2Corinthians 5:17-18 (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. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
We continue viewing ourselves the way we were, before being born-again. The Word tells us that we were "crucified with Christ" and that God considers our old man "dead and buried," but we persist in being more familiar with the old man, rather than with the new creation. This is why Paul instructs us to "renew our minds with the Word." Paul also says we are to "pull down strongholds, bringing every one of our thoughts that exalts themselves against the Truth and knowledge of God, into captivity."
Religious teachings have taught us to focus more on our sins, instead of who we were born-again to be. We've been erroneously taught that if we don't feel guilty, then we're not really saved, and many view it as being "sinful" to teach otherwise. This makes us the "double-minded" man that James speaks about. We profess to be a new creation, and walk in the memory of our old, unsaved, and sinful past.
In order to be family with the Father, we must learn how to approach Him as His child, instead of as strangers and sinners. This doesn't mean we're to live anyway way we wish, without having any concept of wrong doing, but we're to govern ourselves by the Word and bring the senses into submission to the spirit.
We've looked to our pastors and elders to keep us "in line with the Father," by reminding us how sinful our ways and thoughts are. The Holy Spirit is supposed to be our Teacher, working through them, not reminding us of our past, but by the "washing of water, by the Word." We continue trying to make the flesh do like we want it too, through willpower. This might help to some extent, but even in using willpower, we must surrender our will to God's will.
Children learn using consistency and if we teach them to fear (not reverence, but fear) their parents, then we won't raise good adults. The time will come when they are grown and we can no longer send them to bed without the iPhone or take away the car keys for a week. Soon enough, they will own a car and provide for themselves and then both parent and child, must rely on what they've retained from their training as children.
My children made mistakes while growing up, just like everyone does. Some of us had a good and Godly teachings, while others didn't. Many have based their entire character and life, by the past. Sometimes, even when we're adults, we blame our failures on the past. There comes a time for everyone (saved or unsaved), when we are required to take responsibility for ourselves.
2Timothy 2:21 (Amplified) says, "So whoever cleanses himself (from what is ignoble and unclean, who separates himself from contaminating and corrupting influences) will (then himself) be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work."
Paul speaks to Christians who haven't grown into adulthood, are still on "milk of the Word," and haven't taken responsibility for their relationship with the Father, in Hebrews 5:14 (Amplified) saying, "But solid food is for full grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to distinguish and discriminate between what is morally good and noble and what is evel and contrary either to Divine or human law."
We come into sonship with the Father, by training ourselves by His Word and His instructions. As we hear His instructions and are obedient to them, we can govern our adult lives, without someone needing to tell us what is right, wrong, moral and immoral. I've never required anyone to tell me how to sin, but I listen to the Holy Spirit's instructions on how to live right before my Father.
Our walk with the Father should be one of respect and reverence and we should do what is right, out of respect for His Name and for His Sake. We are to be careful not to being reproach on the Father, by our actions and words. It's not about our being good, but everything we do and say reflects on Him, because we are called by His Name. When a Christian is doing wrong, we know he is still a child of God while doing wrong, but the world sees that Christian as being phony and superficial and this reflects on Him.
My children are scrutinized more than others, because their daddy is a preacher. We sometimes fail to understand that God doesn't have one way for preacher's kids and another way for someone else's kids. His ways apply to both sets of kids equally, because we are all His kids. As we grow into being mature Christians, we must know what the Father expects of His, through His Word and the Holy Spirit. The expectations others have of us, aren't really important, but we must strive to live upright before them. The religious teachings of the Church have laid out certain laws and rituals for us, that have very little (if anything) to do with our being family.
All of the things God's Word Promises to His family, are true and they've already been made ours. We don't need to earn the right to come before Him, but we must always be respectful of the right to be in His Presence. My siblings and I grew up with the "Old School" teachings about family. I knew who my daddy was and I understood his ways and teachings. We were taught to respect our elders and were taught to have good manners at all times. I either addressed him as "Dad" or "Sir." This wasn't a military term (as some would believe), but it was one of respect. When he spoke to me or gave me instructions, I gave him my full attention, listened carefully and then followed through with those instructions. We addressed our mother as "Mom" or "Ma'am." We answered her questions with, "Yes, ma'am" or "No ma'am," out of respect. We weren't trying to get something from our parents by using these terms, but were showing respect for all they gave us and who they were to us. We bore our father's Sir name and we knew better than to bring reproach on his name. It would hurt me more than it did him, if I brought shame on him. He would have bore that shame for our sake and never allowed it to diminish the love He had for us.
When Jesus told us to "Love the Lord with all our hearts and to Love our neighbor as ourselves," He meant more than our just being nice. When we truly love Him with all of our hearts, we are very conscience of His Name and His reputation before others. There will always be trials and tests, while we've in this life, despite how well we walk with the Lord. We are to be His representatives, even while going through these things.
The world lives in adultery and openly sins and no one seems to notice, but everyone notices when a Christian does these things. It's not because of who you are, but because of Who your Father is. I don't stay away from certain venues or things, because I am "so holy," but because I am God's son and don't want His Name to be connected with these things.
I don't need to try and be His son, He has already taken care of that, according to James 1:18 (Amplified) which says, "It was of His Own (free) will that He gave us birth (as sons) by (His) Word of Truth, so that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures (a sample of what He created to be, consecrated to Himself)." 1Peter 1:17 (Amplified) says, "If you call upon Him as (your) Father, Who judges each one impartially according to what he does, (then) you should conduct yourselves with true reverence throughout the time of your temporary residence (on the earth, whether long or short)."
This is how we "govern" ourselves, by His Word and the witness of His Spirit within us. Another preacher once scolded me, for not "preaching enough about sin and conviction." I believe, that if the Holy Spirit (Who lives in you) can't convict you of sin in your life, then what do you expect from me? We must follow Paul's instructions from Hebrews 5:14 (Amplified) and "Train your senses and mental faculties to discriminate between what is right and wrong." The Father doesn't only tell us when we do something wrong, but He will tell us it's wrong, before we do it. This is governing ourselves, by His Word.
My children didn't need to ask if something was "wrongful" to do, because they were raised to know what whether something was right or wrong, before deciding to do it. This is what maturity is. Both my sons are married and have sons of their own now, but they too have raised and are raising their children into adulthood. There comes a time in every person's life (both saved and saved), where he/she is solely responsible for their decisions and actions. We are supposed to apply the things we learned as children, governing our own lives and change other's lives.
1Corinthians 13:11 (Amplified) says, "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child, now that I have become a man, I am alone with childish ways and have put them aside." We have varying ideas about how a child of God should walk, but I'm more interested about the way God says I'm to walk. I don't do things in order to impress others, but to please my Heavenly Father. I've heard many say, "I don't believe you have to do these things to get to Heaven." This might be true, but I do them in order to honor God. I do these things, that "by words and deeds, I might bring others to Him."
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