THE NEW MAN -- HIS WORK WITH MAN
The new man, Jesus Christ, is holy being perfect God and perfect man, He was born as a babe into the race of man. Before triune baptism we all remained the old man, and were inclined to sins and iniquities. After triune baptism we begin to become the new man inclined to believe God and do all that He commands which sums up to become His image and likeness a perfect man. Christ’s humanity is perfect without any inclination to sin. But before we can be a new man, the old man must be spiritually put to death. This is why baptism by triune immersion is so vitally important..
Our Lord Himself commanded His Apostles to do triune baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity. In holy Orthodox Baptism the old man is deadened and the new man stands before all, having an inclination to avoid sin and do only good according to the Lord’s commandments Those who follow the right path after triune baptism are all becoming the new man gradually becoming God’s image and likeness and are becoming Christ as the hymn joyously declares: “As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ, Alleluia.”
With all His strength the new man avoids sin, following the teaching of Holy Scripture He lives a life which leads to perfection, thus becoming more and more similar to Christ the perfect man. The new man is humble and meek not exalting himself nor becoming angry without cause. He lives a moral life and does only good to everyone. He believes in the correct doctrine, and follows the commands of God and with obedience keeps the moral law. The new man is the man that lives in the joy of the Lord living a life of faith and love.
The new man lives, moving and acting within the spirit of truth; he ascends and gradually becomes the image and likeness of God. Becoming the new man is the real reason for which all men are given temporary life with its many generous gifts from our Creator.
But if we live and fail to pursue the throwing off of the old man and become the new man, we condemn ourselves for wasting away the days of our lives which God has given us. He warns everyone that the condemned will go to where there shall be “weeping and gnashing of teeth,” In the present life we experience many consolations greater than things that afflict us, but in the misery of those who receive condemnation there will be no consolations, but only misery for ever and ever. Men take life as being for pleasure and gain of money and power pursuing these things until they die\. They miss out on the best and blessed thing of this world, to become the new man in the image and likeness of God.
The next life is eternal which means it is like one day, a day that continues and never ends, The judgment will come and we all be judged according to the life we chose and there is no escape or consolation for those who are condemned. But to those who struggled to follow the Lord, the reward will never end. For it is great joy in the Lord for ever and ever in a life that never ends.
This is what the Church is about, living a life that provides us with eternal life filled with joy and happiness for a happy life is one thing man desires mostly. But men do not wish to sacrifice anything for what is permanent and without end, because they cannot see it being without faith that is why faith is the only way to salvation and eternal life. So these things are of the utmost importance to all men who desire to be happy for ever and secure in the life that is to come.
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