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)."
As new creations, we must being seeing ourselves in the light of what the Father has done through Jesus. We've mostly seen ourselves in the light of the old covenant and expected God to deal with us, the way He dealt with the old covenant people. This has resulted in our seeing God as only God and not as Father. The Father Jesus represented, was not the God that Israel understood. They observed Him under the Law, doing works (rituals and sacrifices) to avoid God's wrath and being punished by Him.
We have the Same God in the new covenant, but now He is our Father. Through Jesus, He has brought mankind's sin under the Love of His Sacrifice and He Himself has paid the entire required penalty of justice, in order the redeem us from that. We've been trying to pay the penalty that Jesus paid in full, by our invented actions and abilities. We've been raised in a culture and teaching, that hasn't been altogether what the Father says about the new creation.
Many of us continue looking for God to punish us for each mistake we make. Some believe that any sickness or hardship that comes upon them, was brought on them by God, for their trespasses. They have accepted these things, believing God placed them upon them, because He loves them.
Those under the old covenant weren't new creations, but were carnal unsaved men who didn't have a spiritual relationship with the Father. They had a covenant with God, but not a new birth into His family. Because they were only flesh, God had to deal with them from the outside-in, instead of from the inside-out. He had to deal with men who were spiritually dead in trespass and sin, because they had no spiritual Life of God living in their spirits. Jesus declared this to them in John 10:10 (Amplified) saying, "I come that you may have and enjoy Life, to the full, in abundance, till it overflows."
The people Jesus was speaking to, probably said, "We are already alive." In the sense of speaking, eating, building homes and families, and doing other such things, they were "alive." Jesus was speaking about the Life of God, which would be restored to man, after His Sacrifice was completed. No one then understood the implication of Jesus' Words, because is was something that would only be revealed after His resurrection.
The Law or the old covenant, were about to come to a close as they knew it and a broad, new covenant was about to be made. This new covenant was made between Jesus and the Father. Man didn't make this new covenant and couldn't break it through weakness of the flesh. By faith in the Final and Perfect Sacrifice (Jesus), we are under the new covenant between the Father and the Son, which was one covenant in God. We've not only entered into covenant, but family with God. Our covenant isn't based on our own merits, but only on Jesus. The new creation family is secure by the obedience of Jesus and not on us.
Some take this to mean that they can "do anything they want and still be saved." The family relationship is based on Love, not fear. We love Him, because He first Loved us, according to 1John 4:10 (Amplified) which says, "In this Love; not that we loved God, but that He Loved us and sent His Son to be the Propitiation (the Atoning Sacrifice) for our sins." When we understand the Love the Father has for us, we can be confident and can share His Own Love that was shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Romans 5:5 (Amplified) says, "Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God's Love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us."
The only way we can respond to this Love, is by His Own Love. The old covenant people couldn't actually "love" God in this way, but as new creation people, we have been given His Own Love by which to Love Him with, completely.
1John 3;9-10 (Amplified) explains how some believe that "grace and salvation are blank checks to live anyway we wish and still be saved." Thus, it says, "No one born (begotten) of God (deliberately, knowingly, and habitually) practices sin, for God's nature abides in him (His principle of Life; the Divine Sperm remains permanently within him) and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God. By this it is made clear who take their nature from God and are His children and who take their nature from the devil and are his children; no one who does not practice righteousness (who does not conform to God's will in purpose, thought and action) is of God; neither is anyone who does not love his brother (his fellow believer in Christ)."
Only God can determine who is truly born-again and is a new creation family member, because this is a spiritual birth and cannot be seen with the naked eye. The results of our complying with God's Word and the Holy Spirit, can be seen, but the Truth is only known in the individual's heart. Paul says in Galatians 5:6 (Amplified), "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."
Many such outward rituals as circumcision and uncircumcision, are still in effect, but have no meaning without the understanding and Life that comes only by God Who is actually Love, living within us. Understanding how great God's Love for us is, gives us boldness and confidence to ask, "Whatsoever you will, and believe we receive." When we don't know or understand God's Love for us, we draw back through guilt and condemnation, which contaminates our faith with conscience and carnality.
Far too many Christians have accepted disease and the death of their loved one, thinking it was the Father's will for them, because they had sinned. This might sound solid to the religious mind and person, but those who know the True Love and the Word, know this isn't Truth. Isaiah 54:13-15 (Amplified) tells us, "And all your (spiritual) children shall be disciples (taught by the Lord and obedient to His will), and great shall be the peace and undisturbed composure of your children. You shall establish yourself in righteousness (rightness in conformity with God's will and order) you shall be far from even the thought of oppression or depression, for you shall not fear, and from terror, for it shall not come near you. BEHOLD! they may gather together and stir up strife, BUT IT IS NOT FROM ME. Whoever stirs up strife against you shall fall and surrender to you."
When you understand God's Love for you, you will understand that God's will for you life are "peace and righteousness and shelter from oppression and depression." When you understand God's will for you, then His peace will keep you and bring you into victory, through His Love. If we don't understand His Love, in these areas of our lives, then our faith will accept whatever comes our way (good and bad) believing it's God's will for us. Verse 15 tells us that, "these things might come against us, BUT IT DOESN'T COME FROM HIM!!!"
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