17.
The new man is the spiritual man. He is not the old man with all of its sin and iniquity. The new man is created after the likeness of the Lord, in true holiness and righteousness. Eph. 4:24.
As there is a process with natural birth so there is likewise with spiritual birth. Jesus made it very plain that the new man must be born again. John 3:3 How can one live except they be born? As the natural birth is of water and spirit or breath so the new birth involves spirit and water. John 3:5 Water baptism becomes an imperative to every one who has believed unto salvation. It is the commandment of the Lord Jesus. Mark 16:16 Peter in his message on the day of Pentecost commanded every one of them to follow the Lord in the waters of baptism. Acts 2:38 His word was graciously received and they baptized some three thousand people that day. Acts 2:41.
The flood in the days of Noah are indicative of water baptism. The Lord in that day eradicated the ungodly from the earth. It was an act of sanctification and purity. Water baptism is an act of cleansing. Not physical cleansing but spiritual. 1 Peter 3:21 The old man, the past life is buried with Christ in the waters of baptism. Spiritual knowledge and understanding is to acknowledge that in water baptism we are burying the past, the old life with the anticipation of being raised together with Him and walking in that new life. Rom. 6:3-4.
Obedience to the Word will produce the promised gift of the Holy Spirit who is the gift of the Lord to His church. Acts 2:38 Every one is pleased when they receive a gift. The Lord is bombarded with requests for various benefits and helps pertaining to this life. How about receiving that all important gift which He so abundantly grants to us. It is promised to all who are termed believers. How vital it is that we have the fullness of the Spirit abiding within. Paul was a great man in the faith and strong in his beliefs. There was no wavering or compromise with him. He strongly urged the Romans to live in the Spirit for if the Holy Spirit dwelt in them, He would direct their lives in the ways of the Lord. He then said; that if they did not have Him within, they did not belong to Him. Rom. 8:9 Blunt, straightforward words but we need to consider the meaning of them and why they were spoken, not only to the Romans but to all who would follow the Lord Jesus. There are some real strong unavoidable doctrines in the Word and this is one of them.