ONE NEW MAN by Bill Britton

By Bill Britton

ONE NEW MAN
by Bill Britton

There are two men in the earth today. Only two. There once was only one, until Jesus came. He was the beginning and the source of the New Creation Man. Before you look around and wonder about all the other millions of men you see now living in the world, let me explain something. Each of these two men I am going to tell you about became a "corporate man."

When God put Adam on the earth, He made him male and female (Gen 5:2), and called their name "Adam." God took Adam's rib and made a woman, and gave Adam the ability to multiply himself. Not only did God give him the ability, but also a command to "be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and rule (Gen 1:28)." This was not an option for Adam to choose. This was God's divine order, and a command.

IN HIS LIKENESS

Everything brings forth after its own kind. Notice that Adam did not obey God's command to multiply while he was still innocent, in the Garden of Eden. If he had, he could only have brought forth more innocent sons and daughters on that realm, in the likeness of what he was at that time. It was not until after the fall that he began to multiply, and the only life he could bring forth was a fallen race of men in his own image. He could only produce what he was. Just as a cornstalk could not produce tomatoes, and a cow cannot bring forth kittens, so a fallen Adam could only multiply himself with more fallen sons and daughters. This is a principle of life that becomes very important as we consider the Son of God, and the corporate manchild He is bringing forth in His image.

When Cain was born to Adam and Eve, there was not suddenly two men on earth. There was still just one man, for Cain was just an extension of Adam's life. And as men began to multiply on the earth (Gen 6:1), it was the manifestation of one corporate man, the Adamic race. And they could only be what their father was, bear his likeness, and do his works. And had it not been for grace, God would have destroyed the whole mess. "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord." Noah had not been rid of his Adamic genes, and when he obeyed the command of the Lord (Gen 9:1) to "be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the earth," we see the corrupt nature of Adam again manifesting in Ham, Nimrod, and others. But grace had different plans, and the eternal purpose of God in Christ Jesus (Eph 3:11) kept moving toward its fulfillment.

TWO MEN IN CONTRAST

Throughout the Bible, God has used two very different men to point out the contrast between the man of earth and the Man from heaven. Look at Cain and Abel. Cain was a man that produced the fruit of the earth, by the sweat of his face. He offered his bloodless sacrifice to God, but it was mixed with sin. And there was no blood to atone for his guilt, for he refused to admit his sin. But Abel, realizing his guilt before God, offered the life of an innocent lamb, and it was accepted of God. Cain tried to destroy that testimony, but 4,000 years later the writer of Hebrews tells us that the voice of Abel "still speaks (Heb 11:4)." So it is today. The earthly, carnal, intellectual, Adamic minded man still refuses to admit that he needs the blood of the Lamb of God to atone for his sin. And that man shall perish and never inherit the Kingdom of God.

Then there is Nimrod and Abraham, both living at the same time in history and about the same place on the earth. Nimrod, strong, mighty, godless, builder of cities, and inventor of religions. An open vessel for satanic powers to invade with occult and psychic revelations and the false religion of astrology. Founder of Babylon (Gen 10:10) and the first false apostle. His children have multiplied in the earth, and today we see multitudes following his ways, bearing his image. In contrast, there is Abraham, called forth from such a place, to seek for a city whose builder and maker is God. Here was a man who was also of Adam's race, but whose faith made him righteous before God. He occupies more of the "faith chapter" of Hebrews 11 than any other man. And those of Abraham's "seed" today still seek for a City far beyond this earthly life of sin and death. They know they have an inheritance laid up for them, and by faith they are obtaining it. Praise God!

Let us now examine Ishmael and Isaac, sons of the same father (Abraham), but one a child of the flesh, and the other a child of promise. Abraham became weary waiting for the promise of God to be fulfilled, and decided the best way to fulfill it was through the efforts of the flesh. The result was Ishmael. This was not Sarah's son, and not what God had promised, but at his age, Abraham was willing to settle for second best. Ishmael was a strong young man, and became a mighty nation. But he was not what God had promised. He was the best the flesh could produce. Finally Isaac appears, the promise of God is fulfilled, and Ishmael and the mother are banished. What a picture of the Move of God today! Men getting tired waiting on the promise of God for a glorious Church and a restoration of creation, and bringing about their own "revelations" and works of the flesh. It won't work now any more than it worked for Abraham. We must wait on Him. His Word is true, and it will be brought to pass by a sovereign act of His Holy Spirit.

