2Corinthians 5:16-17 (Amplified) tells us, "Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a (purely) human point of view (in terms of natural standards of value). (No) even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a Man, yet now (we have such knowledge of Him that) we know Him no longer (in terms of the flesh). Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come."
We, the Church, are the first and the only "God men" who have ever walked this earth, with the exception of Adam and Jesus. These were the only flesh and blood men to even have the life of God actually living in them. The Holy Spirit "came upon" such men as the prophets, but never actually lived in them. We, the Church, are now Christ's Own flesh and blood Body on this planet. God gave authority to man in order to govern the earth, from the very beginning. Genesis 1:27-28,31 (Amplified) says, "So God created man in His Own Image, in the Image and Likeness of God, He created him; male and female He created them and God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it (using all its vast resources in the service of God and men) and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves upon the earth." Verse 31 goes on, "And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good (suitable, pleasant) and He approved it completely. And there was evening, and there was morning, a sixth day."
Adam was the only man who ever held the position of a "God man," in His Likeness and Image before. And no one except Jesus had ever held it since, until His resurrection. Jesus held the dominion that was given to man by God Himself. He had dominion over satan, the weather, the fish of the sea, over death, sickness, disease and the entire curse that came on the earth because of Adam's transgression. Because of Jesus, we now are just forgiven sinners under the blood of bulls and goats, but now we were created brand new by His sacrifice. The God men are a new creation, just like the first man was, only we were raised by Jesus Christ into a higher creation than the first Adam was.
The truth of this awesome creation is being revealed to God's children in these last days. As God's family begins moving into the Father's plan for His children, we (the Church) are beginning to move into the very "super-natural" flow of the Holy Spirit Who is alive in us. For many years, we heard and were taught that this happens after we die and go heaven. What God intended was that we live and bring His Kingdom here to operate again in the earth.
This is why Jesus taught us to pray, "Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven." We were to know through Jesus,Who is our example of this new creation on how to walk in this new birth and bring heaven to earth. We are still left in this natural body, because the dominion was given to man in the beginning. Jesus called Himself the "Son of Man" and declared He held the dominion that God gave man in the beginning. As flesh and blood men, now through Jesus, the restoration of dominion was returned to its rightful place.
We've believed that all the things Jesus did, were done simply because He was Jesus, but this isn't true. Jesus did these things as a man, because by being sinless, He was in the position to walk in the authority given man at the beginning. According to 2Corinthians 5:16 (Amplified), "We now no longer see anyone from just the natural viewpoint as purely natural men, but after the Spirit." We keep seeing ourselves from the "outside in," but God sees us from the "Inside out." We think of ourselves as "body, soul and spirit," while God sees us as "Spirit, soul, and body." When I say "God men" (and please don't get offended by this term), I'm speaking of men, new creation men who were once again in "God's Image and Likeness" as Jesus was, now by Jesus.
In His natural body (born without sin), Jesus had total dominion over all things. Through Jesus, we are also "sinless" and have become new creations, in order to walk in the same realm. This sounds so foreign to the Church and we have difficulty in believing it without thinking we are exalting ourselves. It is God Who exalts us, when we will only believe Him. Being humble doesn't mean to debase yourself, but to yield and submit to God. If God says you are righteous and you say you are not, then this is exalting yourself against the knowledge of God. It sounds good to the natural man, but it's actually proclaiming that what God says about you, isn't true. This is pride.
We have a habit of proclaiming "God's Word is true," and then when it comes to believing what His Word says about us, we stumble and have a very difficult time believing His Word is true for us NOW. How can we possibly think that God's Sacrifice of His Son wasn't enough to do what He sent Him to do? We've heard and learned so many teachings that were wrong, that we can no longer determine what is right.
The same man who was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write 1Corinthians 4:1-4, also wrote 2Corinthians 5:1-4 (Amplified) which says, "So then, let us (apostles) be looked upon as ministering servants of Christ and stewards (trustees) of the mysteries (the secret purposes) of God. Moreover, (it is essentially) required of stewards that a man should be found faithful (proving himself worthy of trust)." Verse 3-4 go on, "But (as for me personally), it matters very little to me that I should be put on trial by you (on this point) and that you or any other human tribunal should investigate and question and cross-question me. I do not even put myself on trial and judge myself. I am not conscious of anything against myself, and I feel blameless; but I am not vindicated and acquitted before God on that account; It is the Lord (Himself) Who examines and judges me."
Paul was a man who sought out Christian to put them in prison, where many of them died. He persecuted the Church with everything he had available and personally instigated the riot, leading to Stephen's stoning death, according to Acts 8:1 (Amplified), which says, "And Saul (Paul) was (not only) consenting to (Stephen's) death (he was pleased and entirely approving). On that day a great and severe persecution broke out against the Church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostle (special messengers)."
How could Paul, then make such a statement that he was "blameless and without being conscious of anything wrong?" Because Paul said, "It is not me, but God Who judges and vindicates me." Now, we can understand Paul's revelation of being a new creation and "having old things passed away and all things have become new." He had to see himself after the Spirit and no longer purely after the natural man. Paul truly believe that he was, and is, a new creation in Christ.
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