2Corinthians 5:16-17 is our base scripture, for the new creation lessons. In Verse 17, Paul (by inspiration of the Holy Spirit), says something we haven't taken seriously to our hearts. Thus, he says, "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."
This isn't a promise for what lies ahead in some distant future, but was true the moment anyone receives Jesus as his Lord and Savior. We've never truly considered ourselves as "new creature altogether," but simply as forgiven sinners. And, because of this way of thinking, we continue to carry the burden of guilt, stemming from our previous existence. Jesus' Own Blood cleansed us from everything and we were born again, when we received Him as our Sacrifice. If a baby is born, then it has no past (just like we have no past).
No one needs tell a fish that "He is a fish." He simply swims, because that is what he was made to be. The things with a fish is, his entire world consists of only water. He thinks this is all there is to life. He has no idea about trees, grass, mountains or anything else outside of water...this is his whole life. As believers, we have looked around us and have determined that this is all there is. We seem not to acknowledge anything outside of our five senses. We have only eluded to, "Someday we will be in a different life." Paul speaks to the old covenant people, as well as the new covenant people in Galatians 4:31 (Amplified) saying,"So brethren, we (who are born again) are not children of a slave woman (the natural), but of the free (the supernatural)."
Paul continues his letter in Galatians 5:25 (Amplified) saying, "If we live by the Holy Spirit, let us also walk by the same Spirit (If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit." Paul writes to the Church in Romans 8:14 (Amplified), "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are Sons of God." This is really the "Mature" sons of God. Those who realize who they've become, have made the return to the rights of the family and household of our Heavenly Father.
We read the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32. I know that this Parable has been likened to many things in the past, and I'm sure that they may all be true. However, I wish to liken it to the Church, if I may. After the Prodigal Son was restored (becoming a new creation son), the other son (the one who was religious) became angry with their Father, saying in Verse 29, "These many years I have served you, and I have never disobeyed your command. Yet you have never given me (so much as) a (little) kid, that I might revel and feast and be happy and make merry with my friends." He continues in Verses 31-32 saying, "But when this son of yours arrived, who has devoured your estate with immoral women, you have killed for him that (wheat) fattened calf. And the Father said to him, Son, you are always with Me, and all that is Mine is yours. But it was fitting to make merry, to revel and feast and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead, and is alive again! He was lost and is found."
We have brothers in Christ, who've been with the Father for a long time, but have never enjoyed the inheritance of the Kingdom. But, this brother, who was dead is now alive (he is a new creation), one who knows who the Father really is, was granted all the things of the Father that the religious son never before enjoyed. The Father simply replied to that son, "Son, you are always with Me, and all that Is Mine is yours."
The son who was "born again from death to life," is a new creation man who knows who he truly is. He didn't receive anything the other son wasn't entitled to, but he didn't receive it (like his brother did). They were both of the same Father and the same inheritance.
In God's family today, many of us have never enjoyed our inheritance, because we don't know it is ours for here and now. Many Christians seem to be waiting until they die (in the natural), in order to inherit from the Father. When a man leaves a will, it is valid when he dies and not when you die. When I joined the Army in 1958, I was issued a small New Testament. It was olive green, just like our uniforms. Inside the front cover, was written these words, saying, "The last will and testament of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ."
Galatians 3:14-16 (Amplified) says, "To the end that through (their receiving) Christ Jesus, the blessing (promised) to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith might (all) receive (the realization of) the promise of the Holy spirit To speak in terms of human relations, brethren, (if) even a man makes a last will and testament (a merely human covenant) no one sets it aside or makes it void or adds to it when once it has been drawn up and signed (ratified, confirmed) Now the promises (covenants, agreements) were decreed and made to Abraham and his Seed (his offspring, his heirs) He (God) does not say, and to seeds (descendants, heirs) as if referring to many persons, but And to your Seed (your Descendant, Your heir), obviously referring to one individual Who is (None other than) Christ (the Messiah)."
This promise was to Jesus and as joint heirs with Him in God, we can read the will and know exactly what it truly says, "The Father will kill the fattened calf and place a robe on his should and place the ring (sign of authority) on his hand." For those who will not read the will, they are still sons of God, but they never enjoy the inheritance. But, the Father says to them, "Son, you are always with Me, and all that is Mine is yours."
Romans 8:16-19 (Amplified) tells us, "The Spirit Himself (thus) testifies together with our own spirit (assuring us) that we are children of God. And if we are (His) children then we are (His) heirs also; heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ (sharing His inheritance with Him) only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory. (But what of that)? For I consider that the suffering of this present time (this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us For (even the whole) creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God's sons to be made known (waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their sonship)."
We find one son, in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, knew who he was, but wouldn't partake of his inheritance. The other son, who was dead in sin and trespass, was now alive in Christ Jesus and entered into who he was made to be. He didn't try to be a fish, but he just swam. You don't have to become a new creature, you already are a new creature. We must now walk in the Spirit and be led by the Spirit. We must walk as sons of God, into this new kingdom that has been given to us by inheritance.
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