There are other examples of the Two Men. Esau and Jacob were twin brothers, yet God hated one and loved the other. Because one was a man of the flesh who always trusted in natural ability, while the other had a deep respect and love for things of the Spirit. See the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David. One was head and shoulders above other men, in the natural. The other stood tall only in the anointing. One was a disaster for Israel, the other was a deliverance for God Is people. How long will it be, dear ones, until we learn that we cannot trust in man's strength, no matter how well organized? Only the anointing will serve to bring God's people into His Glory! And the flesh will never co-exist with the anointing. Saul will ever strive to destroy David. You cannot have them both on the throne. Saul must go. The power of flesh must be crucified. With the anointing on the throne of our hearts, we shall overcome all enemies! Blessed be God!

SAUL PAUL

Turning to the New Testament, we see these two men manifested in the life of one individual. Saul of Tarsus, strong, ambitious, energetic, very religious, and determined to destroy the followers of the Man of Galilee. He was sure he was God's man of faith and power to preserve the truth and contend for the faith once delivered to the saints by Moses. Don't talk to him about the anointing, he had his own anointing. And his great success proved that he was on the right track, didn't it? As his ministry developed, he became more proud, vindictive, and vicious against those who opposed him in any way.

Until one day he met the Man he was persecuting. A Light from heaven fell on his soul. From that day there was no more strength, pride, ambition, or religion. He became a new man, anew creation in Christ. That new man was loving, serving, humble, and totally dependent on the power of Jesus Christ. "In me there dwelleth no good thing.... I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me." This was the testimony of the man who had a greater impact on the Gospel of Jesus Christ than any other man in history, except Jesus Himself. Here we see one man's life being transformed from the power of the flesh to the glory of the anointing, by the grace of God. Speaking of that old man, he said "I am crucified with Christ (Gal 2:20)." And speaking of the new man he said "Nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me."

"AND SO IT IS WRITTEN"

Quoting from the New American Standard Bible, 1 Cor 15:45-49.. So also it is written, The first MAN, Adam, became a living soul. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The FIRST MAN is from the earth, earthy; the SECOND MAN is from heaven. As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. And just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly." I'd like for us to notice the following things about this passage of scripture:

1. Adam was the first man.

2. Christ was the last man. He is the beginning and the end.

3. Adam was the first man, Christ is the second man, meaning there are none in between. So, there are really only two men on the earth.

4. Those two men, earthy and spiritual, are both corporate men. That is, both of them (Adam and Christ) have the power to multiply themselves, and bring forth sons in their own image.

5. The corporate sons of the first man (Adam) partake of his life, bear his image, do his works, and share his inheritance. The same is true of the sons of the last man (Christ). As we have once borne the image of Adam, so shall we, and so must we bear the image of the Man from heaven.


6. Adam was here first, Christ came later (vs 46). Didn't Jesus say that He was the "I AM" that pre-existed before the world was? Yes, but not as a MAN. He was in the form of God. It was not until Bethlehem, when Mary brought Him forth and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, that He came into existence as a man, as the last Adam. Even then, He was not able to multiply and reproduce himself into a corporate body of sons. Since He could only bring forth after his own likeness, he did not want to produce a virgin born girl, marry her, and start a new race of men on that realm of the Man of Galilee.

Since his sons were to come forth in the power of resurrection, life, he had to wait until after his resurrection, and ascension, before pouring out his Spirit upon the Church to bring forth his life and likeness. Glory to God, friends, what a High Calling we have in Him! Beyond our comprehension.

7. The last thing I want to call to your attention about this scripture is that there is a basic difference in the "substance" of these two men and their corporate sons. One is a living soul, dominated by the mind, the will, the emotions. The other is life-giving spirit, dominated by faith, by the Holy Spirit, by the will of God. One is subject to death, defeated by sin. The other has overcome every temptation, and put death under his feet. The only hope for the one is that he receive the grace of God to transform him. The promise to the other is that he shall rule and reign forever.

THE SOIL NEEDS THE SEED

Soil, the dust of the earth, has no life within itself. And it will produce nothing until seed is introduced into it. The planet Mars has plenty of substance, and samples of soil have been brought back from the moon. But they cannot find life in either place, for the seed of life was only planted on Earth by God Himself, during the creation of the universe.

You can take a ton of good rich topsoil, fertilize it, water it, plow it and hoe it. But if no seed of any kind is put in it, you will end up with only soil. No harvest, no fruit of any kind. It cannot produce any higher form of life than itself. It is dead. "Adam... dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return (Gen 3:19)." Left to himself, Adam can produce no life, for he is "dead in trespasses and sins." There is no life in him. To have life produced in this Adamic nature, One must be planted into the human race who has Life. And one was. Therein lies the hope of humans rising up from the dust of Adamic death, and being transformed into the likeness of the Seed that was planted.

