Catechism: Old Adam and New Man
And He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 2 Corinthians 5:15
No one will ever be able to truthfully accuse God of being unclear about what His will is for people. Not only is His law fully laid out in the Bible and summarized plainly in the Ten Commandments, but He has also laid His law in the hearts of all people so that everyone has at least a basic concept of right and wrong.
Despite that knowledge and despite our natural desire to avoid the wrath of God, every person who lives according to the Old Man is entirely unable to do God’s will. That’s because the Old Adam only ever lives for himself, and his self is only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5)
But the New Man, created anew daily, does do the will of God because he doesn’t live for himself. He lives for Christ who died for him and rose again. When we look at Jesus, we see the one person who was always eager to do God's will. He gladly denied Himself the sinful pleasures of things prohibited by God and rejoiced to do those good things God requires of mankind.
When we put on the New Man, we are actually putting on Christ Himself. So all His righteous work and perfect holiness are credited to us by the Father who is reconciled to us by Jesus’ atoning death. This also makes us eager to do what God wants us to do. We do this not only out of thankfulness to God, but because we are truly living a new life, with a new mind and heart. May our Old Man always die everyday. Long live the New Man to the glory of our God!
Holy Spirit, teach us to ever walk in the newness of life, following our Savior to the glories of heaven. Amen.