Patching Up the "Old Man" by H. C. Hartwell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 26, 1914

Patching Up the "Old Man"

By H. C. Hartwell

H. C. HARTWELL

The apostle says, "Seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man." The significant spiritual awakening which is coming just at this time, is leading many to discern as they have not before that the "old man" cannot be improved.

The "old man" is simply self. Somehow there has always been a universal tendency to feel that, after all, there is a great deal of good in the "old man." We admit that we fail on some points, but we seem to feel that if these things could be fixed up and strengthened a little so as to balance with those other admirable qualities which we feel we possess, such as tithe paying and observing the seventh day, self would then make a very presentable appearance.

This is what might be called patching up the "old man." All our righteousness, however, is but filthy rags, and to attempt to patch up such a miserable garment as this will certainly prove terribly embarrassing and disappointing in the judgment. "The Christian's life is not a modification or improvement of the old, but a transformation of nature. There is death to self and sin, and a new life altogether."—"Desire of Ages," page 172.

The second and third chapters of Revelation we understand do not apply to the apostate church, but to the different phases of the true church from the time of the apostles down to the end of time. It has been difficult for us to realize that the remnant church and the church of the Laodiceans are identical. So as we have read the terribly humiliating message of the last nine verses of Revelation 3, we have passed them on to other denominations for their benefit. In this we have made a decided mistake.

In the straight testimony of the True Witness no reference is made to errors in doctrine; the message is to those who have received the light of present truth, but who are not living up to it, yet who, on account of having received such an impregnable system of Bible doctrines, have deceived themselves into the idea that they are "rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing." This is a sort of religious auto-intoxication. It is similar to the feelings of the man who has become intoxicated with strong drink. Such persons sometimes imagine themselves to be possessed of great wealth, though perhaps everything about them indicates that they are in the depths of degradation and poverty.

The condition of the members of the Laodicean church is faithfully described by the True Witness. He says that they are "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." This of itself would be a most deplorable state of affairs, but the worst feature of it all is that those who are in this condition do not know it.

Think it over prayerfully. Has our Sabbath keeping counted for very much when in most of the little everyday affairs of life we have been suffering defeat all the way along,—irritable with the children; unable to be patient and kind when the tired wife did not always speak as pleasantly as we thought she should; following the fashions of the world; ignoring the principles of health reform; neglecting prayer and the study of the Bible and the Testimonies; and in so many ways maintaining such a low standard of Christian living?

The True Witness knows our works; he cares very little for our profession. The members of the Laodicean church have not been controlled by the Spirit of Christ; he has been in their lives only in a very limited degree. He is represented as standing without, knocking for admission into their hearts, in order that he may work out in their lives the beautiful character that should be seen in his people.

Perfection is the high standard to which the members of the Laodicean church are expected to attain. This is necessary before they can be translated. The latter rain is to prepare them for this experience. But we read, "I saw that none could share the 'refreshing' unless they obtain the victory over every besetment, over pride, selfishness, love of the world, and over every wrong word and action."—"Early Writings," page 71.

To obtain the victory over sin we need expect no help from the "old man."

Self will be selfish as long as he is permitted to live. Self is our worst enemy. The "old man" is continually getting us into trouble. The thing to do is to crucify him. He will not like it; and, in fact, as long as we are in the flesh, he will struggle for recognition. "In our own strength it is impossible for us to deny the clamors of our fallen nature." "The power of evil had been strengthening for centuries. . . . Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the third person of the Godhead. . . . It is the Spirit that makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world's Redeemer. . . . Through the Spirit the believer becomes a partner of the divine nature. Christ has given his Spirit as a divine power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil."—"Desire of Ages," pages 122, 671.

It is stated that the reception of this gift "would bring all other blessings in its train." (See "Acts of the Apostles," page 50.) Are we convicted of impatience? Have we become critical and unkind? Then we should pray for the Holy Spirit to take control of our hearts. This will develop the fruits of the Spirit in our lives; the power of the "old man" will be broken, and the divine nature, or the "new man," will grow up into the measure of the stature of Christ.

It is very evident that many of us have left the Holy Spirit almost wholly out of our reckoning in this battle with sin, and as a result we have had only a sort of half salvation,—sinning, repenting, and being forgiven,—and we have failed to grasp the glorious truth that ample provision has been made to keep us from repeating the same failures. We have grasped the promise of God to forgive our sins through the merit of Christ's sacrifice on the cross. Now we should claim the victory over sin by recognizing the office work of the Holy Ghost in this conflict, and allowing it to carry on the work of constantly resisting and overcoming every besetment. By this means we shall obtain a full and complete salvation.

South Lancaster, Mass.