The New Man in the Heart: Embracing the Transformative Power of God's Love

Introduction:

As believers, we are called to put on the new man, created in God's image, and embrace a life of transformation and renewal. This journey begins in the heart, where God's love and grace work to shape us into the likeness of Christ. Keep reading to find out more about the contentions that go on in your heart when you first become a believer, how to overcome them. Also discover the themes surrounding the concept of the new man in the heart and how it empowers us to live a life of purpose, joy, and service to God in our societies.

The Old Man vs. the New Man:

The Bible teaches us that our old self, with its sinful nature and fleshly desires, must be put to death, and we must be renewed in our minds and hearts (Romans 6:6, Ephesians 4:22-24). This transformation occurs as we surrender our lives to God and allow His Spirit to work in us. The old man signifies the old personality (mental being) or character (man) that has been formed or programmed over years of thinking, imagination, speaking, acting, and believing certain things. It refers to a program of sin and error that needs to be utterly destroyed and replaced by a new one. The process of destroying the old man and replacing it with the new man is called transformation. It is a form of upgrade and this kind of upgrade takes place through a contention within the Spirit, the old man doesn't want to leave but the new man demands that he leaves and that begins a battle within. The devil endorses the old man but the Lord endorses the new man. Winning this battle is not by folding of hands and leaving things to chance. One must become more intentional than ever before, deliberately living a life designed to help one avoid falling into sin, avoiding compromising situations or being led into temptations. It doesn't stop at avoiding sin alone, you also must hate it (this cultivates the fear of the Lord which is to hate evil and iniquity), and you must associate with God and the God-kind. Begin to love the things that please God more, pursue after righteousness (meaning you should seek for avenues to do good, seek for situations or even create situations that allow you please God). Engage more in doing the will of God, become too busy doing God's work to think about sinful things. Surround yourself with godly people, engage in godly or scripture-based discussions often, study the bible more, go for more prayer meetings (even if there is no service, organize one). These will gradually help you defeat the old man.

Characteristics of the New Man:

1. Created in God's image (Ephesians 4:24)

2. Renewed in knowledge and wisdom (Colossians 3:10)

3. Empowered by God's Spirit (Romans 8:9-11)

4. Filled with love, compassion, and kindness (Colossians 3:12)

5. Humble and gentle (Ephesians 4:2)

6. Forgiving and merciful (Ephesians 4:32)

7. Rooted in God's Word and prayer (Colossians 2:7, Ephesians 6:18)

Embracing the New Man:

1. Seek God's transformation (2 Corinthians 3:18)

2. Put on the new man daily (Ephesians 4:24)

3. Practice spiritual disciplines (Romans 12:1-2)

4. Walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16)

5. Serve others with love (Galatians 5:13)

Conclusion:

The new man in the heart is a powerful symbol of God's transformative love and grace. As we embrace this new identity, we become empowered to live a life of purpose, joy, and service to others. May we continually seek God's transformation and put on the new man, created in His image, to the glory of God and the blessing of those around us.