2Corinthians 5:16-17 (Amplified) tells us that through our being born-again, we have become new creations in Christ Jesus. We've been raised from the dead (spiritual death), and are born new in the family of God.
We've mostly only thought of ourselves as being changed when we go to heaven (either in death or in the rapture). We have many different opinions about this new birth and new creation. This has resulted in our spending more time "curtailing" the old man, instead of making the new man mature, in our walk with God. We've placed many stipulations concerning what we eat, the things we wear and many such things concerning the dead man, while not doing much with the new creation man.
Galatians 6:8 (Amplified) says, "For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality), will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."
Even after being born-again, we've acted like we've been saved mostly to out natural nature. I'm not referring to the sin nature of the flesh, but rather we haven't allowed our new creation being to grow and become dominant over fleshly lives. Jesus spoke of the new creation event saying in John 10:10 (Amplified), "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I come that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." It's in this "lower nature" (Paul spoke about in Galatians 6:8) is where the "thief" has access to our lives and our goods. He operates in this world system and has control in this lower life.
In this new creation life,through our union with Christ, we have the ability to walk in the laws governing this lower nature, by the spiritual laws of the Kingdom of God. Satan has no deference for the Word of God or the new creation family of God. We're now called to walk in a higher realm of life, through this new birth. The lower nature can be "stolen, killed and destroyed" by the enemy and will always bring destruction, if we walk in this realm. We've been granted protection from the thief, by the new birth and by Kingdom rule.
In this new Kingdom of creation, we've already been raised with Christ into our seating with Him in heavenly places. Our new creation being isn't to be ruled by natural things, but by the super-natural things of our Father God. In order to function in this new life, we must learn how to walk in the Spirit and above the lower life.
Paul addresses the Church in Ephesians 2:6-7 (Amplified) saying, "And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together (giving us joint seating with Him) in the heavenly sphere (by virtue of our being) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One)." Paul explains why god did this on our behalf in Verse 7, saying, "He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in (His) kindness and goodness of heart towards us in Christ."
Paul continues explaining to the Church, that God has done this thing and raised up a new creation, so that we (the Church) would be above the rule of satan in this earth, now and forever. Thus, he says in Ephesians 3:10 (Amplified), "(The purpose is) that through the Church the complicated, man-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the heavenly spheres."
This means that we've been granted joint seating and the authority in Jesus Christ, while we are now still in these earthly bodies, because satan and these"principalities and powers" aren't going to be in heaven with us.
Paul also instructs us on how we are to conduct ourselves (as new beings) against the enemy that is here now and is waging warfare with God's family. Paul clearly states who our enemy is and how we are to overcome him in Ephesians 6:10-18. The things Paul lists in these scriptures are spiritual abilities and not "sowing to the lower nature." Things of the "lower nature" Paul wrote about in Galatians 6:8, would be to conduct our warfare in the natural way of religion and tradition, things the enemy would continue using to bring corruption and destruction upon the Church.
Satan is a spirit being and he operates in the spirit realm to destroy and kill. As new creation people, we must wage our warfare in the spirit to defeat him. He is a spiritual outlaw who refuses to obey God's Laws, unless we enforce them upon him. We have outlaws in our own nation, who manufacture drugs and other things that are against the Laws of our country. They're aware they're breaking the law, but they don't care. We cannot hold our President accountable for these lawbreakers, because he has already declared it unlawful and has issued laws against their actions. Unless someone enforces these laws, they are useless to stop or prevent the lawbreakers from operating.
God has already declared to the devil, that we are off-limits by the Blood of Jesus. The claims of justice have been met and satan no longer has jurisdiction over our lives. He knows this and he knows there are laws that forbid this, but he is a spiritual outlaw who refuses to operate within the laws that govern, unless we (as citizens of the Kingdom) enforce these laws.
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." Read this scripture again in tandem with Galatians 6:8 about "sowing to the lower nature."
The Spirit Laws of the Kingdom say, "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," if you will walk in the spirit and not the flesh. If we will believe what the Word says about our new creation, then satan has nothing to condemn us over. but, if we "sow to our lower nature," and walk in the fleshly realm of religion and tradition, then satan will keep reminding you of your old lower self and hold you in captivity, even though your cell door is unlocked already.
Paul explains why there should be no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, in Romans 8:2 (Amplified) saying, "The law of the Spirit of Life (which is in Christ Jesus), has freed me from the law of sin and of death."
This is Spiritual Law which is in Christ Jesus, that every born-again child of God has the God given right to in this Law. Satan is a spiritual outlaw who refuses to operate by the laws of our new creation, unless we enforce that law upon him. Has the devil ever tried bringing up your old lower nature of your past (before you were a new creation)? Has he ever tried bringing you under condemnation and keep your from entering into your place of joint seating?
Has the devil ever thrown your past and old life into your thoughts, in order to stop the peace and unity of God from abiding in your life? Doesn't he know there is a Law of the Spirit and Life in Christ Jesus, that makes you free from the law of sin and death? Doesn't he know that you have been made free from condemnation and guilt by this new law? Of course he does, but until you enforce this law upon him, he will torment you with it all.
We've often read these words in the natural mind (carnal ways) that are still governed by the god of this world (satan). We are enforcing the Law of the Spirit and Life, but we allow satan to use the old law of sin and death to condemn us about who we once were and about what we once did. Our new creation man has been made free from this guilt, according to Romans 8:6-7 (Amplified) which says, "Now the mind of the flesh (which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit) [this does not necessarily mean you are without the Holy Spirit, but you aren't listening to Him] is death (death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin,both here and hereafter) but the mind of the Holy Spirit is Life and soul peace (both now and forever)."
Although your sin is done away with and you are a new creation, the same guilt and condemnation of your carnal mind (the mind of the flesh which is still subject to be ruled by the devil), will torment you with your "lower nature," if you fail to renew your mind by the Word of God. Paul goes on in Romans 8:7 (Amplified) saying, "(That is) because the mind of the flesh (with its carnal thoughts and purposes) is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God's Law; indeed it cannot."
This is why, as new creation beings and new creatures in Christ, we must use the The Laws of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, and overrule the laws of sin and death (condemnation and guilt)." Your lower life and your carnal mind are still subject to satan for use against you, until your mind is renewed and becomes the Mind of Christ. Many of us do not know the laws of our new life and have been set upon by a relentless enemy who will not let us rise into our new position with our Heavenly Father.
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