- araratchurch
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Our first two lessons on the new creation helped us to understand that the new creation is not a renovation, but a total transformation, a metamorphosis. As well, we have discussed the fact that the new creation—at this point in time—is an inward work in that we still live in a fallen world, and have a body that is not yet glorified.
For today, we look at the truth that the fallen state, the permanent stain of sin, is not something that only applies to some people. You see, in order to fully appreciate what God had done for us through Jesus Christ, we must come to terms with the reality of the depths of the sin nature from which Christ has set us free. Only then, can we fully understand how we can live as new creations in this present world.
Make no mistake, outside of the work of Jesus Christ, we were by nature, enemies of God.
“This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.”
Colossians 1:21 NLT
“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.”
Ephesians 2:1-3 NLT
As Paul also points out, the unchanged mind is incapable of being obedient to God.
“For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.”
Romans 8:7-8 NLT
Indeed, the Psalmist comments on the pitiful state of sinful mankind:
“The Lord looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God. But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one!”
Psalms 14:2-3 NLT
This sentiment is echoed by the Apostle Paul:
“Well then, should we conclude that we Jews are better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin. As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.”” Romans 3:9-12 NLT
Paul did not think it too harsh to say that we were once slaves to sin:
“When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom.”
Romans 6:20-21 NLT
So, considering the depth of our once sinful state; considering the hopelessness of standing before God in that sinful state; we can understand that only by becoming a newly created being, could we ever have had a relationship with God.
Next time, we will consider what God’s remedy through Jesus Christ means to where we stand in this present world.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Last time, we began our discussion on the new creation by noting the fact that the change afforded us through Jesus Christ, is truly a transformation from one state of being into another state of being. The new creation through Jesus Christ, is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, making it possible for us to be joined with Christ Jesus. The emphasis on change is no longer one of merely outward appearance, but an inner transformation.
Today, we look at the fact that, although the Spirit of God now dwells in us, and we have gone from one state of being to another (in terms of our spirit: from darkness into light), we still live in a fallen world; and we interact in the fallen world, in a fallen vehicle.
Now, we are not so much referring to the weakness of our physical body—although that is an aspect we still must deal with until we receive our glorified bodies—but the weakness of the flesh mind: the way of being and doing that was formed and informed by the world system. So, we struggle. Indeed, this struggle is a product of the fact that there is tension between the new creation and the flesh (unchanged) mind that tries to re-assert itself.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus was praying, He urged the disciples to pray. He knew what they would soon face; and He knew they weren’t going to be able to endure it without help from the Father, help found only through prayer.
“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Matthew 26:41 NKJV
The Apostle Paul addressed the fact that although we have the Holy Spirit living in us, and we are a new creation, we still long for that time when we have become fully His, and are given our glorified bodies.
“And even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering. We, too, wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as his children, including the new bodies he has promised us.Now that we are saved, we eagerly look forward to this freedom. For if you already have something, you don't need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don't have yet, we must wait patiently and confidently. And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.” Romans 8:23-27 NLT
Notice, the Holy Spirit even guides our prayers so that we are praying for what we truly need.
Paul also encouraged the church at Corinth, that it doesn’t all end here, but we have a glorious future state awaiting us.
“For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down — when we die and leave these bodies — we will have a home in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long for the day when we will put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will not be spirits without bodies, but we will put on new heavenly bodies. Our dying bodies make us groan and sigh, but it's not that we want to die and have no bodies at all. We want to slip into our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by everlasting life. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit. So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. That is why we live by believing and not by seeing.”
2 Corinthians 5:1-7 NLT
Next time we’ll look into our current status as a new creation in this present world.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Over the last several days, we have been discussing how we can live the resurrected life of Jesus. Several years ago, the Lord gave me a lesson on, “The New Creation.” Today we will begin looking at that lesson, taking some of the main points, along with the scripture references regarding each point. It is being this new creation that allows us to live the resurrected life of Jesus.
We begin our consideration of the new creation with the fact that when we are made a new creation through Christ Jesus, this is not just an outward change, in terms of our way of being and doing; although, those things will certainly follow. It is not just a change in how we perceive things; although that certainly follows as well. The new creation is just that: We have become a newly created being through the work of Jesus Christ. And, as a result, the Holy Spirit brings us back into unison with the Divine Order. In the new creation, sensitivity to the Holy Spirit is restored and the Holy Spirit is now in contact with our inner, eternal person. Unlike a refurbishing, this is a ground up new creation:
“What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun! All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back to himself through what Christ did. And God has given us the task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others. We are Christ's ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you. We urge you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, "Be reconciled to God!" For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 NLT
In fact, God had promised long ago that He would provide a New Covenant wherein His laws would be able to be written on the human heart!
“But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their minds
so they will understand them,
and I will write them on their hearts so they will obey them.
I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
Hebrews 8:10 NLT
The outward sign of circumcision, required in the Old Covenant, was replaced with the inner sign of a new creation in the New Covenant:
“As for me, God forbid that I should boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world died long ago, and the world's interest in me is also long dead. It doesn't make any difference now whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we really have been changed into new and different people. May God's mercy and peace be upon all those who live by this principle. They are the new people of God.”
Galatians 6:14-16 NLT
Indeed, as Jesus told Nicodemus, we can only see the Kingdom of God by becoming a new creation:
“Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.””
John 3:3-8 NLT
Next time, we will go further in our consideration of the new creation.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!