the Scriptures. No other book is so potent to elevate the thoughts, to give vigor to the faculties, as the broad, ennobling truths of the Bible” SC 90. Hence the more we feed our mind with Bible truths having a definite purpose in view – to live the call therein, we may keep so near to God that in every unexpected trial our thoughts will turn to Him as naturally as the flower turns to the sun. Similarly we are to experience a gradual transformation as we behold Him that is the way, truth, and the life, who all the Scriptures testify about.

(To the Caves from the Mansions and to Mansions from the Caves)
Sooner or later, the world will experience the most interesting drama, most frightening to them that have chosen to be who they are (old man), but of rejoicing to them that have chosen to put on the new man. Heaven, as the spectator of the drama is astir and greatly astonished as the kings and nobles of the earth exchange sides with the unworthy of the earth. A faithful account, not fables has been set before us; the profane, who once were kings, nobles and mighty men did command the respect and reverence of many in their supposed wisdom, will be greatly dismayed in learning that they are fools. Too late they will realize that they were not dead to self, and their lives were not hid with Christ in God. ” They seek to flee from the presence of the King of kings. In the deep caverns of the earth, rent us under by the warring of the elements, they vainly attempt to hide” GC 644. ” And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich, and the chief captains and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” Rev. 6:16, 17

The fleeing throng feels that their magnificent palaces, mansions and villas cannot hide them better than the caves and mountains can. Too ignorant they are to know that the mountains too have to obey the voice of their Creator, to flee from them in order that they may see and witness the promise of His coming against the ridicule ” Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” II Peter 3:4. At His appearance, they are now speechless, defenseless and without refuge. The scene on the other camp, who have their lives hid with Christ in God is a wonderful one. As the doomed throng seeks refuge in the caves and mountains, those that have nobly substituted their nature come forth ” From garrets, from hovels, from dungeons, from scaffolds, from mountains and deserts, from the caves of the earth and the caverns of the sea,” COL 179 in response to the call of Christ, of whose image they partake. They are not speechless as they come forth. They certainly have a message for their now lip-quivering friends. Their voices rise in triumphant song, ” God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.” ” Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us… we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.” Psalms 46:1 – 3, Isaiah 25:9. It is a noble substitute to have the saints leave the caves as they usher in those that have not put on the new man Jesus Christ, as they go forth to inhabit the heavenly mansions prepared for them.

Let us therefore fight a good fight against self, the greatest battle that was ever fought by man – the surrender of self to the will of God, the yielding of the heart to the sovereignty of love. For the old nature born of blood and the will of the flesh, cannot inherit the kingdom of God. The hereditary tendencies, the former habits, must be given up before it’s declared. ” He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still….” Revelation 22:11, a verdict that is never to be revoked.

” Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil,” (Jeremiah 13:23)may this noble regeneration take place in all of us, is my wish and prayer.
AMEN.