Are you an "old" man?
The "old" man is the person we were before we were born again of God. He or she is in an unregenerated state, dead to the spiritual things of God. Satan has blinded his or her mind so "that they will not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (2 Corinthians 4:4, NASB). Many of us are familiar with this unbelieving man or woman who declares in his or her heart that there is no God. Psalm 14 tells us that this type of person is a fool who is corrupt, only committing abominable works. This person has rejected Jesus as their Savior and God as their Father. They are enemies of God, and they do the deeds of their true father: Satan.
However, there is another type of "old man" living in an unregenerated state. This person's state is more insidious then the former because this person is deceived about who they truly are. He or she thinks and believes that they are a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. Sadly, they're not. They know of God, but they do not know Him. They profess God with their mouths, but their hearts are far from Him. They are deceived by their religious works. They think their works make them right with God. In their deception, they think they are doing the will of God but they're not. They are living lives of lawlessness (sin) and bearing bad fruit. We see this type of deception in the life of the rich young ruler (See Matthew 19:16-22). The rich young ruler probably thought he was a religious man in right standing with God because he kept certain commandments. But with one request, Jesus revealed what really had the rich young ruler's heart: his riches, not God.
The same deception is seen in the life of Saul before he became the Apostle Paul. Saul persecuted and murdered Christians. He was completely deceived into believing that he was doing the will of God. He thought wrong was right and right was wrong. This was until Jesus encountered him on the road to Damascus and changed his life forever. When Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, encountered Saul, He revealed the truth about who Saul was and what he was doing. He was not doing the will of God. In fact, Jesus asked Saul why was he persecuting Him. After this revelation from Jesus, Saul was changed. Not only did his name change from Saul to Paul, but he changed. His life changed. The people that he once persecuted were the ones he was now called to lay his life down for and serve.
The life of the Apostle Paul illustrates an undeniable truth: a changed life is a mark of a true Christian. Paul Washer, a missionary and preacher, said something that will probably stay with me for the rest of my life. He said that you cannot have an encounter with Jesus Christ and not be changed. The latter is like someone telling you that they were just hit by a Mack truck. However, when you examine this person, they are in one piece. They have no bruises or broken bones. They aren't bleeding. Their clothes aren't torn. There is no evidence that this person was hit by a Mack truck. From your observation, you're going to think one of two things: (1) This person is a liar or (2) They're crazy. The same can be said of the person who proclaims to be a Christian but still lives an unrighteous, sinful life like the "old man."
Wisdom Nugget: It's time to examine your life. If you're an unbeliever and you're still living the life you've always lived, that should come as no surprise. However, if you profess to be a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, and your deeds and fruit don't conform to Jesus or His Word, it's time that you examine yourself to see if you are of the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5). Are you deceived about who you truly are? Are you blind to the conviction of the Holy Spirit about the sin in your life? Are you a false convert? These are the questions you need to ask yourself if you profess to be a Christian, and you make a practice of sin without godly sorrow (See 2 Corinthians 7:10).
If after you've examined and tested yourself, and you find that you are not of the faith, there is one thing that you can know for sure: you will not receive any of the promises of God—and that includes God's purpose and plan for your life.
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