Old Man vs. Selfless New Man (Genesis 3:7)

“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.” (Genesis 3:7)

The first mark manifested by the fallen man was the self-realization of nakedness. They had been naked all throughout the time and never realized that they were naked until they crossed over the boundary of the commandment of God. Before the fall, they never related anything to themselves but everything to God, so though they were naked it wasn’t conscientiously a problem at all. The clothes we wear is not for God but for ourselves because He sees our hearts inside. “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:13)

What is it to make us realize our nakedness? It is our self which was there even before the fall. This old self was gone seriously wrong at the moment of eating the forbidden tree. The shining one, the devil told the woman, saying “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5) When she listened to the devil and ate it, she immediately began to exercise rationalizing power to know good and evil by relating to herself. The self which was there all along but never bothered at all suddenly got the control of self, making man miserably inadequate and unfitting in every turn and circumstance.  

What’s the remedy? Christ in you, the hope of glory. That’s it. The mystery of God has been revealed for man to be adequate no matter what. That is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within us. In order for the Spirit to come into our hearts, Christ died and buried first in our place. On the third day, He rose from the dead, conquering the power of death in order to share His resurrection life with the captives, the believers. In a mysterious way by means of faith exercised, the new man has been created within. We were made alive in Christ Jesus the Lord. The shadow of clothing with Christ Jesus was manifested by God, killing the animals. “The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.” (Genesis 3:21)

Authentic Christians are no longer functioning in the old way controlled by the old self, flesh but in the whole new way controlled by the inner man, spirit. Therefore, for those who are in Christ Jesus there is no more condemnation whatsoever. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2) Down the road, we will fail but still no condemnation because once for all Christ paid the full price for redemption. The secret of being adequate and fitting all time is Jesus Christ within. We have nothing in us but everything in Christ.