 I've gotten this question a few times, and feel it's important to give an answer here. I think this will encourage some of you, as well as help you to answer this for others, too!: I get asked: "I just don't get it...I got saved and thought the 'old man' was supposed to be dead now, but I'm still struggling with him, so he must not really be dead, right??" Okay, here's the deal... First of all, when you got born again, your "old man" DID indeed die! You WERE CRUCIFIED with Christ--not will be, but "were" (Rom. 6:6)! That "old man" has died, and will never be resurrected to life again, EVER! You are now a BRAND NEW creation in Christ, a specie that has never, ever existed before (2 Cor. 5:17)! You are now a NEW MAN/WOMAN in Christ! So why then does it SEEM like the "old man" hasn't truly died? Let me give an analogy that might help. You have had Mr. Old Man living in your house your whole life, and you decided you'd had enough of him and made the decision he had to go, so you called Jesus to come get him. Jesus comes right over and immediately takes him into custody, leaves with him, and takes him out and crucifies him. Mr. Old Man is now dead as a door nail...he is not coming back, 'cause Jesus took care of it completely. But what happens is, you go back inside your house and look around. As you do, you see Mr. Old Man's clothes still hanging in the closet, his shoes are by the door, his magazines are still on the end table, etc. You KNOW he's dead and not coming back 'cause Jesus took care of it, but you need to get rid of Mr. Old Man's stuff! So, you make the decision to gather up all Mr. Old Man's stuff, head out to the backyard, build a fire, and burn it all! (Eph. 4:22; Col. 3:9)!  Sure, this can be a process for some...just like the person who's been on drugs, or smokes, or drinks when they get saved. Their "old man" has died when they come to Christ, but they may have a temporary desire to do the drug or take that drink. But when they do try to do those things, they'll find out that it just isn't the same anymore; it just doesn't give them the high they used to get. They realize that a major CHANGE has taken place! They'll find out that their desire for that to continue is no longer there, because they now have a brand new nature AND a brand new spirit that is alive to God. They have thrown out Mr. Old Man's stuff, and it feels GREAT! ----------------------
ADDED INPUT by my dear friend Derrick Day: "The old man is dead but the devil makes him a zombie - always trying to return to life. And just like a zombie, the old man desires the works of the flesh. But the spirit man trumps him and, over time, the old man just gets weaker and weaker until he has no more power in your life!" Thanks, Derrick!
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