September 16 - Put on the New Self 새 사람을 입으라

September 16 - Put on the New Self

 

“and put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” - Ephesians 4:24 

 

Believers are to put off the "old self" (Ephesians 4:22). Prior verses have explained this as the deceptive, corrupting influence of sin, which marks a life of unbelief. Making this change is impossible without Christ (Ephesians 2:8–9) and requires a Christian to be renewed in their thinking by God (Romans 12:2, Colossians 3:10). The contrast to the "old self," and the result of being transformed by Christ is to "put on the new self."In Colossians 3:10, Paul notes that "the new self" is being "renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator." In other words, the new self is the life that grows to become more like Christ. This is "created after the likeness of God." Two aspects are noted to explain how the new self is being created as a reflection of the Creator.First, Paul mentions "true righteousness." This exact phrase is found only here in the New Testament. However, righteousness is a common biblical theme. In Ephesians 6:10–18, Paul will develop the famous "armor of God" analogy, which includes the breastplate of righteousness (Ephesians 6:14). The LORD is righteous and expects His followers to seek to do what is right. Second, the new self is created like God in "holiness." Believers are to control their bodies "in holiness and honor" (1 Thessalonians 4:4). Holiness is contrasted with impurity (1 Thessalonians 4:7), indicating holiness means to be set apart, clean, and distinct from what surrounds it. Believers are to live holy lives as followers of Christ.

 

Today’s people are committing every kind of immoral sin with filthy desires. The Bible says that a person separated from the living God “indulges in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more” (Ephesians 4:19). The ‘lust’ in this verse implies a desire like coveting a neighbor’s wife. In this world, many people ignore other people's rights and desire to seize everything from other people to fulfill their selfish desires. 

 

We should abandon the former way of life and put on the new self before we put on the new clothes (Ephesians 4:23). Unless our thoughts and hearts are renewed, we cannot put on the new self. Paul said, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by renewing your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will” (Romans 12:2). 

 

The way for our hearts to be renewed is to read and study the Bible and to pray to God that the Holy Spirit will work continuously through us. Reading the Scripture gives us the thought of God, and our thoughts renew when we meditate upon the words. The reason for praying to God is that our thoughts are being renewed.  

 

We become new persons when we are Christians. Becoming a new person is a divine appointment and a present from God. Our only responsibility is to wear it when God puts the new self on us. But we must remember we do not automatically become a new person when we put off the old self. We ought to clothe ourselves with love, peace, joy, and patience (Galatians 5:22). Through the meditation of the Scripture, we should always pray to be renewed by the Holy Spirit. 

 

Today’s Prayer: Pray that your church leaders will be persons of spiritual power and carry “weapons of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 6:7) to battle the enemy. 

Prayer Pointer: Love to pray – often feel the need for prayer during the day and take the trouble to pray. – Mother Teresa

Bible Reading: Proverbs 30-31; 2 Corinthians 8

 

 

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9월 16일 - 새 사람을 입으라

 

“하나님을 따라 의와 진리의 거룩함으로 지으심을 받은 새 사람을 입으라” - 엡4:24

 

 

예수님을 믿고 구원받은 자들은 "옛 사람”을 벗어 버려야 합니다(엡 4:22). 바울은 앞 구절 22절에서 옛 사람은 유혹의 욕심을 따라 부패한 구습을 따르는 특징이 있다고 설명합니다. 옛 사람을 버리는 변화는 그리스도를 믿지 않고는 불가능합니다(엡 2:8-9), 그리스도인은 하나님으로 말미암아 마음과 생각을 새롭게 하는 자들입니다(롬 12:2, 골 3:10). "옛 사람"을 버리고  그리스도로 말미암아 변화된 결과는 "새 사람”을 입는 것입니다.

골로새서 3:10에서 "새 사람"은 "창조하신 이의 형상을 따라 지식에까지 새롭게 하심을 입는 자”라고 말씀합니다. 새 사람은 그리스도를 닮아가기 위해 항상 성숙합니다. 주님을 닮아가는 삶을 살아가기 위해 우리가 하나님의 형상을 따라 창조된 것입니다. 바울은 하나님께서 어떻게 새사람을 창조하시며 새사람으로 하나님을 반영하는지 두 가지로 설명합니다. 

