Sharper Iron — The Righteousness of God for You: The Christian’s Struggle Between the Old Self and New Self

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Rev. Dr. Rick Marrs, associate professor of practical theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis and author of Making Christian Counseling More Christ Centered, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study the distinction between the old Adam and new Adam.

In distinguishing the old Adam and new Adam, God’s Word lays out an important distinction that Christians daily experience. The old self is the corrupt sinful nature that each person has inherited from Adam. This fleshly nature rebels against God and His Word. The new self is a gift of God to Christians through the Gospel. In Christ, God makes us His new creation. The battle between the old and new self wages in Christians throughout life. Even St. Paul later in life recognized the evil that dwelt in him and his continued need for the righteousness of God that comes by grace through faith in Christ. In his Small and Large Catechisms, Martin Luther makes use of this distinction by calling Christians back to Baptism. There we rejoice that God has drowned the sinner in us and raised the new self in Christ. As we daily struggle against the old self, we find our strength in Christ alone, returning to His forgiveness found in the cleansing flood of water and Word.

“The Righteousness of God for You” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. Human righteousness cannot save, because all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. Only the righteousness of God can bring life and forgiveness to sinners. This is the righteousness that He has fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the righteousness that is revealed in the Gospel, the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. This is the righteousness that is not earned, but is freely given by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.