The Old Man

The Old Man

“Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him . . . .” Rom. 6:6.

The apostle knew this by faith. When we believe in the forgiveness of sins, we have forgiveness; and when we believe that the old man was crucified with Him, we are simply believing what we ought to believe. When the old man is not on the cross, he lives in unbelief and conceit. Such a person esteems himself more highly than God does. The old man can build churches, pay tithes and keep entire congregations in ignorance for his own advantage. The old man can play the part of the most devout Catholic or the most zealous Protestant. He can testify, pray and hold meetings on just about any subject. He can even hold ecumenical meetings. The old man can serve in any religious office from bishop to sexton, from lay preacher to minister. He can tolerate any preaching, as long as nothing is said about his own crucifixion. The word of the cross awakens his hatred and indignation, and understandably so, yet the cross is where he belongs. The old man is cursed and belongs on the accursed tree. “Give me anything,” he says, “just not the cross.” He loves messages about liberty and about how Jesus has done everything so that he can escape scot-free. The old man says, “Jesus suffered and was tried so I don’t have to suffer.” This is why he longs to hear about the glories of the millennium, about freedom from the cross and tribulations and about promises without conditions.

He speaks about the promises and says nothing about conditions or exhortations. He thrives splendidly in religious activities and gladly undertakes any tasks there, especially those that are most highly esteemed. He becomes fat from poor people’s collections and tithes and greedily devours gifts of any kind.

He is on the lookout for those who preach the cross, just like a murderer watches for those who are out to get him. He seeks to save his life by maintaining a form of godliness while denying its power. He can be zealous to enlist new members, or he can utterly despise those who do so. He greatly admires wealth and the respect of persons and honor, but he disregards the poor and lowly. He travels and enjoys life, wining and dining with those who are of like mind. He can put on a good appearance according to the flesh, and he greatly admires those who can do the same. If he is fortunate enough to become a prominent religious leader or a fundraiser for some charity, he displays an unparalleled ability to collect money. He can preach in such a way that everyone gets the impression that the central element of true godliness is money.

What a farce! Up on the cross with the old man, so we can become freed from his haughty looks, his begging for money and all such nonsense. The old man persecuted the prophets and put them to death, and because of envy he even crucified the Lord of Glory. The old man said, “As soon as gold in the collection rings, the rescued soul to heaven springs.” The same spirit controls the old man today, although he has chosen other methods to extract money. Peter had neither silver nor gold, yet he had God’s power. Even the Master had nowhere to lay His head. But the old man reclines on ivory couches and composes songs like David and dreams of doing heroic deeds. On the cross with him! Then his vain dreams will cease.

“But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.” Gal. 6:14-16.