Paul speaks about our being a new creation in 2Corinthians 5:16-17. This new creation is not simply the fact we've become a new creation, but by becoming new creations, we've entered into a new realm of life. This realm is one we can't understand, outside of the Word of God. Everything works differently from what we've previously known, in this new creation Kingdom we're now part of.
We've been trying to understand this new creation kingdom, with our old, worldly way of thinking. Paul gives us insight into how we must adjust even our way of thinking, in this new creation realm we reside in. Thus, he says in 2Corinthians 10:3-5 (Amplified), "For the weapons of our warfare are not physical (weapons of flesh and blood), but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds. (In as much) as we refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the (true) knowledge of God' and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
In the new life we're now living, our old manner of thinking doesn't line up with what we once thought. We must learn to think by Kingdom thinking and in this new creation (Kingdom), we must even learn to speak differently, according to 1Corinthians 3:1-3 (Amplified) which says, "However, Brethren, I could not talk to you as spiritual (men), but as to non-spiritual (men of the flesh, in whom the carnal nature predominates), as to mere infants (in the new life) in Christ (unable to talk yet). I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not yet strong enough (to be ready for it) but even yet you are not strong enough (to be ready for it). For you are still (unspiritual having the nature of the flesh, under the control of ordinary impulses)."
In the new creation Kingdom we now live in, everything is different and is ruled by the Spirit realm that governs even the natural realm. We've been well trained in this natural realm and it's not easy to cross over into the spirit realm. We continue returning to the old wine, again and again. Religion and tradition have set up strongholds in our minds, directing our walk with God. We've made laws to govern our flesh, in order to satisfy our carnal nature. When we became a new creation, we entered into the Spirit realm of God Himself. Everything in God's Kingdom operates by Words. Satan understands that words dominate the entire universe and world system, but the Church continues struggling with this new creation way of operating.
The entire new creation system, operates by words and faith in those words, but we still struggle to "renew out minds" to thinking this way. We've never learned or been taught to think in terms of "what we think or say," and have been unsuccessful in operating in God's Kingdom. Most of what we do, is still in the natural realm of the world stystem.
It requires the Word of God, read and delivered through the Holy Spirit, to renew our carnal minds. If we read the Spirit Word with a natural mind, then we come away with the old wine way of thinking. We devise rules mandating how we should dress, days we must worship, what we should eat and how we must pray. We use our old way of thinking to devise fleshly ideas about the way God teaches and directs His new creation.
Paul said in 1Corinthians 4:4 (Amplified), "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 me and judges me." Before his encounter with Jesus on the Road to Damascus, Paul persecuted, jailed, and even sentenced Christians to death. He persecuted those who chose to receive Jesus and he even held Stephen's coats, while they stoned Stephen in Acts 7:58. With such a history, Paul was so renewed by his revelation of the new creation he became through Jesus, that he didn't allow his conscience to hold him back. He allowed his renewed mind to think in terms of the Spirit and the Word.
Paul, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, writes these words to the new creation people, in Romans 6:11 (Amplified) saying, "Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relationship with it broken, but alive to God (living in unbroken fellowship with Him) in Christ Jesus." The very thought of this in the carnal mind is unthinkable, but it was the Holy Spirit Who spoke these Words to us, through Paul. In Romans 6:10-11 (Amplified) Paul said, "For by the death He dies (Jesus) He died to sin (ending His relation to it) once fore all; and the life that He lives, He is living to God (in unbroken fellowship with Him) Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relationship ti it broken, but alive to God (living in unbroken fellowship with Him) in Christ Jesus."
If we are a new creation (and the Word says that we are in Christ Jesus), then why do we have such a difficult time with the above scripture? We still think more on our houses (the natural bodies we live in) as being the "real us," instead of seeing the new creation (spirit being) we have become. If we continue to shut our eyes to this Truth, then we will never walk here, in the Kingdom priciples.
Romans 12:1-2 (Amplified) says, "I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of all the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies (presenting all your members and faculties) as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service, and spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world (this age) (fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs), but be transformed (changed) by the (entire) renewal of your mind (by its new ideals and its new attitude), so that you may prove (for yourselves) what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing that is good and acceptable and perfect (in His sight for you)."
Notice how, when we renew our minds by the new creation way of thinking, we can prove for ourselves, "What the will of God is for our lives." Why? Because His will is the new creation way of life for us and not the old wine, but the new wine. If we were still like the world, then Paul wouldn't have said "Do not conform to it." We cannot conform to something, if we are already that way. Remember that 2Corinthians 5:17 told us, "Behold! the fresh and new has come." Verse 18 goes on to says that, "All things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself)."
We are a spirit, we have a soul, and we live in a body. My body is not "Me" any longer, but is the house I live in. My house doesn't tell me when to paint it, I decide on my own, because my house is not in charge anymore.
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