As the soil needs the seed, so Adam's race needs Christ. He is our only hope. And it is not the soil that is taken into the Father's barns at the Harvest, but rather only that which is in the image of the Seed that was planted. For after the reaping, and the harvest is gathered in, and the barns are filled, look out at the fields and you will find the soil is still there. The dust, or the "earth earthy," is never brought into the barns. For the Father is not after cleaned up, washed, reformed "dirt." He is after that which is produced out of the dirt by virtue of the Seed being received into it. So flesh and blood, Adam's nature, the man of earth, shall never inherit the Kingdom of God. But out of that earth comes forth a New Man, a Harvest, a corporate Man. And he shall not only inherit the Kingdom, but shall rule and reign with Christ in that Kingdom!

Here's an example of what I'm saying: Take ten pounds of good rich dirt, put it in a planter, and then put in some kind of seed. Let's say that you plant a tomato vine. Add water, sunlight, and air. Without these ingredients nothing will grow. And with too much of any one of them, growth will be stopped or hindered. But with the proper mixture of these ingredients, a vine begins to grow, tomatoes appear and are picked. Weigh each tomato carefully, and when the harvest is over, 'you will find that you have picked 20 pounds of tomatoes (that's an estimate for sake of example). Now look in the planter and you find you still have the 10 pounds of soil that you started with. Then tell me where that 20 pounds of tomatoes came from. That is the miracle of life, understood fully only by God Himself, and received by faith by those who believe!

The soil Adam, must be plowed, broken up, and Christ must be received. Then the divine rain from heaven (the Holy Spirit) must fall upon the soil. The sunlight of grace, and the oxygen of prayer must be added. With care and tenderness the Husbandman hoes out the weeds of sin, prunes the branches, and waits for the precious fruit of the earth (James 5:7). He is not waiting for the soil to swell up or to be washed clean. He is waiting for the life and image of that which was planted... Christ!

THE SEED NEEDS THE SOIL

Jesus Christ was the divine Seed of God, the only one on the earth realm who had real life. Look at that Seed! Only in Him is life. Yet without the soil of Adam, He cannot multiply that life, or reproduce Himself. Yes, dear ones, He needs us so much that He sold all that He had, in order to buy that earthy field of Adam (Matt 13:44).

No matter how perfect the seed may be, until it is planted in earth, it remains alone (John 12:24). It cannot swell up, divide, and bring forth a harvest in that manner. Keep the seed away from soil, sunlight, and water for a year, two years, three years, or a century, and it remains just one seed. it still has the same life giving qualities, but it produces no harvest.

That divine Seed "came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become sons of God (John 1:11-12)." It is not enough that the seed comes to the earth, the earth must receive it. It is a marvelous fact of grace that Jesus came to earth, made in the likeness of men. But the harvest of a corporate New Creation Man is produced only in those who receive him by faith.

The Bible says (11 Cor 8:9) "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." He was made in the likeness of men, came to earth, and planted that Life in the earth of the Adamic nature of men who believed. And in doing this, he is bringing forth a Harvest of transformed men and women, made into the likeness of His eternal glory! Philippians 3:21 says that He "shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body.,, The NASB translation says "Who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory." But he cannot do this apart from the man of earth. The seed needs the soil. And the Head of the Body of Christ (Col 1:18) needs the rest of the Body (I Cor 12:21). Thank God for His glorious purpose in Christ Jesus our Lord!

THE BEGINNING OF THE CREATION OF GOD

The creation of the earth begins in Genesis chapter one. But we must look in Luke chapter one to find the beginning of the creation of God, the New Creation Man. Rev. 3:14 tells us that Jesus Christ is the "beginning of the creation of God." That does not mean that Jesus was the first thing God created back in Genesis. For the Bible tells us that Jesus Christ, the Eternal Word, actually was the one who created all things. (John 1:3, Cot 1:16, Heb 2.1 0). What Rev 3:14 does mean is that when Jesus came to earth, conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of a virgin, he was the first of a new creation that God had been planning from the first day He brought the earth substance into being.

And God is not going to stop until He has an entire creation made anew by the life of His son. The old creation shall pass away with a great noise, and melt with fervent heat, and its works burned up. Let him that hath ears to hear, hear what the Spirit saith concerning the mysteries of God's divine purposes.

"IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST"

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation." it goes on to say that old things are passed away, and all things are become new. Paul was a living example of that principle. His life, before Christ, was as much a part of the Adamic, structure as you would want to find. But when Christ took over in him, he was a stranger to his former Jewish friends. He was a new creation in Christ.

Turn to the book of Ephesians. Chapter two and verse 15 tells us that Jesus has broken down the wall between Jew and Gentile, and abolished the law of commandments, "To make in Himself of twain ONE NEW MAN, so making peace." So he is making a new man in himself, a corporate man, a glorious harvest in his own likeness! Can you think of a better place to make something perfect and glorious, than in Him ? It gives us some idea of the beauty and glory of that which God is bringing forth in the last days, to know that He is making it IN HIMSELF!

TOOLS... FOR THE PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS

It tells us in Eph 4:11-13 that God has given to the Church certain ministries for the purpose of the perfecting of the saints and the edifying of the Body of Christ, TILL "we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, UNTO A PERFECT MAN, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." So we are all coming "unto a perfect man." A new creation man. A corporate manchild company. "To Him that overcometh." The measure of the stature of that New Man is the ""fullness of Christ." So the Bible says. This is not imagination, beloved, nor the fairy tales of some denominational dogma. These are the plain simple facts, spelled out clearly, in detail, in the pages of God's Bible. There for all to see. But it takes the Holy Spirit to bring it to life. The anointing makes the Truth live in us.

Notice that the scripture does not say that we are being brought into individual perfect men and women, one at a time, here and there. But unto "a perfect man." This is why the Holy Spirit is placing so much emphasis today on the corporate Body of Christ, and our need for one another. "No man liveth unto himself." We are all members of one great body, one glorious harvest, one anointed Temple of God. We are all part of the eternal purpose of God in Christ Jesus, and partakers of the greatest plan ever devised for the good of humanity. God himself paid the ultimate price to bring this about, and He will never, never allow one jot nor tittle to fail.

HE SHARES HIS INHERITANCE

The relationship of this new creation man with the Lord Jesus is very close. Not only are we to bear His likeness, here on this earth, so that all creation can see the glory and wisdom of God, but we are to do His works also (John 14:12). We do His works, not by law or by compulsion, but simply because His life within us makes it a natural thing for us to bring forth that which pleases the Father.

It is easy to look around us at the chaos and confusion in the world today and see the image of that Adam who chose sin and rebellion rather than obedience. The human race is bearing the image of the man of earth, it can do no other. But think, dear ones, of a world ruled by those who bring forth only the image of Christ. Love, joy, peace, and life in abundance! This is the fruit of His harvest.

There is an inheritance. The Amplified Bible (Eph 1:14) tells us that the Holy Spirit "is the guarantee of our inheritance - the first fruit, the pledge and foretaste, the down payment on our heritage - in anticipation of its full redemption and our acquiring complete possession of it, to the praise of His glory." And Peter says (I Pet 1:4) that we have been begotten by the resurrection of Jesus Christ "To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you." it is very plain in Rom 8:17 that we are His children, and His heirs also. "Heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ - sharing His inheritance with Him (Amplified Bible)."

The only inheritance that Adam left his children who bear his image is death and decay. The inheritance we receive in Christ is Life and Glory! Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with these glorious eternal blessings! These are the benefits of being in that NEW CREATION MAN!

A PEOPLE OF PRAISE

Because this corporate man bears the image of the Son, they will be a people with the high praises of God in their mouth (Ps 149:6). For He was a man of praise who glorified the Father with his lips, his life, and his works. Jesus, speaking to the Father in Heb 2:12 says: "I will proclaim thy name to my brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will sing Thy praise." Praise flowed out from him like a river. Is it any wonder that his end-time people are finding the Holy Spirit bringing much emphasis on the high praises of God in the services today? We are ever learning new ways to praise Him, as the Spirit has freedom to lead and anoint us.

We are learning to praise God in adversity. There is a victory over every enemy, as we renounce their power, and praise our God in faith. Some people feel obligated to praise the Lord when things are going well, and all their needs are being met. But this is not praise that glorifies the Lord. Real joy comes to His heart when He has a people who can praise Him in the midst of the dark storms of life. Their attitude is "win or lose, sink or swim, we'll go either up or down praising the Lord!"

