I. THE NEW LIFE

Due to family emergency I've not been able to prepare this as I would have. I will up date this asap.


I. THE NEW LIFE


"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that who ever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." -- John 3:16

"For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in Glory" -- Col. 3:3-4

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the word of life- the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us- that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full." -- 1 John 1:1-4

How glorious, then, is the blessing which every one receives that believes in the Lord Jesus. Not only does there come a change in his disposition and manner of life; he also receives from God out of heaven an entirely new life. He is born anew, born of God: he has passed from death into life.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” -- John 1:12-13

“Jesus answered, 'Most assuredly, I sat to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I say to you, “You must be born again”'” -- John 3:5-7

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” -- John 5:24

“We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.” -- 1 John 3:14

“Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah) is born also of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. -- 1 John 5:1

This new life is nothing less than Eternal Life.

“He who believes in the Son of Gd has everlasting life; and he who does not belive in the Son of God shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” -- John 3:36

“And this is the will of Him who sent Me that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.....I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” -- John 6:40, 51

“Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord....For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” -- Romans 6:11, 23

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” -- Romans 8:2

“He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” -- 1 John 5:12-13

This does not mean, as many suppose, that our life shall now no more die, but shall endure into eternity. No: eternity life is nothing else than the very life of God, the life that He has had in Himself from eternity, and that has been visibly revealed in Christ. This life is now the portion of every child of God.

This life is a life of inconceivable power. Whenever God gives life to a young plant or animal, that life has in itself the power of growth, whereby the plant or animal as of itself becomes large. Life is power. In the new life, that is, in your heart, there is the power of eternity.

“Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For ye were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.” -- 2 Corinthians 7:9

"For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in Glory" -- Colossians 3:3-4

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” -- Philippians 4:13

More certain than the healthful growth of any tree or animal is the growth and increase of the child of God, who in reality surrenders himself to the working of the new life.

What hinders this power and the reception of the new spiritual life is chiefly two things. The one is ignorance of its nature, its laws and workings. Man, even the Christian, has of himself not the least conception of the new life that comes from God: it surpasses all his thoughts. His own perverted thoughts of the way to serve and to please God, namely, by what he does and is, are so deeply rooted in him, that, although he thinks that he understands and receives God's word, he yet thinks humanly and carnally on Divine things.

Not only must God give salvation and life; He must also give the Spirit to make us know what He gives. Not only must He point out the land of Canaan, and the way thither; we must also, like the blind, be led every day by Himself. The young Christian must try to cherish a deep conviction of his ignorance concerning the new life, and of his inability to form right thoughts about it. This will bring him to the meekness and to the childlike spirit of docility, to which the Lord shall make His secret known.

“Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy loving kindnesses; for they have been ever of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O Lord. Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.” -- Psalm 25:5,8-9

“Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.” -- Psalm 143:8

“And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.” -- Isaiah 42:16

“For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.” -- Isaiah 64:4

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-19

“But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” -- 1 Corinthians 2:7-12

There is a second hindrance in the way of faith. In the life of every plant and every animal and every child there lies sufficient power by which it can become big. In the new life, God has made the most glorious provision of a sufficient power whereby His child can grow and become all that he must be. Christ Himself is his life and his power of life.

“The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” -- Psalm 18:2

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” -- Psalm 27:1

“There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.” -- Psalm 38:3

“O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” -- Psalm 34:8

“Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.” -- John 14:19

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” -- Galatians 2:20

"For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in Glory" -- Colossians 3:3-4

Yet, because this mighty life is not visible or cannot be felt, but works in the midst of human weakness, the young Christian often becomes of doubtful mind. He then fails to believe that he shall grow with Divine power and certainty. He does not understand that the believing life is a life of faith whereby he reckons on the life that is in Christ for him, although he neither sees, feels, nor experiences anything.

“Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.” -- Habakkuk 2:4

“But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.” -- Galatians 3:11

“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” -- Hebrews 10:38

Let every one then that has received this new life, cultivate this great conviction: it is eternal life that works in me: it works with Divine power: I can and shall become what God will have me be: Christ Himself is my life: I have to receive Him every day as my life given by God to me, and He shall be my life in full power.

O my Father, who hast given me Thy Son that I may have life in Him, I thank Thee for the glorious new life that is now in me. I pray Thee, teach me to know aright this new life. I will acknowledge my ignorance and the perverted thoughts which are in me, concerning Thy service. I will believe in the heavenly power of the new life that is in me: I will believe that my Lord Jesus, who Himself is my life, will by His Spirit teach me to know how I can walk in that life. Amen.

Try now to apprehend and appropriate the following lessons in your heart.


1. It is eternal life, the very life of God, that you have now received through faith.

2. This new life is in Christ, and the Holy Spirit is in you to bring over to you all that is in Christ. Christ lives in you through the Holy Spirit.

3. This life is a life of wonderful power. However weak you may feel, you must believe in the Divine power of the life that is in you.

4. This life has need of time to grow in you and to take possession of you. Give it time: it shall surely increase.

5. Forget not that all the laws and rules of this new life are in conflict with all human thoughts of the way to please God. Be very much in dread of your thoughts, and let Christ, who is your life and also your wisdom, teach you all things.