Old Man vs New Man: Reclaiming the Anabaptist Gospel

Host Jerry Eicher of Anabaptist Theological Perspectives examines the theology behind how the gospel is presented, focusing especially on challenges faced by ex‑Amish listeners. He critiques a works‑based understanding (including a Luther-influenced view) that equates 'stopping the law' with dying to the old self, and explains why that framework ultimately exchanges one works gospel for another. Eicher lays out the Anabaptist emphasis on the distinction between the old man and the new man and presents three core points: Christ fully paid the debt of the old man; the old man has been crucified with Christ and should be regarded as dead by faith; and God births a new man in believers who is righteous by nature and enabled to live holy. He urges preachers to restore the fullness of the new‑creation gospel.