2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creation altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come."
Once we begin to better understand what our Heavenly Father has done, we can differentiate between what we've taken for granted and what the truth is. We've focused more on our fallen nature, rather than the power of Jesus' resurrection. We've mostly viewed ourselves as simply forgiven sinners, when God's Word says we are a "new creation."
What is the new creation? Does it mean that we are simply forgiven? Is it nothing more than the old covenant? Most people would agree that it's more than the old covenant, because those people weren't born-again. This is the Gospel Truth, but why is a born-again man so different than the old covenant man? We've entered into a new covenant with God, when through faith in Jesus we become born-again. We, though, continue living our lives like we're under the Law and the old covenant.
The new creation man is exactly that...a new creation. Our old man was already dead by trespass and sin and as far as God's concerned, our natural body died the death of the cross with Jesus. The whole man was therefore dead and was completely separated from God and Life. When our Heavenly Father raised Jesus from the dead, Jesus became the Firstborn from the dead, according to Colossians 1:15-18 (Amplified) which says, "(Now) He is the exact likeness of the unseen God (the visible representation of the unvisible); He is the Firstborn of all creation. He also is the Head of (His) Body, the Church; seeing He is the Beginning, the Firstborn from among the dead, so that He alone in everything and in every respect might occupy the chief place (stand first and be preeminent)."
Romans 8:29 (Amplified) says, "For those whom He foreknew (of whom He was aware and beloved beforehand) He also destined from the beginning (foreordained them) to be molded into the Image of His Son (and share inwardly His Likeness) that He might become the Firstborn among many brethren." Hebrews 12:23 (Amplified) says, "And to the Church (assembly) of the Firstborn who are registered (as citizens) in Heaven, and to the God Who is Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous (the redeemed in Heaven) who have been made perfect. And to Jesus, the Mediator (Go-Between, Agent) of a new covenant and to the sprinkled blood which speaks (of mercy) a better and nobler and more gracious message than the blood of Abel (which cries out for vengeance)."
The new creation man is like Jesus, a new creation altogether. Although Jesus was "In the beginning with God," He chose to be separated from the Father on our behalf, died in our stead as sinners and was the Firstborn of a sinner being made righteous from death unto life. Jesus never committed any sin, but He died as a sinner and was the first Man born from spiritual death (sin) unto spiritual Life and right standing with God. Now, when we receive Jesus by faith as our Lord, we are also raised with Him from spiritual death (or separation from God, Who is Life). We are reconciled back into right standing or righteousness with God, as though and in truth, we are no longer being viewed like we ever existed before knowing Jesus.
This is why leaning about faith, is one of the most important things for the new creation person. The whole new creation depends on faith, in order to work for us, or the Father. Hebrews 11:6 (Amplified) tells us, "But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must (necessarily) believe that God exists and that He is the Rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him (out)."
There is a lot of discussion concerning faith and faith people, in these Last Days. Some Christians agree faith is the most important part of our new covenant with God, while others reject the "faith message." Still others exploit the faith message. Many things have been taught in the right spirit and have been received in a wrong spirit. Some haven't understood the faith message and have tried to step out beyond what they knew, leaving them disillusioned. This left them discarding the entire thing and returning to their familiar traditions. This is why Paul told Timothy to "Earnestly contend for the faith." A "contender" is someone who is always fighting to become number one.
Everything concerning the new creation, comes from and depends on faith. No one can be born-again, without faith in Christ Jesus. Everything in the new creation, moves and derives from faith. The understanding of being righteous before God, is understood by faith. The very ability of coming before God's Throne of Grace, depends on faith, according to Hebrews 4:16. This not only includes "Coming boldly before God's Throne," but faith to receive mercy and grace once we get there.
The entire state of grace, depends on our faith in what God has done through Jesus on our behalf. Romans 5:1-2 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us (grasp the fact that we) have (the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy) peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) Through Him also we have (our) access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God's favor) in which we (firmly and safely) stand, And let us rejoice and exalt in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God."
Notice that access into God's grace, along with experiencing God's glory, are entered into by faith. Many have reached into the depth of God's grace. By faith, we've received the new birth and salvation offered by grace. Ephesians 2:8 (Amplified) says, "For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through (your) faith." John 3:16 tells us that, "Even though grace has offered salvation to all men, not all have put any faith in this grace and remain lost or separated from God.
Grace doesn't stop at our just being saved, but after we are saved and born-again, as God's new creation people, we have may degrees of grace available to us, but our inheritance depends on our faith in Jesus. Even though it has all been given, without faith to enter into it, we still stand outside the promises of grace for God's new creation.
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