We are learning to praise the Lord in warfare. In fact, praise is one of our mightiest weapons against our enemy. The Holy Ghost told us one time in prophecy to "aim our praise," as a man aims his weapon at his enemy. For instance, when we are in a real battle,, we concentrate on that need and start praising the Lord for victory in that particular thing. Israel learned this truth (11 Chron 20:21 22) and their enemies were smitten and fled before them.

There is no real praise in Babylon. It has a hollow, dead, liturgical, ritualistic sound. It brings no life or victory. Ps 137 gives the picture of Israel going into Babylonian captivity, and their cry is: "How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?" But in Ps 126 we see a different picture: "When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing." This new creation corporate man will have no part in Babylon. He will be free of the bondages of organized man-made religion. And he will have the high praises of God.

A PEOPLE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Not under Law. Does that mean they can do as they please? Yes it does. And what they please to do is the will of the Father. Because His life is in them, His nature rules them, they live only to please Him. Just as Jesus did. Jesus was not holy because of the fear of judgment. He was holy because it was his nature, his way of life, to be holy. "Be YE holy AS your father in heaven is holy. 11 In the same manner. And this New Creation will be a people "wherein dwelleth righteousness" (11 Pet 3:13). Even now God is dealing with things in their lives that hitherto have never been touched. Attitudes, motives, and desires are all coming under the sharp surgical knife of the Holy Spirit. "A sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom" (Heb 1:8).

VICTORY - PEACE - COMPASSION

Yes, many are the attributes of the nature of Jesus Christ, manifested here on earth as He walked among men. And all the attributes of his divine nature are to be reproduced in his Body, here on earth. It would take several books to tell of all the beauties of his character, and then we would fall far short. But suffice it to say, that whatever you find in Jesus, you can depend on seeing that same thing come forth in that people who bear his image. This is the plan of God, and only He can make it come to pass.

ONE OF A KIND

When Jesus was on earth, he was the only one of his race. He was the "second man!" All the other men in the world at that time were manifestations of the first man, Adam. Some had heard the promises and prophecies of God, and were looking forward to deliverance from the prison house of Adam's nature. But until He came, they could not receive the promise. God had a better thing for us (Heb 11:13, 40), and they had to wait until the Seed was planted before they could become a part of the Harvest.

Meanwhile, strange things were happening on earth. After 4,000 years of one corrupt man multiplying himself in this world, a new man appears. The Holy Ghost conceives him, virgin soil receives him, the angels announce him, and the world powers try to destroy him. He grows up In a hostile world, with every devil in hell trying to tempt him to sin. The Father sets a table before him in the midst of his enemies, and he grows tall and strong.

But no one understands him. Not his mother, not his disciples, and certainly not the religious leaders of his day. His own brothers didn't believe in him (John 7:5). His mother wanted to take him away from all this radical activity and danger he was in. Some thought be was a prophet reincarnated, or John the Baptist back from the dead (Matt 16.14). But no one really know him. It was a lonely world. How would you like to be in a world where you were the only one of your race, and everything else was on a lower form of life? No real fellowship. He healed them, he planted the Word in them, and he ate with them. But for real fellowship, he had to rise up long before daybreak and go into the mountain to pray. Only the Father understood and really knew him.

POWER TO REPRODUCE

But God had determined to fill the earth with this New Creation. Jesus was the source, and he had to give up his life on this earth realm in order to bring forth his image and likeness, "The joy that was set before him" (Heb 12:2) was to look ahead and see a people living on that higher dimension of the Spirit in new creation life. This made it possible for him to be "made sin for us," and to endure the cross. God had given Adam, the first man, the power to multiply and reproduce himself. And now that same power is given to the second man, the last Adam (Christ). Will he do any less? Nay, but he will fill the earth with his Harvest, and they shall overcome all enemies and put death under their feet. Death will be destroyed, as well as him who had the power of death (I Cor 15:26, Heb 2:14).

Since Christ can only reproduce what he is, can you see what an impact this harvest will have on the world? Powers of heaven will be shaken, thrones will topple, and the earth shall rock and reel like a drunken man. No remote corner of earth will be untouched by that which God is doing. "For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea (Heb 2:14)." The minds of men shake today when you mention that we are sons of God. Little do they know of the glory that is yet to come. But it shall come in spite of all the unbelief of little men, in spite of all their efforts to warn against it. For the Lord hath spoken, and none can nullify it. He hath purposed, and he will bring it to pass. Bless His great Name! The precious fruit of the earth is at hand. The harvest of that Seed of Life is ready. The corporate son, the New Creation Man is ready to appear on history's horizon!

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