The Christian must be marked off by some kind of spiritual “anatomy” which distinguishes him from other men. In other words, if we are new creatures in Christ the world should sense this newness and see how different it is from the old man with his deeds.
The Apostle Paul, writing to the Christians in Philippi, describes just what they should be like: “That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life …” (Phil. 2:15, 16a, RSV).
The question then is how do we get that way? Admitting the necessity of change, do we find in our own lives the evidences of supernatural transformation and power?
A homely illustration may help us realize that which God requires—and which he provides for us: The Anatomy of the Redeemed:
The Believing Mind
This is a converted mind, one renewed by the Holy Spirit so that it is capable of Spirit-directed reasoning coupled with a confidence in those things which can only be demonstrated by faith.
It is a fixed mind, fixed to the extent that we recognize that there are absolutes ordained of God which can never be shaken. The Apostle Paul warned Timothy against “the godless chatter and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge, for by professing it some have missed the mark as regards the faith” (1 Tim. 6:20, 21, RSV).
Such an attitude is not anti-intellectualism but a God-given ability rightly to discriminate between human speculation and divine revelation.
The Seeing Eye
Spiritual blindness is a part of the unregenerate life. Paul tells us that the god of this world blinds the minds of those who refuse to believe, making relevant the prayer of the Psalmist, “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law” (Ps. 119:18).
The seeing eye is therefore the eye which has been enlightened by the Spirit of God so that things invisible become visible. It is the eye which looks beyond the temporal into the eternal, which discerns the difference between human speculation and divine revelation.
The Hearing Ear
For this there must be an act of the will. “Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth”; when this is the prayer of our hearts the Spirit of God does speak to our hearts. Then the promise of Isaiah 30:21 becomes a reality: “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.”
One of our problems is “itching ears,” seeking the guidance and approval of man. This world-generated “eczema” is a delusion to the one affected and a snare to those to whom he ministers.
The Faithful Voice
This is first of all a matter of confession: “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Rom. 10:10).
It is also a “foolish” voice, for the thing in which we believe and the witness we bear is to the folly of the cross of Jesus Christ and all implied therein.
The faithful voice is also humbled and disciplined, not with “excellency of speech and wisdom,” so dear to the world, lest we try to impress others with human reason, nullifying the work of the Spirit of God: only faith based in the power which comes from above can last for eternity.
This faithful voice will also be bold to speak the truth, in love and with deep conviction of the power and relevancy of the Gospel for our time.
The Loving Heart
Unless the transcending grace of God’s love is evidenced, our witness is nullified. It is love which begets compassion, and few there are who may not be impressed with that which flows from a heart where Christ dwells.
Love, the first fruit of the indwelling Spirit, is imparted by God. It is not something we can develop for ourselves, but a grace which can and must be put into practice.
The Compassionate Hands
It is revealing to note that the word “hand” is one of the most frequently used in all the Scriptures, three times more frequently than the word “love.”
This can well be because Christian love is so often expressed with our hands. It is such hands, converted from selfish to unselfish uses, which are a part of our spiritual anatomy.
The Bended Knee
This is, of course, the attitude of prayer. Not for nought does the Apostle Paul admonish us to “pray without ceasing,” for in that way we keep on God’s wavelength, not only in petitions and praise to him but also in receiving from him the guidance and help so necessary for the Christian.
That such knees may be straight, moving, active simply means that there is never a time or place when in spirit we may not bow the knees to the Father.
The Willing Feet
They are redeemed feet—“For thou hast delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from stumbling” the Psalmist says (Ps. 116:8. RSV). And they are sure feet—“He … set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure” (Ps. 40:2, RSV).
Furthermore, they are guided feet: “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord; and he delighteth in his way” (Ps. 37:23).
Two more things are necessary. The body of the Christian must be clean—washed in the greatest detergent of the ages, the blood of the Son of God—and it must be a living body. We know that “the body without the spirit is dead,” so the Spirit of the Living God must dwell in and empower those who would be his servants.
How can we become Christians, exhibiting in our lives this new spiritual anatomy, the kind of people we ought to be?
The answer is not hard to find. We must be new creatures in Christ, our affections and desires centered in him and in doing his will, and all of this comes from spiritual regeneration.
Small wonder that our Lord says, “Ye must be born again.” It is the divine imperative from which none is excepted. It is the way to the kingdom of God and the way of Christian witness to others.
Jesus said that “the gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world as a witness.” To these new creatures in Christ, these people with a regenerated, spiritual anatomy, has the task been given.
L. NELSON BELL
