The One New Man

I have a question about ‘the new man.’  I believe that the new man is what we become at salvation, as opposed to ‘the old man.’

Ephesians 4:24

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Colossians 3

¹⁰And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

But I have been looking into it further and I have heard people say that the new man is ‘the one new man’, a new creature by being in Christ.  I can see this in the verses that follow Colossians 3:10

¹¹ Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.  Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; …

I see this and think of the new man as being the one new man in Christ, not the new man/regenerated man with the spirit dwelling within.  Could you please clarify this for me?

The Apostle Paul talks of putting on the new man, having put off the old man, in Ephesians and Colossians.

Ephesians 4:22-24

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

What does it mean to put on the new man?  Ephesians and Colossians are sister epistles that give light on one another.

Colossians 3:8-11

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.  Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;  And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

Paul is the only one who talks about the new man.  He is the only one who talks about the church which is his body – the body of Christ.

Colossians 1:24

Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:

He is talking about that one new man.  Basically he is talking about the fact that God has taken both Jew and Gentile into the body.  Racial distinctions, gender, and social status don’t matter today in Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

That has to do with the one new man, the new creature in Christ.  So yes, your understanding of that passage is correct.  It is the one new man, the church which is his body.

When we get saved we are changed; we are conformed into the image of his son.

Romans 8:29

For whom he did foreknow [the body of Christ collectively], he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

The focus is not on us; it is on the one who changes us into himself.

Ephesians 4:15

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Let’s look at the one new man.

Ephesians 2:14-16

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances;

Why?  Why did he take away the law and abolish it?  Because there was a middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile.

for to make in himself [Christ is the issue] of twain [of the two: Jew and Gentile] one new man, so making peace;  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity

So when Paul talks about the one new man, he is not focusing on the individual; he is focusing on the corporate, collective church the body of Christ.

You wrote, “I believe that the new man is what we are after salvation.”  That is true.  Who are we after we are saved?  We are Christ.  It isn’t made completely manifest.  We are justified unto eternal life so we have his life now.  After that, sanctification comes by renewing your mind.

Romans 12:2

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.

We have the mind of Christ available to us in the scriptures, in Paul’s epistles: Romans through Philemon.  It is incumbent upon us to get into the word and get that information into our inner man and allow it to grow in us.

Ephesians 3:16

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

So the focus is not so much on the individual as it is on the corporate body of Christ.  God sees the body as a corporation and he wants to deal with us corporately.  Individually, yes, because individuals make up the body; but the focus, the big picture, is the new creature, the body of Christ, the one new man.

Because you are a member of the one new man, the church the body of Christ, you will become a new man,

Colossians 1:23

If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven;

So does God care about you individually?  Yes he does; but the individual is taken care of by being part of the corporate body of Christ and by what God is doing in Christ.  If you agree by faith, and labor with the work of faith (i.e., getting the word in you), the labor of love (i.e., allowing the word to work out through you in patience of hope trusting the Lord through this present time of suffering), then you will manifest the life of Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:23

If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven;

1 Thessalonians 1:3

Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

Philemon 1:5

Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;

That is righteousness.  Paul calls it the breastplate of righteousness.

Ephesians 6:14

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; [also see Isaiah 59:17.  Interesting!]

He calls it the breastplate of faith and love.

1 Thessalonians 5:8

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

Comparing verse to verse, what is righteousness?  Faith in the Lord Jesus and love toward all the saints.  You trust the Lord Jesus and his word and you serve him and one another.

Galatians 5:13

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

So that is the one new man. 

Yes, it is the individual; but the main focus is on the collective body of Christ.  The one new man—the body of Christ—and the regenerated man are actually one and the same.  When we are regenerated by the Spirit of God we are being conformed into the image of Christ.

Titus 3:5

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Christ is the issue!

Hopefully this helps! 

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Paul and the Crucifixion

Was our Apostle Paul present at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ?

The short answer is, we don’t know.  The bible doesn’t bear that out.  We can only speculate about it. 