 

첫째, "의와 진리"로 새 사람이 됩니다. “의와 진리”는 신약에서 오직 이곳에서만 찾아볼 수 있는 말씀입니다. 의는 성경의 일반적인 주제로 에베소서 6:10-에서 바울은 하나님이 전신갑주를 말하며 의의 흉배를 비유하여 말씀합니다(엡 6:14). 하나님은 의로우신 분이고 하나님을 믿는 그리스도인들도 의를 행하기를 원하십니다. 둘째, 새 사람은 하나님처럼 "거룩함"으로 창조됩니다. 하나님을 믿는 자들은 "거룩함과 존귀함으로"(살전 4:4) 자신들의 몸을 절제해야 합니다. 거룩함은 불결함의 반대의 의미가 있고(살전 4:7) 거룩함은 불결한 것들과 구별되고, 깨끗하고, 차이가 있음을 가르쳐 줍니다. 하나님을 믿는 자들은 그리스도의 제자로 거룩한 삶을 살아야 합니다.

 

오늘날 사람들은 더러운 욕망으로 온갖 부도덕한 죄를 짓고 있습니다. 성경은 생명으로부터 떨어져 있는 자는 "감각 없는 자가 되어 자신을 방탕에 방임하여 모든 더러운 것을 욕심으로 행하되”(엡 4:19)라고 말합니다. 여기의 '욕심'은 이웃의 아내를 탐내는 것과 같은 욕망을 의미합니다. 이 세상에는 다른 사람들의 권리를 무시하고 이기적인 욕망을 충족시키기 위해 다른 사람들의 모든 소유를 강탈하고 싶은 욕망을 가진 사람들이 많이 있습니다. 

 

우리는 새 옷을 입고 새 사람이 되기 전에 먼저 반드시 과거의 우리가 살아온 옛생활 태도와 방식을 버려야 합니다(엡 4:23). 우리의 생각과 마음이 변화받고 새로워지지 않으면 새 사람을 입을 수 없습니다. 바울은 "너희는 이 세대를 본받지 말고 오직 마음을 새롭게 함으로 변화를 받아 하나님의 선하시고 기뻐하시고 온전하신 뜻이 무엇인지 분별하도록 하라”(롬 12:2) 말합니다.

 

우리의 마음이 새로워지려면 성경 말씀을 항상 읽고 묵상하며 성령께서 끊임없이 역사 하시도록 하나님께 항상 기도해야 합니다. 우리가 성경을 읽으면 하나님을 생각하게 되고, 말씀을 묵상하면 우리의 생각이 계속 새로워집니다. 우리가 하나님께 기도하는 이유는 생각이 새로워지기  때문입니다.  

 

우리는 그리스도인이 될 때 새 사람이 됩니다. 새 사람이 되는 것은 하나님의 약속이자 선물입니다. 우리가 해야 할 일은 하나님께서 우리를 새 사람으로 변화시킬 때 새 사람을 입는 것입니다. 그러나 우리가 옛 사람을 벗어 버릴 때 자연스럽게 새로운 사람으로 변화되지 않는다는 것을 기억해야 합니다. 우리는 반드시 사랑과 화평과 기쁨과 오래 참음을 옷 입어야 합니다(갈5:22). 말씀 묵상을 통해 항상 새롭게 되도록 성령의 도우심을 간구해야 합니다. 

 

 

오늘의 기도: 당신의 교회 지도자들이 성령의 능력의 사람들이 되어 “의의 무기” (고후 6:7)를 가지고 원수와 싸울 수 있도록 기도하십시오.  

기도 지침: 기도하기를 즐겨하라 – 하루 동안에 기도의 필요성을 자주 생각하라 그리고 문제들을 가지고 기도하라. – 데레사 수녀

성경 읽기: 잠언 30-31장; 고린도후서 8장