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."
The very fact that we are a new creation, says that we know very little about what or who this new creation is. Everything we are to discover about who we have become, must come from our Heavenly Father and His Word. Because we are a new creation, we cannot go back and find out what this entails from any other source, except God and His Word. The only "pattern" we have of this new creation, is Jesus Himself.
It's essential then, that we must know Jesus in all of His earthly ministry. Our old earthly man and "dead" spirit, have no idea about how to function in this new identity. Most of us are fearful of the unknown and might be very reluctant about delving into this new identity, without someone to guide them. So, some might just ignore the things the new creation holds, while others will wish to learn the details for their new creation being.
The main key to learning about our new identity, is Love. 1John 4:16-18 (Amplified) tells us, "And we know (understand, recognize, are conscience of, by observation and by experience) you believe (adhere to, and put faith in and rely on) the Love God cherishes for us. God is Love, and he who dwells and continues in Love, dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him. In this (union and communion with Him) Love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us; that we may have confidence for the day of judgment (with assurance and boldness to face Him) because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in Love (dread does not exist) but full-grown (complete and perfect) Love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and (so) he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of Love (is not yet grown into Love's complete perfection)."
The above scripture tells us that "he who is afraid hasn't reached Love's complete perfection." We read in 2Timothy 1:7 (Amplified), "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear) but (He has given us a spirit) of power and of Love, and of a calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control." It's apparent from the above scriptures, that we shouldn't be fearful of seeking out who we are supposed to be in this new creation.
1John 1:17 (Amplified) says that, "As [Jesus] is, so are we in this world." That tells us that, we (the new creation beings) are like Jesus, in this world. Even after we've read this from the Word several times, the unrenewed mind would accuse anyone declaring this, "as walking in pride." 1John 3:2 (Amplified) says, "Beloved, we are (even here and) now God's children; It is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be (hereafter) but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall (as God's children) resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He (really) is."
Jesus told His disciples in John 14:7 (Amplified) that, "If you had known Me (had learned to recognize Me) you would also have known My Father, From now on, you know Him and have seen Him." Jesus prayed in John 17:21 (Amplified) saying, "That they may be one (just) as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me." Hebrews 1:3 (Amplified) instructs us that Jesus should be our Example on this earth. Thus, it says, "He is the Sole Expression of the glory of God (the Light-Being, the out-raying or radiance of the Divine) and He is the perfect Imprint and Very Image of (God's) nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His might Word of power; When He had by offering Himself accomplished our cleansing of sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the Divine Majesty on High."
The first Adam was supposed to bring forth children unto God in his image, and the Last Adam (Jesus) is also to bring forth children to God in HIS IMAGE. The carnal mind refuses to acknowledge the truth of this, but the Holy Spirit has unveiled it to all who will believe, through God's Word. If you are born-again, then this is who we are called to "grow up" to be. It's already who you are, but we're not yet "made perfect (mature) in Love."
Romans 8:16-17 (Amplified) tells us, "The Spirit Himself (thus) testifies together with our 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." Before you run off and try to "share His suffering," because you must FIRST find out what it was He had to suffer! We don't share what Jesus did for us on the cross or in the grave. Jesus did that for us, in our place. What Jesus suffered was the unbelief and actual hatred from many in the world He came to save.
We witness a glimpse of what Jesus suffered in Isaiah 53:3-5 (Amplified). Some of what He suffered was the redemptive work on our behalf and some was the rejection of those He loved. In Verse 4, we see people around Jesus, who were mocking Him and were calling for His punishment for saying He was the Son of God.
Today, we find some who have entered into part of the new creation walk, only to be mocked and mistreated by the world and even others in the Church. Smith Wigglesworth were subjected to Christian people calling the police, trying to stop his meeting. They accused him of "practicing medicine without a license. Paul was thrown into prison for casting a demon out of a woman. John the Baptist was imprisoned and beheaded for preaching the Truth of the Word.
In order to walk with the Holy Spirit in this new creation, we must first understand His Love for us. Many Christians still believe that sickness, death, disease, poverty and the Curse of the Law, are all "God's Love, teaching us to obey Him." Those who believe this, must take heed of 1John 4:8 (Amplified) which says, "He who does not Love has not become acquainted with God (does not and never did know Him) FOR GOD IS LOVE."
God's power is His Love and while learning how to walk in this new creation, we must first understand that it is when (and only when we) allow Love for God and Love from God to flow through us, because our faith works by Love. Galatians 5:6 (Amplified) says, "For (if we are) in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through Love." Some would say that this scripture tells us, "If we don't walk in what the world calls Love, then we have no faith to do the work." There is merit to this, but I believe this scripture is speaking more about how, "If we understand God's great Love for us, then our faith in that Love, will work even stronger through us."
I enjoy blogging to those who would read and understand them by the Holy Spirit, letting them see what God is beginning to do through the Church in these last days. It's not always easy to teach some of these things in church, because God will change what I would preach, for only one person who comes to the service. These are sort of akin to Paul's writing to the Church of his time. It's much easier to write the revelation, than to travel over the planet to preach it.
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