2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come."
One of the most difficult things to understand and walk in the new creation, is the renewing our minds by the Mind of Christ. Paul speaks about this very thing, with its new attitude and ideals, 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."
Paul isn't saying that we are constantly sinning with out thoughts (carnal minds), like some would suggest, but that we are living only by the standards of the world and the flesh (natural man). When we fail to renew our mind by the Spirit, it has no other recourse except to continue thinking the way it always has. Being carnally minded, means being in a place of religious thinking where we acknowledge that "God is," but not thinking "God does."
Anyone who acknowledges God as being "Supreme God," would always acknowledge "God can do anything." It's not that the carnal mind can't make the mental assent and acknowledging there is a God, but it doesn't understand Who or What He is. Many world religions today declare "There is a God," but that doesn't lead to their members being saved or born-again. Religions throughout the world, have all taken to worshiping and serving some sort of god. They believe (as far as a carnal mind can) in this god, but don 't have any idea they are being deceived by the god of this world and are actually serving the devil himself.
Many Christians, likewise, make the mental assent to believing the fact and Truth of Jesus Christ being Lord and they would tell you that "There is nothing God cannot do." However, they never trust or expect Him to actually do anything. This is mainly why we never witness the signs and wonders of God, being revealed to the world. We believe that He can, but don't believe or know that He will. Matthew 8:1-3 (Amplified) says, "When Jesus came down from the mountain, great throngs followed Him. And behold, a leper came up to Him and prostrating himself, worshiped Him, saying Lord, If You are willing, You are able to cleanse me by curing me. And He reached out His hand and touched him, saying, I am willing; be cleansed by being cured. And instantly his leprosy was cured and cleansed."
This is where so many new creation people, have yet to walk with our Heavenly Father, today. It would be foolishness to believe that there is a God, but then don't believe that He cannot do anything. We believe there is a God, but fail to renew our minds by the Word and the Holy Spirit to believe not only that He can do anything, but believe that He will do it.
The carnal mind wishes to believe that there is a God. Even the world believes this and worships many heathen forms of gods. The Christian body believes there is only One God and that Jesus is Lord and Savior. Many, however, limit their belief to a "Once in awhile God, Who intervenes on a limited basis in our lives." Only a renewed mind can understand our Living God, Who actually lives in us and through us. It's not that we can only understand if we are born-again, but that we must understand by renewing our minds about what being born-again really means.
We are born-again when we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, but sometimes don't understand to what extent this means, on this side of Heaven. When the Holy Spirit expounds on this, through the Word, we grow in faith and allow God to move in a greater way in our lives and the lives of others. Not everyone will spend the time or effort to truly seek the Father in this capacity, but the experience will be such a marvelous things that others will want to follow, for those who will put in the effort and time.
I've often wondered why more of God's children don't seek Him out in a greater way. The world is moving at such a hurried pace, that time seems fleeting and more limited than anything else in our lives. We've all heard the saying, "Life happens, in the middle of our plans." This "Life" is the carnal, worldly life, which we have all been well-trained for centuries. We religiously acknowledge God, but don't have the time to get to know Him, because our priorities are elsewhere. Jesus said in Matthew 6:25 (Amplified), "Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater (in quality) than food, and the body (far above and more excellent) than clothing?"
These are the worries of someone whose mind hasn't been renewed yet. Of course, we all have need of these things Jesus talks about, but one who has a renewed mind understands that, "God not only can, but He will" take care of us, even here and now. This is probably one of satan's most subtle weapons, used against God's new creation people to keep us thinking in the carnal realm and never being relinquished from his grip. If Jesus did it in His earthly walk, then He can do it now, according to Hebrews 13:8 (Amplified) which says, "Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is (always) the same, yesterday, today (yes) and forever (to the ages)."
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