Paul was a Pharisee.

Acts 23:6

But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee:

Philippians 3:5

Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

Many of the Pharisees did not believe on the Lord Jesus; they actually hated him.

Matthew 12:14

Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

Luke 6:7

And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.

John 9:16

Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.

We know that there were some Pharisees who did believe.

Luke 7:36

And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.

Luke 13:31

The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.

John 3:1-2

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:  The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

Acts 15:5

But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

There were some leaders in Israel who secretly believed on him but would not confess him.

John 12:42

Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

In Acts 9 the Lord meets Paul on the road to Damascus.

Acts 9:3-5

And as he [Saul of Tarsus/Paul] journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:  And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Those ‘pricks’ were definitely convictions that Paul had in his heart; God was reading his heart.  We know that the word of God was convicting Paul.  He knew the word; he just didn’t believe the word referred to Jesus of Nazareth.  He had to see the resurrected Christ.  He saw the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ from heaven’s glory.  It is possible that he saw the death of Jesus at the end of his earthly ministry.

Could Paul have been at the crucifixion? Quite frankly, yes he could have been.  Many of Israel’s religious leaders were there railing against Jesus.

Matthew 27:39-41

And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,  And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.  Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,  He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.   He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

But we can’t know for sure if Paul was there with them.

Hopefully this helps! 

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God allows sufferings

Was all of Paul's sufferings due to preaching the Mystery? No!

Are the sufferings you endure within your family, etc. comparable to what Paul endured? Yes!

Why do they seem different? Because Paul's job was to go out preaching a brand new message during a time where Satan could "supernaturally" attack him, etc. God magnified Paul's office which brought increased scrutiny and persecution. Believe me, if any of us grace believer's today got really, really bold and pressed the issue of Grace in Satan's world like our Apostle did...we too would get increased pressure like Paul.

(On a personal note...with me being a preacher and on T.V. and radio, I will get more "public" persecution/rejection, etc. than the average saints. So since Paul's ministry/witness/testimony for Christ was greater than everyone else, so too was his sufferings!)

Although it is clear from scripture that Paul would suffer for Christ sake, not all of it was because of it. In Acts 9:16, the Lord made it clear that our Apostle would suffer greatly for Him: "For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake."

Paul later tells us that those sufferings were to keep him humble…

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

So we see that the bulk of Paul's sufferings were for Christ's sake...specifically because of his unique/special apostleship.

But Paul says that sufferings comes in 3 ways:

Living in a fallen creation

Romans:22-23

For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Notice that Paul says that not only the outside world suffers because of the curse brought on by Adam's sin, but also us believers who are in Christ! Paul includes himself. He, Timothy, and other faithful men of God got sick and died just like you and I do/will because sickness/death are part of the curse on creation over all mankind and will be til the kingdom is set up on earth!

Not applying sound Pauline grace into the details of life.

Paul says to "Walk in the Spirit"...Galatians 5...and that to walk in the flesh is death. So whether it is the flesh of carnal lasciviousness or the flesh of religious legalism, it will lead to trouble!

Galatians 6:6-7

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

God's spiritual law of sowing and reaping is in effect and whatever you sow, you will reap the same and more later!

When you sow to the Spirit (Pauline grace), you reap that blessed/abundant life God gives us.  But, if you sow to the flesh (anything else) you reap corruption/destruction/death/chaos!

Paul made decisions in his life that were not the wisest to do, like insisting to go back to Jerusalem in the book of Acts when God told him to go far hence to the gentile lands to preach. And because of his willfulness to go back there, he suffered for it...

Acts 20:22-23

And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

So we see that those particular afflictions would not have happened to Paul if he would have went far hence to the gentiles like the Lord commanded him. But he had freewill and it all still worked for God's glory, just like all the dumb things that we do today.

(Most of the relationships that we are/were involved in from the past were ungodly/unequally yoked ones, and we have/do/will suffer as a result of them...that suffering is the "fruit" of our unwise/Un-Pauline decisions!).

