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 has 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)."
One of the greatest revelations for today's Church, might be understanding who we are as new creations. Many of us read God's Word, but fail to understand what the Holy Spirit is saying to us. The world and it's culture (that we all grew up in) has successfully blended religion with reality. Our reading the Word, doesn't mean that we understand or have revelation of it. Understanding who we truly are as new creations, means we understand we never existed before being born-again. If you did exist in the Presence of God's Spirit, then you're not a new creation, but one who was revamped.
You were actually crucified, died and buried with Jesus. This isn't speaking figuratively, but is an actual Truth in God's family. We seem to identify more with the old man, because of things we hear and constantly being reminded of. Even though you're still in your earthly body (or "house," as Paul calls it), the one who now lives in this house, isn't the same you, because you're a new creation. For the first time in your days on this planet, you are now alive in your spirit man and your spirit has born from death to life.
For many of us, the word "righteous," is a religious word that describes our behavior. Although behavior is part of being righteous, this isn't what being righteous is about. When Adam transgress in the Garden of Eden and was separated from God's Presence, he lost his right to stand in God's Presence. Since his sin was transmitted to all of mankind through him, "None were righteous, not one." B says,eing "ingrafted in Christ Jesus," and being a new creation through Him, has restored the legal right for us to come before God again.
All of our legal right in the Kingdom, ow come through our new creation man, in Christ Jesus. Man had no right to come into God's Presence and His Throne of Grace. Massive amounts of blood from lambs, goats and bulls covered man's trespasses in the old covenant, but never removed them. Very few people could enter the place where the Ark of the Covenant was placed. The slightest mistake made during their entering this place, could bring death to that person. Now, the Blood of Jesus not only covers our sins, but it removes all stains of sin. Jesus's Blood not only allows us to come before God, but it actually brought us to God in Himself. Being ingrafted in Jesus, means that we enter in through Him, with Him and in Him. John 17 says, we have become "one with Him, just as He and the Father are One." Every time we enter into God's Presence, it's like Jesus Himself is doing so, because we are "one with Him."
Satan has done his best, to limit the Body of Christ to simple religious ideas, instead of revelation Truth. Mostly, we only think of ourselves as being spirit, when we die. The Church hasn't been taught about thinking as spirit people and developing as spirit people. We continue to see ourselves as fallen man and sinners, instead of new creation people who Jesus raised up with Himself at His resurrection.
We see the resurrection as a future event and not as something that happened when we were born-again. It's true that there will be a future resurrection of the body, but our spirit man was resurrected and made alive with Jesus already. This is why we are a new creation. The dead spirit (dead in trespass and sin) was made alive by the Holy Spirit and was resurrected from the dead as a new creation. We are brand new, like the Heavens and earth were "brand new," when God spoke them into existence.
Until God spoke the Heavens into existence, they didn't exist. The new creation didn't exist, until Jesus (Who is God's Word) spoke and was declared to be the Firstborn from the dead. This kind of being (the new creation) didn't exist in all creation, until then. We've spent more time involved with the carnal man and his weakness, rather than on the new man and his strength in the Father. Romans 5:17 (Amplified) says, "For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive (God's) overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free Gift of righteousness (putting them into right standing with Himself) reign as kings in life, through the One Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
We've been taught and trained by our carnal thinking, to try controlling the flesh, by the flesh. Although there is some strength in our willpower to control our behavior, we haven't been taught to draw out of our new creation spirit for strength. Proverbs 20:27 (Amplified) says, "The spirit of man (that factor in human personality which proceeds immediately from God) is the Lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts."
As our new creation spirit is turned to the Holy Spirit, to seeking wisdom from God, it draws strength, wisdom, understand and power in unity with Christ Jesus. Our carnal minds begin surrendering to the Mind of Christ and our carnal behavior begins to submit to our new being. The fight is now one of faith, in our union with Christ, instead of our own strength, willpower and ritual. Proverbs 22:17-21 (Amplified) says, "Listen (consent and submit) to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to My knowledge; For it will be pleasant if you keep them in your mind (believing them) your lips will be accustomed to (confessing) them. So that your trust (belief, reliance, support and confidence) may be in the Lord. I have made known these things to you today, even to you Have I not written to you (long ago) excellent things in counsels and knowledge To make you know the certainty of the Words of Truth, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you."
The balance between exalting yourself and having God exalt you, is having humility in what God says about you and what you say about yourself. Walking in true humility does mean disagreeing with what God says about you and debasing yourself. If God says you're "righteous in Him,"then who are you to say that you're not righteous? If God says you're a new creation son or daughter, then who are you to say that you're just an old sinner, saved by grace? If God says you're "justified, consecrated and declared righteous," then who are we to say, "Jesus wasn't enough to make us clean and in right standing with God?" This is pride and false humility, of the flesh.
Jesus didn't think it was prideful or arrogant to declare that, "He and the Father are One." He wasn't being boastful, when He said He was the Son of God and that God was His Father. Jesus simply said what God said about Him. This is what upset the carnally minded religious people of Jesus' time. Jesus was bold in Who God said He was and they couldn't stand that.
In most of today's congregations, many people find it prideful and arrogant when we dare say what God says about us. The truth though, is it's arrogant and prideful to say you're not what God says about you. When we don't understand this simply Truth, we're actually declaring in the Face of God that, "Jesus wasn't enough to totally cleanse and redeem us" and that, "We need another sacrifice to do so," or "We'll finish the job on our own." We are to submit to righteousness and "sin not." We are to put on the new man and walk in Him. We need to understand all of what Jesus did for us.
We must trust in the Word and learn to walk in it, so that all the other things will cease, according to Galatians 5:16 (Amplified), which 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)."
No comments:
Post a Comment