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)."
Most believers have never really viewed themselves, the way God views us. We've always thought about the new creations, as being for "when we die and go to Heaven." For centuries, men have been born-again, but had no idea of who the new creation really is. The only way we have of knowing who the new creation has become in Christ, is by the Holy Spirit's revealing it through God's Word. Jesus said in John 6:63 (Amplified), "It is the Spirit Who gives Life (He is the Life Giver) the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it). The Words (Truths) that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."
The only way to truly understand who we've become when receiving Jesus as our Lord, is by revelation of the Word, by the Holy Spirit. When men use their own minds to try and reveal to God's children "who they truly are in Christ Jesus," then it's only religion. This is why the Holy Spirit instructed what Paul and other Biblical authors were to write. The Word was written by the Holy Spirit, to the new creation spirit, who were in the family of God.
2Corinthians 3:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom) And all of us, as with unveiled face (because we) continued to behold (in the Word of God) as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His Very Own Image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another (for this comes) from the Lord (Who is) Spirit."
As we accept God's Word as Spirit and allow the Holy Spirit (Who is the Spirit of liberty) to reveal who we really have become in Jesus, then we'll begin being "transfigured" more into His Image "from one degree of glory to another." Every born-again person, who has tried reading and operating his life by an unrenewed,carnal mind, will fail to understand who the new creation being is.
Many times, when we read the Word (even from a born-again position), we still see it as laws, rules, and the outer regulations that we must do to be Christians. We still see ourselves more from the outside and the carnal man, more than who Jesus has birthed us to be in this new creation.
The Apostle Paul was actually taken into the Heavenlies and into the Lord's Presence. Paul functioned on a "new creation way of living." Paul spoke about his being "taken into God's Presence in 2Corinthians 12:1-5 (Amplified) and how he is not the same man that he is now. Carnal man's teachings focus on Paul's "thorn in the flesh," and has missed the whole truth of the revelation Paul preached about the new creation man.
The carnal mind seemingly focuses on the outer-man and all man's miseries that "God has put on him." If these teachers read the above scripture in the Light of Truth, then they would see and understand the revelation the Holy Spirit gave Paul, about who the new creation truly is. Satan sent a thorn in the flesh to Paul, in order to try and prevent Paul's recording the Holy Spirit's revelation. The carnal mind always centers on the outer-man and keeps the new man from excelling in who he is.
If we could (like Paul) actually step out of our natural body for a brief moment and see ourselves as we really are, then it would change our way of seeing Christianity forever. Unfortunately for us, we cannot do this (unless by the Spirit) until our natural body is no longer able to live here on earth. Our new being is locked up inside this house of flesh and is limited by revelation, of the liberty we have. Only revelation by the Word and the Holy Spirit, can elevate our new man above our same old, natural flesh and blood body. Our new man (the inner man) has all of his capabilities, being held captive by the carnal mind, just like before our being born-again.
For the most part, the understanding we have of being born-again, has centered on sins of the flesh. Although it's definitely true that these things aren't allowed in the new creation man, they're not where we should focus all of our teachings and learning. Paul wrote about sin and division, to the Church in Corinth (the new creation people in Corinth) in 1Corinthians 6:11,19(Amplified), saying, "And such [referring to Verses 1-10] were some of you once, But now you were washed clean (purified by a complete atonement for sin and made free from the guilt of sin) and you were consecrated (set apart, hallowed), and you were justified (pronounced righteous by trusting) in the Name of the Lord Jesus and in the Holy Spirit of our God." Paul speaks to the Church here, as though from God's perspective, from the new inner-man who was created apart from the old, outer-man. He was instructing the new creation people, to live like new creation people by the spirit and not from the carnal man, any longer.
Paul continues in Verse 19 and refers to the outer-man (the body), as now being only a place or temple for the Holy Spirit to dwell in. The flesh is no more than a house for your new creation man (spirit) to dwell in, while we're still on this earth. When this house (dwelling place, body of flesh) dies in this natural realm, then our spirit (new creation man who is infused with the Holy Spirit) will no longer be confined, but will truly be free.
We've allowed our old ways, thoughts and feelings to direct and govern our new creature, instead of having our new creature (or new creation man) to govern our flesh. Our new man is supposed to govern and take dominion over the carnal way of life. This isn't to say that we aren't to enjoy the things of this earth, but we're to govern the flesh by the Word of God and the Spirit. We're supposed to allow God's Word and His Spirit to teach us how to live here on earth and have the spirit man control the flesh and blood body.
As Christians, we've not made the distinction between "the world" and the earth. The earth, with all its beauty, has been given over to Jesus and to His new creation family of God. The "world" is the fallen system that has dominated this planet, since the fall of Adam. 1John 2:15-16 (Amplified) says, "Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world-the lust of the flesh (craving for sensual gratification) and the lust of the eyes (greedy longing of the mind)and the pride of life (assurance of ones own resources of in the stability of earthly things)-these do not come from the Father but from the world (itself)."
Notice how in the above scripture, John didn't say that we couldn't enjoy what the Father created here for His family, but only the things that the devil has done to pervert the earth. This doesn't say that the "more miserable you live while on earth, the more holy you are." Luke 4:5 (Amplified) says, "Then the devil took Him (Jesus) up to a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the habitable world in a moment of time (in the twinkling of an eye)." Satan showed Jesus the world system that was in his control and not the earth with all its beauty, that God created. In Matthew 6:28-29,33-34 (Amplified), Jesus asked His follower, "And why should you be anxious about clothes? Consider the lilies of the field and learn thoroughly how they grow; they neither toil nor spin Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his magnificence (excellence, dignity,and grace) was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothed the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you of little faith?"
Jesus was telling them that the earth has beauty to be enjoyed, but they're not to allow the world's system (that has been running mankind through the demonic bondage), to run their lives. Jesus goes on in Verses 33-34 saying that we're not to allow the world system, to dictate and control us, saying, "Seek first the Kingdom of God, and (His way of doing and being right) His righteousness. And all these things will be given to [us] besides."
The Father isn't jealous of the things you have, but of the things that have you. Do you have the world as your source or is the Word your Source?
Through Jesus, the new creation man is now place in a position, where we can once again receive things from our Father through the spirit. Since all things begain in the Spirit and are sustained by the Spirit, it is any wonder that satan would like to hold us down and keep us in only the flesh? Jesus said in John 6:63 (Amplified) that, "The flesh benefits or has no profit in it." If satan can hold the Church in the fleshly, carnal realm, then we would have little to work with, because "It is the Spirit Who gives Life, He is the Life-Giver."
Jesus wasn't only speaking about the life we live in our fleshly bodies, He was referring to Life well beyond that of the natural man. God gave us His Own Life, into our spirit man, and created people who were just like Jesus. God intended us to be, what He created man to be in the beginning and to walk in this earth above the devil's control. This is the Life of God being lived through us in this earth. Jesus said, "It is not Me, but the Father in Me Who does the works." This is the reason and purpose and function, for the new creation. We're to bring God's Life to a dying world. The only way we can ever hope to see who we are (like in a mirror) now in this earth, is by reading God's Word and allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal it to us.
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