Old Man, Baptism, and the Upcoming Passover

Here are excerpts from today’s commentary from LCG:

Commentary: The Old Man

By Roger Meyer (guest columnist) | Tuesday, March 20, 2012

When people are young, they often want to be older. When they are old, they often want to be younger–or at least to look and feel younger. Common to nearly everyone is the desire to be rejuvenated and renewed. Read more…

For many, old age is the enemy. People spend a lot of money fighting their inevitable aging. The desire to maintain a youthful vigor and appearance has spawned numerous multi-million dollar industries. We have all seen the commercials hawking these products and services that remove wrinkles, tighten sagging skin, hide spots and blemishes, dye gray hair, remove hair here, add hair there, and tone this and lift that. Like a new coat of paint on an old car, the outside may indeed look better. But underneath and inside, we remain the same worn and used old man.

But there is a genuine and effective rejuvenation available to us. The Bible speaks of “putting on the new man” (Colossians 3). The new man is the one on the inside. The Apostle Paul describes a process of putting aside sins such as fornication, uncleanness, evil desire, covetousness (idolatry), anger, blasphemy and filthy language (vv. 5-9). And then he writes of “putting on the new man” by developing such attributes as mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness and love (vv. 10-14).

In Romans 6, Paul further explains this rejuvenation or renewal as “walking in newness of life.” When we do this, we are symbolically crucified, putting to death the “old man” through baptism (v. 6). When we are then “dead” to our former sinful ways of life, we are alive to God in Christ Jesus (v. 11).

Paul tells us more about the contrast between the old man and the new one, exhorting the Ephesian brethren “that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24).

This is a rejuvenation that is really worth something, lasting long after the creams and balms and treatments have lost their effectiveness. But it is not a process we can accomplish alone. We need the Holy Spirit if we are to experience this change in our life—if we are to become true followers of Jesus Christ and practice His ways in all aspects of our lives. We receive the Holy Spirit after repentance and baptism, by the laying on of hands. This wonderful process is explained in our inspiring booklet, Christian Baptism: Its Real Meaning. Read it online, or order your own copy, absolutely free. The “old man” can give way to the new!

Most of the scriptures cited above were written by the Apostle Paul.

For those who have already been baptized, Paul said that we were to keep the Passover and to examine ourselves prior to actually doing so. Notice what the Apostle Paul wrote:

7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:7-8).

23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. (1 Corinthians 11:23-28)

5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless indeed you are disqualified. (2 Corinthians 13:5)

There is no doubt that early Christians kept Passover (this year it will be April 5th after sunset). And there is substantial evidence to show that they kept it along with the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in the Spring. Those of us who are baptized need to examine ourselves this time of year. And those that are not should consider if they should be baptized and put off “the old man.”

What will you do?

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Baptism and the Early Church Was it by immersion? Did it include infants? Does Polycarp prove infant baptism?
Did Real Christians Practice Nude Baptism? This is not a joke. Find out what was taught in the second and later centuries.
Born-Again originally meant being born at the resurrection, not at the time of conversion.
Are You Saved? Do You Love Jesus? What is a True Christian? What is the Gospel? Evangelist Richard Ames answers those important questions.
True vs. False Conversion Are you really converted or willing to be? What is true conversion? What is false conversion? What are the dangers of false conversion? Evangelist Roderick Meredith provides information on those important questions.
What is the Meaning of Life? Who does God say is happy? What is your ultimate destiny? Do you really know? Does God actually have a plan for YOU personally?
Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by the Tkach WCG which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean? Also you can click here for the calendar of Holy Days.
Hebrew Calendar and “Postponements” This John Ogywn writing explains why we in the Living Church of God use the calendar that we do and answers such questions as “Did Jesus Observe the Postponements?”
TPM: Passover on the 14th or 15th? While the LCG observes Passover on the 14th, some observe it on the 15th. Why is the 14th correct?
The Night to Be Observed What is the night to be much observed? When is it? Why do Jews keep Passover twice and emphasize the wrong date?
Passover and the Early Church Did the early Christians observe Passover? What did Jesus and Paul teach? Why did Jesus die for our sins?
Melito’s Homily on the Passover This is one of the earliest Christian writings about the Passover. This also includes what Apollinaris wrote on the Passover as well.
Should Christians Keep the Days of Unleavened Bread? Do they have any use or meaning now? What is leaven? This article supplies some biblical answers.
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?