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 spiritual and moral condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come."
The most difficult barrier in the Christian walk, is with the unrenewed mind. The mind is part of a man's soul, that as the flesh is, not subject to God's will, nor can it be. Romans 8:7 (Amplified) says, "(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." In the early part of his ministry, the Apostle Paul is found dealing with this very issue. In Romans 7:15-25 (Amplified), we see how man's education, goes against the revelation of God. The mind (soul) has been educated by the carnal traditions of his religious background. The mind (soul) has been training the body by carnal things, while the new creation spirit works by the Spirit and the revelations from Jesus.
In Galatians 1:11-12 (Amplified) Paul says, "For I want you to know, brethren, that the Gospel which was proclaimed and made known by me is not man's gospel (a human invention, according to or patterned after any human standard) For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it (but it came to me) through a (direct) revelation (given) by Jesus Christ (the Messiah)."
Even though the Law could keep man in covenant with God, it didn't and couldn't renew the mind (soul), which was still dead because of sin. After Paul's encounter with Jesus, his spirit was now a new creation and he was made alive in Christ. His soul was now alive again, but it was still operating in the carnal things of the flesh. Because Paul's carnal mind (the unrenewed soul) still directed him in the new covenant, his soulish part of his spirit was still fighting his new creation man.
When Paul wanted to walk in the new covenant and revelation, his educated mind (or soul) continued to bring him back under the Law. The things we learned from the world, before being saved and born-again, were against the Truth of God's Word. The new creation man lives by revelation in his spirit, but the new creation man without a renewed mind (or carnal mind and soul), continues to struggle against Revelation and walks by education. One could attend a Bible school and be educated by the scriptures according to a certain denomination. Once he is educated by religion, his mind (soul) will fight against the revelation, even though you might not wish it to.
When revelation knowledge enters your new creation, his soul (mind) stands still in the past of condemnation or religious teaching and opposes the maturing in the new relationship with the Father. Even though Paul was taken directly into the Lord's Presence and shown this revelation, he still struggled with the rituals of the Law.
He says in 2Corinthians 12:1-5 (Amplified), "True, there is nothing to be gained by it, but (as I am obliged) to boast, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago-whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows-was caught up to the Third Heaven. And I know that this man-whether in the body or away from the body I do not know, God knows-Was caught up into paradise and he heard utterances beyond the power of man to put into words, which man is not permitted to utter Of this same (man's experiences) I will boast, but of myself (personally) I will not boast, except as regards my infirmities (my weaknesses)."
The above scriptures demonstrate the direct contrast between a man who was educated and a man with revelation. Paul was educated under the Law and the traditions of the religious leaders. He loved God and the Law, by his education and upbringing. His zeal for God, even brought him to persecute the Church. He fought against the teachings of Jesus and the Revelation Jesus gave him, because of his love of the Law. When Jesus gave Paul the Revelation of the above scripture, it fought against the education he received under the Law. Paul's walk with Jesus was difficult to maintain at times, until Paul finally renewed his mind by the Mind of Christ, the Messiah.
After becoming born-again, the greatest Keys to the Kingdom, are a new mind and restored soul. You become a new creation when becoming born-again, but you're still an infant new creation. The telltale sign of an adult new creation, is that he or she will meditate on the Word, until the Holy Spirit reveals the Revelation Truth, instead of relying on the educated acceptance of the Word.
Anyone who is truly born-again, knows that God is a Super-natural God. And, every born-again believer knows that Jesus rose from the dead (if nothing else, this is known to us even by education). Like Paul, we do believe, but we don't always believe unto revelation by fellowship with the Father. Through education, we know that God can perform miracles, but we still might expect miracles to happen, because we lack revelation. We still have the historical church, but don't have a living Church. We believe by education (reading the Word) that miracles and healings occurred in the early Church. Without a renewed mind (restored soul) though, we fail to have the revelation for these things being "for the Church now."
This doesn't mean that we aren't truly born-again and are new creations, but it does indicate how we sometimes avoid revelation by not renewing our minds to have a spirit minded relationship with our Father.
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