Our base scripture for the teaching on The New Creation has been 2Corinthians 5:16-17 (Amplified) which says, "Now we no longer see ourselves or others after the flesh (the outer man but after the spirit." Verse 17 says that, "Now we are a new creation altogether."
The reason I continue to emphasize this scripture, is because we've read these verses many times, but haven't fully understood them. Many Christians are still trying to work out their Christianity from the outside-in, but the outside has to be ruled by the inside (the spirit). We'll never be content or fulfilled by making our flesh comply. It's like attending AA meetings and cease drinking alcohol. Although I'm no longer drinking, I continue fighting the flesh at all times. Willpower can avail most of the time and can restrain me, if I fight hard. Truthfully, though, I'm still an alcoholic, but I'm not drinking any longer.
I've watched as Christians fought for many years, struggling to make the flesh comply with what God says we should do. I also see these people being very frustrated. We walk in condemnation and guilt for the mistakes we make over and over again. The peace Jesus promised in John 14:27 (Amplified) seems elusive and fleeting at best. We know that the Words Jesus spoke are truth, but we somehow cannot obtain His peace.
Genesis 1:27 (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." The phrase "God created both male and female" means that He created the species of man. They were both in His Likeness and Image. They were both Spirit beings, just like their Father. Genesis 2:7 (Amplified says, "Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the Breath or Spirit of Life, and man became a living being."
The natural man (made from the dust of the earth) was to dominate and have authority over all things on the earth. The spirit of man was made in God's Image and Likeness that was "breathed" into the natural man, was to rule the flesh and not the other way around. We all know (or we think we know) what happened at the fall of Adam. Adam became separated in his spirit, from God and needed to rely on his natural man to sustain himself.
The spirit that was breathed into him, was now severed from Life in God and was linked with death, through his new master, satan. Although Adam and Ever were still alive in their flesh, they had died or been separated from Life, in their spirit. The way of life through God, was now broken by transgression in the spirit.
Slowly, Adam's connection with the spirit began losing its place and both he and Eve needed to rely on their own wisdom and knowledge, through the flesh or worldly wisdom. As more time passed, the wisdom of God began losing its place and was replaced by their own, worldly wisdom. Things that were available to them before the fall, were no longer working and eventually, God's wisdom was replaced in their lives, leaving them to meet their own needs.
Life continued to be this way, until Jesus rose from the dead. Although God planned a way to restore man to Himself, it took many earth years to bring this plan into the Spirit of reconciliation. Jesus addressed the multitude in John 10:9-10 (Amplified) saying, "I Am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live). He will come in and he will go out (freely), and will find pasture. The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it (life) in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."
Jesus was telling this group of people that, "They were not alive at this time," even though they were breathing, eating, talking, drinking and operating on this earth as men, they were not alive in their spirit. Most Christians have failed to realize that when we were born again, we were made alive and made new creations that were once again in the Image and Likeness of God. Life was renewed in our dead spirit and we became like Adam was, a living being. Through Jesus, we've become a new creation.
Like Adam was a new creation in the beginning, through Jesus, we have been born again into the very Image and Likeness of our Father. We are now a new creation. Most of us believed that we'd become a new creation once we went to heaven. We have mostly viewed ourselves from the outside, instead of the inside. We keep waiting to become what Jesus has already made us to be. We continue trying to correct the mistakes of the flesh with willpower, instead of Spirit Power. We've mostly used God's Word to point out the things that are wrong with us, instead of trying to fix them.
Jesus walked as a Man on this earth, but He walked as One Who was alive by the Spirit of God. He had Life withing Him that overflowed into the flesh of the people. There was no Life in them to bring healing to their bodies. God stresses over again that the healing and health of the body, had to come from His Word. Jesus said in John 6:63 (Amplified) that, "It is the Spirit Who gives Life (He is the Life-Giver); the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it). The Words (truths) that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."
God says in Proverbs 4:20-23 (Amplified), "My son; attend to My Words; consent and submit to My sayings. Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart (spirit) For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh. Keep and guard your heart (spirit) with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it (your spirit or heart) flow the springs of life."
Healing comes from the inside-out and not from the outside-in. Through the new birth, you are a new creation. Your spirit is now alive again, within you. The Word of God in your new spirit, is once again created to bring Life into your natural flesh and blood body. Your body was made to house your spirit and your spirit was created to be in charge of your flesh.
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