The New and Living Way

Putting to death sin in the flesh was not accomplished in an instant. God did not give Jesus light about everything all at once. Not at all! Jesus consecrated a new and living way, which God beforehand had prepared for us. This way went through the flesh of Jesus, who had the same flesh as we do. Therefore, He consecrated this way for us into the sanctuary. Hebrews 10:19-20. Concerning Him we read: “. . . who though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:6-9. He could not go further down than this.

Then the work of Jesus was finished. In His humiliation, all sin in the flesh (which barred people from the Holy of Holies) was put to death. And when Jesus cried that it was finished, the veil of the temple was rent from top to bottom. Now the way into the sanctuary was open. The new and living way was consecrated for us; thus the way went through His flesh, which is our flesh as well. Hebrews 10:19-20. The Fall came about through disobedience, which is haughtiness. But the Fall has now been compensated for through obedience and humiliation. Hebrews 5:8-10. On this way Jesus denied Himself and took up His cross daily, and on this way He invited the great multitudes who accompanied Him to follow Him.

“Now great multitudes accompanied him; and he turned and said to them, ‘If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.’” Luke 14:25-27. “So therefore, whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” Verse 33.

These are not empty words. It sounds difficult, but then we will also gain great glory, and become a partaker of it by following Him. Upon this way Jesus partook of the entire fullness of the Godhead bodily. What He is inviting us to do, as His disciples, is to partake of the fullness of the Godhead—if we will only obey Him. (Colossians 1:19, 2:2-3 and 9-10.) “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old received divine approval.” Hebrews 11:1-2.

It is impossible to get people to believe in the gospel when they have not grown tired of sin. If you find someone who is tired of sinning, then it is hopeful. Paul’s commission was to lead people to the obedience of faith. If they don’t come to the point of being obedient, they will not become partakers of the glory of the gospel.

Nearly everyone associates obedience with the law and the gospel with a gift (“the finished work of Calvary”) that is given us by faith. “We are perfect in Him, and He is our righteousness,” people say. This is an easy way out, and the multitudes follow the broad way. But what was true in Jesus will never become true in them—neither do they expect it to become true! They reckon that this will be true when they “get to heaven.” Dear brother and sister: If this is your attitude of mind, then you have been deceived; everyone who does not love the truth will be deceived. Read 2 Thessalonians 2. In verses 13 and 14 we read, “But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Jesus obtained His glory in the days of His flesh. We can also obtain this glory, but only by loving the truth. We are admonished, “So then, brethren, sand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.” 2 Thessalonians 2:15. So the same thing applies to us in the days of our flesh.