Walking In The Reality Of The New Creation

Partaking Of Our Legal Rights

We’ve talked about our legal rights as believers, and why we have certain legal rights through Christ.

I would like to talk about the new birth, the new creation, being born again.

People call it different things, but these are different ways of saying what happens when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. The life of God enters our spirit.

There is a lot more to it than some day we’re going to heaven, although that is certainly true, and eternity is at stake, but we live on this planet now, and have to deal with

the here and now.

Jn:3:3: Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is

born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.''

Jn:3:7: Do not marvel that I said to you, `You must be born again.

1Pt: 1:23: having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,

abide means to continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for),

X thine own.

God is life, When we accept Jesus we receive that Life.

Jn:5:26: For as the Father hath life in Himself, even so gave he to the Son also to have

life in Himself:

1Jn:1. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life

the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us

The Greek Word for life here is, Zoë According to Vines expository dictionary of New Testament words, Zoë means -- Life in the absolute sense, Life as God has it, that which the Father has in Himself, and which He gave to the incarnate Son to have in Himself.

Our spirit is created by God, and it is eternal.

Hebrews 12:9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?

We are spiritual beings that live in a body.

We are born into this world with the life of God in us, but because of sin we die spiritually. Sin is what causes spiritual death.

Definition --- spiritual death -- separation from God, and His life. It does not mean we cease to exist. It means the absence of the life of God. The absence of Zoë.

Ro.7:7. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

8. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
9. For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
10. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
11. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

-- Weymouth's New Testament

Ro.7:9. Once, apart from Law, I was alive, but when the Commandment came, sin sprang into life, and I died;

We know Paul did not physically die that day, yet his spirit died and was separated from God. Paul is saying that at some point in time we become aware of sin. Some people call this the age of accountability or the age of awareness. I believe this can vary with environment, influence, what you have been taught, and so on. Our spiritual man dies when we sin, and we become separated from God and God's Zoë. Our relationship is severed, and at that point we die spiritually and no longer have communion, or the sharing of Life, with the Father.

Accepting Jesus Christ as our savior causes the new birth.

Jn.5:24. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

When we accept Jesus Christ we are born a second time. It is important we come to

the realization we are brand new creatures, not the same old person.

-- Simple English

2 Co.5:17. So, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things have passed away. Listen, everything has become new.

We might say take heed, listen carefully, grasp the significance of this. Pay attention, this is important !!!

The old things: spiritual death or separation from God, the old man, the old desires,

the sin nature, which is the result of spiritual death, have passed away.

Not from our flesh, but from our spirit.

The new thing: the very life as God has it and all that that includes.

We have become joint heirs with Jesus Christ.

Ro.8:17. and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

Titus 3:7. that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Romans 8:2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

We have been redeemed from spiritual death. We have been ransomed.

The Greek Word for ransom is Lutroo meaning to ransom -- to release on receipt

of ransom.

Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin.

He.9:22. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Mt.26:28. For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

We can know we have passed from death into life.

We can know we have the life of God in us.

1 John 3:14. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.

I just want to point out Salvation wasn’t earned, it is received it by faith.

You made a decision based on the Word of God. The result of that decision and your following action is the new birth.

By grace you are saved through faith.

Having said that.

John was writing to children of God. He is saying that if you don’t walk in love toward

one another you are walking in spiritual death. How can a child of God walk in death?

This almost seems like a contradiction of terms on the surface but it is not.

Notice it didn’t say you are spiritually dead, but are walking in death. When you walk in envy, strife, jealousy, have rivalries, walk in pettiness toward others, I’m saying if you step out of love toward one another, if we do these things we step out of the light and walk in darkness, we step out of fellowship. We step out of the place where we are sharers of the life of God.

2 Corinthians 6:14. Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

Communion is the sharing of the life of God, between us and God, between God and man, and between fellow believers.

Light has no communion with darkness. None !

I just want to say, God is not the author of death or sickness,

the Word tells us that death is the last enemy that will be put underfoot.

Because God is total light, and there is no darkness in Him at all, He can not have communion with darkness, or life can have no communion with death. If we step off into darkness or death, or in other words step out of love, and we get into sin, we will break fellowship with God, not our relationship. There is a difference, and it is important that we understand what that difference is.

You can have an argument with somebody you love, it doesn’t mean you want to kick them out of your life, at least I hope not. No if you love somebody you go and make amends, and apologize, and set things straight. Right!

The fellowship is restored, yet the relationship was always there. Right.

How much more do you think our Heavenly Father loves us, much more!!!

1Jn.1:9. 9. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1Jn.1:7. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Fellowship --- Romanized koinonia

from GSN2844; partnership, i.e. (literally) participation, or (social) intercourse, or (pecuniary) benefaction:

This infers an intimate sharing of the life of God. Sharing of that life one with another.

The same kind of intimacy as when the Word says Adam knew his wife.

That is very weak in the King James English. One definition says social intercourse.

I’m only saying this bluntly to get the importance of this across, so you understand

the true significance of what is being said.

This life is only shared when we are walking in the love of God.

The Word says love covers a multitude of sins. But, it is much better to walk in love and stay in fellowship, and to keep that life, that Zoë flowing.

Remember, faith works by love.

-- American Standard

1Pe.4:8. above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves;

for love covereth a multitude of sins.

To cover up or hide.

Omission, Commission

There are different types of sin, sin of omission could be ignorance of the Word of God,

Or doing something in advertently that causes a brother or sister to stumble. Paul made the statement, if eating meat causes a brother to stumble then I will not eat meat. Well, maybe your version of eating meat is causing somebody to stumble and you are totally unaware

of it. If you were aware of it, you would stop it immediately, you would not intentially cause a brother to stumble, but you don’t know about it, the brother stumbles because of it. But because you are walking in love, and in the light of what you know, love covers a multitude of sins.

Then there is another type of sin, a sin of commission, this would be where you know better, but you do something anyway, or the Word says if you know to do right and don’t do it, it is sin. Or just plain outright disobedience.

I think the worst sin is not walking in love.

This where 1Jn.1:9. Comes in. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

We restore our fellowship with God and get that Zoë flowing again.

and, that’s where, Vs. 7

Vs. 7. But if we walk in the light, (as He is) in the light, (then and only then)

we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Then

All sin is cleansed, all means in the Greek, all.

When all sin is cleansed, the life flows from one to another, and heals one another,

and lifts one another up, and sets one another free!!

But it only happens when you are walking in the love of God.

When you walk in this way you won’t want to sin, or do any thing that will break fellowship, or step out of the light of God, or step out of that life sharing.

We’ve been taught since we were little that sin is bad, it is wrong, don’t do it. But God has a reason for you not to sin and it is for your benefit. You step out of the light of God when you sin. You step out of the blessings He has freely given. You step out of Zoë. When you have tasted that life, you will get to the point where you will do anything to stay in that place where the life of God flows through you.

Love is a manifestation of the life of God in us, it is something we have to walk in,

we have to choose to walk in the light. remember Vs. 7. But if we walk in the light.

It is a conscious decision.

Life is a choice, life is also a free gift, we can accept it or we can reject it!

-- Living Bible

Deut. 30:19. ``I call heaven and earth to witness against you that today I have set before you life or death, blessing or curse. Oh, that you would choose life; that you and your children might live!

20. Choose to love the Lord your God and to obey him and to cling to him, for he is your life and the length of your days. You will then be able to live safely in the land the Lord promised your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.''

Life is being a partaker of him, and we have to actively partake of that life!

-- Revised Standard

2 Peter 1:4. by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature.

Partakers -- one who takes or receives something. -- a sharer, an associate, companion, partner.

God has given us a free will, and our choice determines whether we have life or death.

We have the right to choose life or death, we have make a quality decision based on the Word of God in order to receive the blessing.

To partake of something is a willing act, God has freely given to us, and we must willfully make the choice to walk in it. When we make that choice, and act on God’s Word,

God will always honor His Word. He can not lie!!!!!!!!

-- Revised Standard

Galatians 6:15. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision,

but a new creation.

God’s creation. Works of the flesh in themselves become meaningless

without becoming a partaker of the new creation. In this creation we are not refurbished

Or reupholstered like an old sofa. We are brand new glory to God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ephesians 1:7. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Paul tells us our redemption has already taken place, it is an accomplished fact.

Colossians 1:13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14. In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

We received redemption as a free gift when we accepted Jesus as our savior and were born again. We didn’t earn it we received it by faith. It’s free.

This the thing that separates Christianity from every other religion, you have to try and earn your salvation in the other religions, Christianity is receiving a free gift, the life,

or Zoë of God.

The only qualification is to be in Christ, He’s already done all the work, we have to accept by faith that he was made unto us all these things.

We are the body of Christ.

Chuck Perkins example:

We as believers are in Him, He has consecrated us and set us free!

He is made our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption.

Ephesians 2:10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

We must daily spend time in the Word, and in meditation of it. Confession of His Word brings reality of it into our innermost being. We as believers know His Word is true,

But we don’t really know His Word is true. Confession brings the reality of that Word into our innermost being, we will never rise above our confession. Continual confession makes the Word of God come to life in our spirit. His Word is true, and our faith should never be based on our feelings or physical senses, but only on God’s Word. We know that God can not lie, His Word stands forever. So let us hold fast to our confession.

Hebrews 4:14. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. Or confession.

Jesus is the high priest of our confession, He is the high priest of our words.

-- Revised Standard

Jeremiah 1:12. Then the Lord said to me, "You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it."

2 Timothy 1:13. Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

It is so important that our words line up with God’s Word,

I’ll say it again, we will never rise above our confession.

Whether it’s be positive or negative, that’s the level where we will stay. amen

My Confession

I believe Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God. I am in Christ Jesus.

I am a new creation, with the life of God, the nature of God, and the ability

of God within me.

I am His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus.

I am the righteousness of God in Christ. My standing with God is secure.

My prayers avail much.

Christ Jesus my Lord, is my wisdom. He is my righteousness.

He is my sanctification. He is my redemption.

I have received abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness.

I reign as a king and dominate in this life through Christ Jesus.

He bore my infirmity, He took my disease, The chastisement of my peace

was laid upon Him, with His stripes I am healed!!!

Healing belongs to me because I am in Christ Jesus.

The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

I am more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus. I can not be conquered.

He is my strength, therefore I can not be defeated.

I can do all thing through Christ which strengthens me.

All my needs are supplied according to His riches and glory by Christ Jesus,

therefore I have no lack.

I was crucified with Christ. When He was quickened and made alive,

I was quickened and made alive with Him.

I was raised up together with Him and made to sit with Him in heavenly places.

I am now seated with Him in heavenly places.

I am dead to the lust of this world, I am alive only to God.

I am a believer and not a doubter, everything Jesus did and is, I am a partaker of.

Therefore, as He is, so am I in this world.

Glory to God!