But don't fret...God can take even our bad decisions and work them for our good if we choose to start listening to his word(s) to us thru our apostle Paul!

Romans 5:3; 8:28

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

2 Corinthians 4:17

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

But Paul, like we do, still suffered unnecessarily because of some unwise decisions! Lack of applying Pauline doctrine also affects both lost and saved just like the affects of living in a fallen world.

Being a faithful Pauline grace believer

Now lastly, the third way that suffering comes...the only one that will affect faithful Pauline grace believers, is found in…

 2 Timothy 3:10-12

But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

This is the sufferings that made up most of Paul's!

Although he suffered sicknesses, etc., like all men, and although he made unwise decisions at times like all men, most of his suffering was for being a faithful ambassador of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the suffering we all should partake of...

2 Timothy 1:8

Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

Philemon 1:29-30

For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

This is suffering that we ought to seek as believers. We then partake in the same reward that Paul will partake of in Christ!

Hopefully this helps! 

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To Paradise and back

I have heard many say that Paul is the man who was caught up to the third heaven.  I have my doubts because he says in 2 Corinthians 12:2, “I knew a man,” which sounds like it wasn’t him, but someone else.  What do you see?

In context, I believe it is Paul.  Let me tell you why I believe that.  Paul is dealing with the fact that he is their apostle.  Throughout 1 and 2 Corinthians, Paul is constantly defending his apostleship.

1 Corinthians 9:1-2

Am I am not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?  If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

He is saying to them that they are the proof of his ministry.  They were rejecting Paul even though it was through his ministry that they were saved.

Acts 18:1, 8

After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; … And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.

Paul was doing what was fairly common among the Jews; he was being humble.  He was trying to exalt his apostleship without exalting himself, so he goes to extremes (by referring to himself in the third person).  In 2 Corinthians 11:23-27 Paul describes how he has suffered for Christ’s sake like no other man, which is also proof of his apostleship.  False teachers did not (and do not) suffer the way Paul did.

2 Corinthians 12:1

It is not expedient [beneficial, necessary] for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

The Lord was constantly appearing to Paul in visions and revelations and there were more to come.  He is telling them that he is the man; he is the apostle they should listen to, not those teachers who glory in themselves.

1 Corinthians 4:15

For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

So in light of the context of the book, Paul is defending his apostleship.

2 Corinthians 12:2-5

I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.  And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)  How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.  Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

He says ‘I will glory about that man,’ but when does he ever do it?  Paul doesn’t go on to talk about another man.  He doesn’t go on to talk about anyone else but himself.  So it is a veiled reference to him.  He is trying to exalt himself as apostle; but he is also trying to remain humble.  He doesn’t want to have to do this.  He tells them they should be commending him.

2 Corinthians 3:1

Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?

So he is constantly dealing with his apostleship.

Second of all he says, ‘I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago.’ If it is not Paul, who is it?  And if it is someone else, where does he glory about this man besides what he says in 2 Corinthians 12:5?  Why would he be talking about another man?  What does he have to do with Paul’s ministry?  It doesn’t make sense.  When Paul wants to talk about other men, faithful brothers in ministry, he will let you know who they are.

1 Timothy 1:18

This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

2 Corinthians 8:16

But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.

1 Corinthians 16:17

I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied.

Ephesians 6:21

But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:

Philippians 4:18

But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

Colossians 4:9-10

With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.  Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)

He says to mark them.

Philippians 3:17

Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample [a sample of the whole].

If Paul begins to talk about some ‘random’ man in 2 Corinthians 12, but then doesn’t go on to talk about him further, what would be the purpose?  He is referring to himself.  Both epistles to the Corinthians are all about Paul’s apostleship to these carnal saints.

In the Schofield Reference Bible, you can find the dates when the epistles are believed to be written.  According to Schofield and others, there was something that happened in Acts 14 that was fifteen years before Paul wrote 2 Corinthians 12 (‘above fourteen years ago’).

