0807. The Life and Its Manifestations

The Life and Its Manifestations

"That like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Rom_6:4).

One would certainly suppose that a new life would give full proofs of its existence. If there is a tree, there are fruits which reveal the nature of the tree; if there is a fountain, there is the outflow which discloses its quality,

1. A child of God is a possessor of a new life in Christ Jesus. Let us note three Scriptures which set forth this new life:

(1) A new creature. Gal_6:15 : "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature."

The Life which is in Christ Jesus is not the old man patched up and renovated; it is a new man, created.

Of course, then, since all those who are saved are born again, created anew, the result would naturally follow: "Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2Co_5:17).

(2) A new lump. 1Co_5:7 : "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened."

The leaven of evil did dominate our life. The whole being was permeated by its influences. Now we are a new lump, Christ is the power of this new life and He will manifest His presence in all we are and do.

(3) A new spirit. Rom_7:6 : "But now we are delivered from the Law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter."

The verse refers to our spirit, not to the Holy Spirit. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (Joh_3:6). "Born again" ones are to serve in the newness of the spirit.

Now, when the "new creature," the "new lump" and the "new spirit," dwell within, what will happen?

2. A child of God will manifest Christ. 2Co_4:10-11 : "Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh."

In both verses above, we read the same words: "That the life also of Jesus might be made manifest." There is no folly greater than the endeavor to grow the fruit of the Spirit on the tree of the flesh. An evil tree cannot bear good fruit.

The apostate church of to-day is forever talking; about the whole world becoming permeated with the "spirit and passion of Jesus." Preposterous! Impossible! The only way to manifest Christ is to possess Christ, and the only way to possess Christ is by a new birth.

When, however, one is made anew, and Christ does dwell within, the life will be manifested by the walk.

3. From a child of God rivers of blessing will flow. Joh_7:37-38 : "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of Living Water.

How true is this. These rivers flow from Christ, the ascended and seated Lord. However, it is also true that when Christ is in us, ascended and seated, the Lord of our life, the rivers will flow from Him, through us.

Ezekiel gives us a delightful picture of the river and its outflow: "And it shall come to pass, that everything that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh."

"And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine" (Ezekiel 47.-p, 12).

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR