THE NEW CREATURE.

2Corinthians 5:17 So that if anyone is in Christ, that one is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

When you got born again (forsaking your sins and confessing that Jesus died and rose again for our sins-Romans10:9), you received a measure of Eternal Life, which was what transformed you to becoming a new creature in Christ. But becoming a new Creature in Christ isn’t just about God wiping away your past life of sin and iniquities, becoming a potential citizen of heaven, or having the title “born-again”. No, it’s also about having your mind renewed to the mind of Christ, handing you free-will to God and allowing Him to perfect His Will for your life, changing your life goals, making God your top priority, becoming like Christ…That’s what it’s about.

Many of us who “profess” to be Christians are still “old creatures” with a thin outer layer of the “new creature”. What I mean is, we’ve gotten born-again, but we find it difficult to do away with the old creature’s characteristics. We find it difficult to overcome temptations, our weaknesses; living like we were never saved, though God shines His light on us, all we do is act like a black hole, sucking it all up, reflecting none to the world or even the person standing right next to us. And when people try to correct some of us, we give the excuse “it’s my life, not yours; only God can judge me” or “I’m only human”; grieving the Holy Spirit. We feed our flesh “old creature”, leaving our Spirit “the new creature” starved and malnourished.

The only difference between some so-called Christians and unbelievers is just that the Christians are born-again, and maybe go to church from time to time. Apart from that, there’s no difference; the way they talk, act or think, either in public or in private, “no difference!!”. The only times some remember their bible are on Sundays when going to church. And some of us go to church not because we really want to, but because,… I don’t even know sef. The only times we pray are when we are faced with tough situations. We only ask Jesus to take the wheel when realize we’re on a one way road heading for disaster. We only call on Jesus when “all other alternatives” have proved futile, putting HIM in “plan Z” instead of “plan A”.

Some of us us try to fight the old creature’s habits, on our own or through therapy sessions. You can’t fight it that way, it MIGHT die down for a while, but sooner or later, it will come back.

Romans 9:16 So then it is not of the one willing, nor of the one running, but of God, the One showing mercy.

 

The bible says our weapons of warfare are not carnal, but spiritual… Those weaknesses you have are of the sin nature which is of the devil who operates in the spiritual realm. This means you can only overcome them by the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, God’s Grace, by the renewing of your mind by studying and doing God’s Word. (2 Corinthians 12:9, Colossians 3:10)

The new creature has the following characteristics:

-He has his mind renewed and enlightened, his heart softened, his spirit broken and his will aligned to the Will of God.

-He walks in love, repaying evil with good, doing good everywhere he goes.

-Not only does he walk under God’s light, but he is a light to the world. (Ephesians 5:8)

-He gets up early in the morning, seeking God’s face, watching and praying to God; not the self-centered need-oriented,ego-driven kind of prayer, but the Spirit-lead, selfless kind.

-He studies his bible and meditates on it daily, seeking God’s wisdom, and spreading the Gospel, not just with words, but more importantly through his actions.

-He knows how to worship God in Spirit in Truth, not just with songs and in tongues, but with his lifestyle.

-He walks by faith, not by sight, and discerns before acting in faith.

-When he judges, he does so with a righteous heart and out of love; with an intention of correcting, not condemning,

-If he gets knocked down, he tries to get back up, and if he can’t, he prays until God lifts him up.

-He doesn’t give up on people until God says so (if He says so), knowing fully well that God never gave up on (or forsook) him.

-The new creature is one who walks towards becoming perfect and Glorious like Christ is, in this life. (Ephesians 4:13) 

-“more of YOU, and less of me” is his desire, and he keeps bearing fruits of the Spirit and his labor with/for Christ.

These are some of the characteristics of the new creature. See Psalm15 too.

Yeah, they might look impossible to attain, but if that was the case they wouldn’t be in the bible. Besides, “with GOD, All things are possible” That’s why He’s given us His ever- sufficient Grace to see us through, His Joy, strength to overcome our weaknesses; His Spirit to comfort us and lead us through the crooked path, and Jesus to mediate for us, amongst other things.

But you’ll never become ”the new creature” if you keep holding on to the old creature and its sinful ways.

Ephesians 4:22-24 “For you ought to put off the old man (according to your way of living before) who is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, (23) and be renewed in the spirit of your mind. (24) And you should put on the new man, who according to God was created in righteousness and true holiness.”

1 John 3:2-3 “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be. But we know that when He shall be revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. (3) And everyone who has this hope on him purifies himself, even as that One is pure.”

Grace be with y’all. Amen.