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!"
For the greater part of my life, I didn't know Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. Nearly everything I heard from Christian preachers and persons was about who we were rather than who we become when we get born again. Almost all the sermons we've heard are directed at the Church, as though they were still the same as they once were. We learned more about sin rather than about righteousness and more about being unworthy rather than about being a new creation. We were mostly talked to and conditioned to think about ourselves as though not much had changed, except our destination after death.
When I began seeking the Lord about who I have become, He began showing me the new creation people He had brought into being by the death and resurrection of Jesus. Romans 5:17 (Amplified) says, "For if because of one man's trespasses (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive (God's) overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness (putting them in right standing with Himself) reign as Kings in life through the One Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
Notice how Paul addressed the Church in 1Corinthians 6:11 (Amplified) saying, "And such were some on you (once), But you were washed clean (purified by a complete Atonement for sin and made free from the guilt of sin), and you were consequently (set apart, hallowed), and you were justified (pronounced righteous, by trusting) in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the (Holy) Spirit of our God." Paul also says in 2Corinthians 3:17-18 (Amplified), "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom) And all of us, as with unveiled face, (because we) continued to behold (in the Word of God) as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very Own Image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; (for this comes) from the Lord (Who is) the Spirit."
Paul said that, "The Word is like a mirror reflecting back who we are, not who we were, and as we see who we are in Him, we begin being transfigured into His Own Image and glory." A mirror doesn't show you who you were, but who you are. Most of us would like looking into the mirror and see ourselves the way we looked when we were younger. Instead, we look into the mirror and see graying hair, double chins and wrinkles. The mirror of the Word of God doesn't show us as "the old sinner we once were," but as the new creation He has made us to be in Christ.
James states basically the same thing about the Word of God and the "Spirit of Liberty," in James 1:25 (Amplified) saying, "But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the (law) of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer (who obeys) he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience)." In other words, if we continue looking into His Word in Truth and not just in pittance, then we will begin being transfigured more and more, into the Image of Jesus.
We can never have faith to do the "works He did," as long as we continue viewing ourselves like we were, instead of being transfigured into the new creation that He has made us to be. Our own conscience will condemn us and rob us of what we are to be now doing in Jesus' Name. John says in 1John 3:20-21 (Amplified) that, "Whenever our hearts in (tormenting) self-accusation make us feel guilty and condemn us, (for we are in God's hands) For He is above and greater than our consciences (our hearts) and He knows (perceives and understands) everything (nothing is hidden from Him) And, beloved, if our consciences (our hearts) do not accuse us (if they do not make us feel guilty and condemn us) we have confidence (complete assurance and boldness) before God."
The guilt of who we were, will rob us of the liberty of who we are now and makes us ineffective in the works of Jesus on this earth. It's only by faith in His grace, that we can accept who we are and stop trying to "work" our way into His acceptance. We simply haven't allowed the "Truth" of what Jesus has done is and for us. Jesus said in John 10:10 (Amplified), "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy, I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." The joy and the "overflow" come from being "transfigured into His Own Image from one degree of glory to another," according to 2Corinthians 3:18.
We will never find the boldness of walk in that Image of glory, while having the same old mindset and image of who we were before Jesus set us free into His liberty. We discussed some new creation scriptures, in a previous message about "The Return to Eden." This isn't a message of pride, but one of faith. For some though, thinking of ourselves as righteous, seems prideful. In reality, thinking of yourself in any other way is prideful. If God says this is who you are, then it is actually pride that would tell God, "this isn't so." Pride can work both way. For us to try creating out own righteousness, without His righteousness, is prideful. Failing to accept His righteousness, because of who we were, and walking in guilt and condemnation from the past, is also pride. We try sounding humble, but only pride can stand against God.
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." When God first made or created man, he was a spirit, made in the Image and Likeness of God. 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." When the man formed from the ground (Adam) transgressed, the Adam who was made in God's Image, the spirit man, was also cut off from God. the sin committed in Adam's flesh and blood body, caused death or separation from God, even in his spirit body. Because of the flesh, sin brought death (or separated him from God, Who is Life) unto all men.
Jesus, Who came in the flesh and in the likeness of sinful flesh (although there was no sin in Him), died the death of the flesh and has raised us up back into the Image and Likeness of God, in the Spirit. Romans 6:5,8 (Amplified) says, "For if we have become one with Him by sharing a death like His, we shall also be (one with Him in sharing) His resurrection (by a new life lived for God)." Verse 8 goes on, "Now if we have died with Christ, we believe also that we shall live with Him." IS HE ALIVE? If He is, then we are also alive with Him now and are restored to Life in the Spirit, in His very Image and Likeness." We're no more after the flesh (that sinned in the Garden of Eden), but after the Spirit Who raised Jesus from the dead. Romans 8:1-2 (Amplified) says, "Therefore; (there is) now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live (and) walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of Life (which is) in Christ Jesus (the law of our new being) has freed me from the Law of sin and death."
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