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)."
God's Word tells us what Jesus' Sacrifice has done for us. We can read and comprehend the words we read, but only revelation from the Holy Spirit, can give us the Truth of the Mystery of the new creation man. Paul says something in Galatians 1:16 (Amplified) that without revelation, goes mostly unnoticed. Thus, he says, "To reveal (unveil, disclose) His Son within me so that I might proclaim Him among the Gentiles."
For some reason, we seem to believe that Jesus is "within" us, but we act like we're still only flesh and blood people. Aside from changing our natural habits and abstaining from sins of the flesh, we see very little proof of the fact that He actually dwells "within" us. God did in reverse, what happened with Adam in the Garden. In the Garden, Adam died in the spirit (he disconnected from the Life and Spirit of God) and now only lived as a natural man. Jesus came Alive in the Spirit and now by Him, God has proclaimed that the natural, fleshly, sinful man was pronounced dead and once again, the spirit man is made alive to God.
Romans 6:3-6 (Amplified) says, "Are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by the baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious (power) of the Father, so we too might (habitually) live and behave in the newness of Life). For if we have become one with Him by sharing a death like His, we shall also be (one with Him in sharing) His resurrection (by a new life lived for God)." Verse 6 gives us the revelation of what the previous Verses mean to us now in this life, saying, "We know that our old (unrenewed) self was nailed to the cross with Him in order that (our) body (which is the instrument) of sin might be made (ineffective and inactive for evil, that we might no longer be the slaves of sin)."
We can more easily understand what Paul was saying in Romans 12:1-2 (Amplified), "I appeal to you therefore brethren, and beg of you in view of (all) the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies (presenting all your members and faculties) as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship." Verse 2 goes on, "Do not be conformed to this world (this age). (fashioned after and adapted to its external superficial customs); but be transformed (changed) by the (entire) renewal of your mind (by its new ideals and its new attitude), so that you may prove (for yourselves) what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect (in His sight for you)."
Even though we read from the Word, that our new creation spirit man is made "perfect" in Christ Jesus, most of our time is spent keeping our now dead body-dead, instead of feeding our new man on the Word. We've fallen back into the customs of this age and spend more time with the dead man, instead of our new man who is now living in Christ. Galatians 5:16 (Amplified) says, "But I say, walk and live (habitually) in the Holy Spirit (responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit): then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God)."
If we received revelation of the Truth about what has done in us through Jesus, then we would bring the flesh (senses) into the light of the new creation man and how that is the only part of us that God considers "alive to Him." God already considers our bodies dead, but satan still tries keeping our focus and attention on that dead body and not our new nature and new creation man.
For millennia, we've been taught to be sin conscience, rather than "righteous" conscience. We're constantly reminded of the weaknesses of the flesh, more than the strength of God in our new creation lives. Galatians 5:24-26 (Amplified) goes on about the new man versus the conduct of the dead man and the senses, saying, "And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires. If we live by the Holy Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit (if by the Holy Spirit we have our Life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit). Let us not become vain, glorious and self-conceited, competitive and challenging and provoking and irritating to one another, envying and being jealous of one another."
Verse 26 is about the works of the dead man, the flesh and the sense and is not about the new creation man, who is after the spirit. The awesome things about the new creation man, is that even if no one else believes is, it will still work for those who believe. Romans 3:3-4 (Amplified) says, "What if some did not believe and were without faith? Does their lack of faith and their faithlessness nullify and make ineffective and void the faithfulness of God and His fidelity (to His Word)? By no means! Let God be found True though every human being is false and a liar, as it is written, that you may be justified and shown to be upright in what you say, and prevail when you are judged (by sinful men)."
Many have received a portion of the Truth and left the rest, but that doesn't make what they have not received, not True. For those who will walk in line with the Holy Spirit, "All things are possible to those who believe." Today, many teach that miracles, signs and wonders have "passed away," but that doesn't mean these things have passed away. We were called to walk out our witness in the power of the Holy Spirit, not by debates and the arguments of man's reasonings. If we are to reason, then let us do like the Lord has called us to do, in Isaiah 1:18-19 (Amplified) which says, "Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool." Do you know what happens to "crimson sins" when they are placed in "crimson Blood?" They are no longer visible!!! Verse 19 goes on, "If you are willing and obedient you shall eat the good of the land." One can be obedient, while still having his will set against God in many areas of his life. If I'm not willing to take God's Word over the things I have learned (even though I'm obedient to the things I've learned), then I'm unwilling to go beyond my intellect and teachings to "eat the good of the land."
When God directed me to "Go to New York and start this ministry," I was obedient to go, but I murmured and complained about the weather, the people, and nearly everything that came up. When I confronted the Lord about why things weren't working (like I thought they should), because I was obedient to go, He simply answered, "You have moved in obedience, but your will has been set against Me from the start." God told me, "You have murmured and complained against Me and your heart is still in the place I have chosen you from."
It might seem strange that we cam be obedient and still not be willing. One would think that by moving, I proved my will through that obedience. But, God thought otherwise. There's an old saying, "You can make me say 'Uncle,' but you cannot make me mean it." As kids, we would wrestle and if we got pinned down, then we would say "Uncle." I might say, "Uncle," but in my heart, I hadn't given up. I was only held down by force and wanted to get up again. God doesn't want me "by force," but He wants me "by a willing heart."
Many want God to simply "force Himself upon us," and make us do what He wants us to do. God will not do this. Only when we are willing to yield to Him, can God use us in things He desires to do through us. John 6:17-18 (Amplified) says, "If any man desires to do His will (God's pleasure) he will know (have the needed illumination to recognize, and can tell for himself) whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking from myself and of my own accord and on my own authority). He who speaks on his own authority seeks to win honor for himself (he whose teachings originate with himself seeks his own glory) But he who seeks the glory and is eager for the honor of Him Who sent him, he is true and there is no unrighteousness or falsehood or deception in Him."
These scriptures are speaking about Jesus Himself, but the principle is True for every believer who is taught by the Holy Spirit. Paul says in Galatians 1:11-12 (Amplified), "For I want you to know brethren, that the Gospel which was proclaimed and made know 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)." Man's "gospel" has omitted many things, by man's teachings. The "Gospel" that was given to Paul, has not omitted anything that Jesus gave him by revelation. Only revelation can "reveal it" to us now and this revelation is available to all those who are "willing and obedient."
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