Acts 14:19-20

And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.  Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

Paul was stoned to death and then rose up.  When you do a study on stoning, every time someone was stoned in scripture from beginning to end, he was stoned to death.  ‘Stoning’ means stoned to death.  You don’t get hit in your head and body by multiple stones thrown by people intent on killing you and not die.  You don’t survive that.

Paul died and went up to heaven; God sent him back and Paul boldly went right back into the same city where he was stoned.  Paul’s ministry changed after that.  He realized that until he had finished his course and as long as he had the willingness to serve the Lord, he would finish his course no matter what man did to him.

2 Timothy 4:7

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Paul reminds Timothy of what had happened to him decades earlier – the stoning and persecution he had endured in Lystra.

2 Timothy 3:10-11

But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

They tried to kill him; they did kill him, but God sent him back to prove Paul’s apostleship.  So it makes sense that he would bring that up in Chapter 12.

If you can name another person who Paul says went up to the third heaven, I would ask you why Paul would be talking about him when in all the other Chapters written to the Corinthians he is defending his apostleship.  Why bring up someone else?

Paul is making a contrast between himself and the other ministers who were glorying in their fame and popularity.  Paul says that he could glory in the fact that he has visions and revelations and that Christ would appear to him even more in the future.  This is an early epistle.  He still has Romans, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon to go.

2 Corinthians 12:2-5

I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body [his physical body – not the Body of Christ], I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

When a believer dies, his soul goes to heaven.  When that happened Paul didn’t know he was dead.  They stoned him to death; he fell asleep and woke up in the third heaven.

How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

Remember this?

1 Corinthians 13:1

Though I speak with the tongues of men [humans] and of angels [celestial beings],

Why would Paul mention that to the Corinthians?  Every time when angels appear to mankind they speak human languages.  So those ‘unspeakable words which are not lawful for a man to utter’ are not the tongues of men.

Paul could speak the tongues of angels and communicate with them in their own language because he heard that language when he went to the third heaven. All this starts to make sense when we look at these verses together.  It has to be Paul.  Paul dies in Acts 14, about 15 years before he wrote 2 Corinthians 12. He says that he can speak with the tongues of men and of angels.  Then he says that he heard unspeakable words that are unlawful for man to utter, which had to be this heavenly angelic language.

Paul ends this passage in 2 Corinthians 12 by saying,

Of such an one will I glory [this is a veiled reference to himself]: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

He is saying that now he has to talk about himself but he is just going to talk about his infirmities.  Interestingly enough, the infirmity that he brings up is the fact that because of the abundance of continuing, supernatural revelation from God, he had to be humble.

2 Corinthians 12:7-9

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

So in my mind the man he is talking about is Paul himself.  I would love to hear anyone’s opinion about who they think it is with an explanation as to why Paul did not go on to talk about that person.  Explain how Paul can be talking about his ministry, apostleship and office…

Romans 11:13

For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

…in all the other chapters in 1 and 2 Corinthians, and then all of a sudden start talking about some unknown man. 

But Paul is making a veiled reference to himself ‘as not to glory’ in these supernatural things that no other man experienced besides him.  He is so humble that he will glory instead in his infirmities.  He goes to the opposite extreme.  He is comparing the two extremes that he was the only man whoever died, went to heaven, talked with angels and was resurrected, with how he suffered more than any other man for Christ.  Both prove his apostleship.

All these verses work together to show that the man was Paul.  He uses his stoning to death as an example for Timothy to encourage him to endure in the ministry because Paul died and God sent him back, so Timothy too can finish and be faithful.  Paul always magnifies his office, not himself.  It is clear to me that Paul is speaking about himself because of the context and what he is trying to accomplish with his epistles to the Corinthians.  But...

Romans 14:5b

…Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

Hopefully this helps! 

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Northern California Grace Fellowship

Do you have a question for Pastor Ron?

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