22 That ye put off concerning the former
conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Conversation refers to our behavior and not just our manner
of speaking. It encompasses who we are and what we think.
Galatians 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time
past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of
God, and wasted it:
1Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an
example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in
faith, in purity.
And this one makes it very clear that conversation is
behavior.
1Peter 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles:
that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works,
which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
The “old man” is who you were before you believed in Christ
and began to be taught by Him. He is still present and it is he whose influence
must grow weaker as the Holy Spirit’s influence in you grows stronger.
Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified
with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should
not serve sin.
Colossians 3:8 ¶ But now ye also put off all these; anger,
wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have
put off the old man with his deeds; 10
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the
image of him that created him: 11 Where
there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian,
Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Our old man, our natural man, is still a part of us. We have
to deal with him or her until we experience biological death. That person is
wholly incapable of understanding the things of God.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things
of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know
them, because they are spiritually discerned.
The old man leans heavily on his or her feelings and the
yearnings of their heart.
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and
desperately wicked: who can know it?
Examples of speech that come directly from the old man begin
with, “That’s the way I was raised…I was born this way….I think….In my humble
opinion…I want…I don’t see anything wrong with…I’m not hurting anyone…Hey, it’s
a free country…That’s just the way I am…I have a right to....etc. etc.”
Even the natural man’s religious impulses are determined by
his flesh, his hatred, and his paranoia.
John 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues:
yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God
service.
(Just remember as Oliver Cromwell put it so clearly in the
Putney Debates that much of what we call faith is just human reasoning and
imagination.)
The man or woman of the Spirit relies on God’s word to form
the dictates of his or her conscience, opinions, and desires. He or she is
willing to be ruled by Christ from inside. Christianity was never meant to be a
self-help organization or a political action committee. It was never meant to
be a movement or a religion, as
defined by human terms. It was to be an individual relationship with a risen
Saviour and a church was meant to be a small group of believers uniting
together for worship and accountability and reflection on God’s word on a
regular basis.
In fact, the Bible defines religion very clearly as the acts
of mercy a Christian performs and their commitment not to adopt the values of
the world.
James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and
the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and
to keep himself unspotted from the world.
The values of the world are clearly listed in God’s word.
1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that
are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in
him.16 For all that is in the world, the
lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of
the Father, but is of the world.
Loving pleasure, regarding appearances, and holding temporal
things as supreme are not to be a Christian’s way. Jesus made a definitive
statement about His opinion concerning what man holds in high regard.
Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which
justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is
highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
The corruption of deceitful lusts is clearly exemplified in
behavior.
Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest,
which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance,
emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings,
and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time
past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
In the brief summation of human history’s spiritual impulses
that Paul gives in Romans the corruption of deceitful lusts is evident;
Romans 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness,
fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder,
debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of
evil things, disobedient to parents, 31
Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection,
implacable, unmerciful:
Even in the institution of the church these deceitful lusts
become apparent in religious doctrines;
1 Timothy 4:1 ¶ Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in
the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing
spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot
iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and
commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with
thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
And in the behavior of the apostate church.
2 Timothy 2:1 ¶ This know also, that in the last days
perilous times shall come. 2 For men
shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers,
disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent,
fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of
God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but
denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
But, the evidence that you do indeed have Christ’s Spirit in
you is clear.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is
no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s
have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
The corruption of deceitful lusts is a natural to humanity.
It is, unfortunately, also common among modern Christians. A recent study
entitled, “The Bible in American Life,” revealed that a very small minority of
Americans read the Bible daily. The Bible is the principal way God speaks to
His people. It is the surest means by which His people are changed and live a
life victorious over sin. Without God’s word in your heart your, “good
intentions,” are just humanistic wishful thinking, the changes you desire are
temporary, and defeat and bitterness are your earthly rewards.
Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I
might not sin against thee.
Come to God’s word believing it is literally true and being
willing to be changed by it….
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