Being a new creation in Christ means that you have been renewed. The old sinful person you once were has gone as a result of your being completely renewed through Christ. In fact, the word renew can be defined as "changing into something new and different, something better." That really sums up what renewal in Christ means in that we were remade into something better. For some of us, it may have been quite a struggle to remove the old sinful self and totally renovate our lives. It may continue to be a struggle, but know this: if you stay steadfast in your relationship with God, He will continually work in your life to renew you and rid yourself of the stains of sin that may continually plague you.
Colossians 3:1-17 KJV
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
"Being a new creation in Christ means that you have been renewed. The old sinful person you once were has gone as a result of your being completely renewed through Christ. In fact, the word renew can be defined as "changing into something new and different, something better." "
This is in fact, false. God does not rehab the old us. He makes a new us when He causes us to be born again. The old man still exists, as Paul clearly states in Romans chapter 6. Of the old man he says to reckon, or consider it to be so, that the old man is crucified. verse 11.
Understand the difference between positional truth, that which is true in heaven, but yet to occur on earth, and understand that this positional truth only has application as we appropriate the truth in our daily walk. Please read Romans chapter 6-8, and understand Paul says "So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin." Positionally, the old man is crucified, but we can yield to the flesh, and obey it's desire. Remember, if Christians can't sin, the APOSTLE Paul has no business saying he serves the law of sin with the flesh. So we need to realize our position in Christ, that the new man cannot sin, as the Apostle John says, but the dual natures are at war, one with the other, until such time as we go to be with the Lord. It's a matter of submission.
Brother Godismyfather, I respect what you have to say. And I have read a lot of things that you have posted. I agree with some of it, but not all of it.
You are very well versed in God's word, which is a wonderful thing to be. But the way you go about talking about it gives me the impression that you have never truly experienced God's word.
We serve a living God, so His word also should come alive in every believers life. That is when we can truly appreciate everything God has for us. That is why I believe that it is not a religion, it's a relationship with our living savior Jesus Christ. When you look at the apostles, you can read in power of their words that they truly lived and experienced God's word, grace and mercy. So let me ask you, what has Jesus done in your life?
Has He saved you from depression and suicidal/self mutilating thoughts? Or restore your family who you have never heard from or seen in over 15 years? Or putting the right person in your path who blessed you with money for a need when you were broke? How about when you need a place for a roof over your head, and watch as he opened a door in less than 5 days that lets you live within walking distance from the Church He has you at?
My brother, if you don't have any testimonies that are like this, then you have never truly experienced what it means to live for Christ.
And for be it for me to say, but not every Christian is going to be on the same level you are. By the way you talk, it almost sounds like you have arrived. So may God bless you if you have reached that point, but for the rest of us, especially the young in the Lord, we have to keep moving forward. And it can be a struggle at times because the devil is also out there, and he seeks to steal, kill and destroy all Christians. Misery loves company, so he wants to take as many people to hell with him as he can. But thanks be to God that he gave us the victory in His son Jesus!! But first we have to grab a hold of Jesus and never let go.
For all of my brothers and sisters in Christ, I ask that you honestly seek God with fervent prayer, and don't only rely on what people say. We each have to work out our own salvation, and in what ever manner you get there is between you and God. The main thing is that we all make it to heaven, and that we have a pure love towards God as we go down this narrow path.
Would you feel more comfortable if I overdosed on drugs, or was sexually molested as a boy, or committed a bunch of felonies, or grew up so poor that I picked stale donuts out of a trash can behind the donut shop, or maybe had a father that spent a year in the state mental hospital? Just curious as to what it would take for God's word to be respected as a source of love and grace.
Think you that God's grace and love does not fully envelop every word of His testimony about His universe? Do you think His standards are not His love and grace trying to protect people from future harm?
Will you show love and grace to God in the choosing of His weak vessels that He chooses to communicate His truth and take His word as His, and not those of the messenger? Or will you judge the messenger and decide whether or not you will accept the message as from the Lord, based on the acceptability of the messenger? it is God's grace that allows you to question the messenger-servant. Would you prefer a donkey so you were sure it was from Him? God's commands are full of grace and love to keep us from harm. If Satan tempts us to think any other thing, we can respond, "It is written, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God and IS PROFITABLE... ."", and God intends it for my well being, and I will accept it as such.
"But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity[a] that is in Christ. 4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted�you may well put up with it!" 2 Corinthians 11
"I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at[a] His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."
God does not want false doctrine going unchecked. He expresses His concern that some might put up with it, and He instructs us that we must not. He commands us to be vigilant in opposing it. This needs to be understood as an act of love and grace towards His sheep for their protection, especially of those who have no reached maturity, that are subject to being easily swayed away from truth into believing lies that will harm them and those around them. On a dime, Jesus would turn and rebuke sin, and expose the error of their thinking. No doubt He seemed a man out of control and in sin to those many of those who witnessed the two cleansings of the temple. But He was in perfect control, fully submitted to the Father, and fully submitted to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
"For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man�s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For �who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?� But we have the mind of Christ." 1 Corinthians 2
And on some have compassion, making a distinction; 23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
You see but an extremely thin sliver, and think you know the heart of the speaker? Were you there yesterday, when a young man in a rage was calmed and said he felt better and like I knew what was in his heart as the Spirit gave me wisdom regarding my words to the young man? Assume nothing. Pray always. Pray people understand God's word comes from His hand down from heaven, not from the hand of man.
"�For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,� says the Lord. 9 �For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. 10 �For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,
11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55
I won't argue with the word of God. And I believe it is pointless in doing that since anyone can twist scripture to say what they want.(even the devil tried that against Jesus) And praise be unto God that he used you to help someone in need. That in of itself says that you have a good heart towards God.
But you miss understood the context of what has God done for you. Did I say it would have been better that you were a drug addict, or have to have been through sexual abuse as a child growing up or any of the other extremes you said?
No, one of the things I said was about God delivering me from a extreme. The others were about God restoring my family and meeting a need in my life. Even if you have never had a background like mine, are you saying that God has never met a need in your life? Or that he has never answered your prayers? I find that hard to believe, because of what Jesus has done for me I know He can do for any man. And God gives us testimonies so that we can show the world what He can do for them. Yes the apostles preached the word, but there were also many miracles and wonders that God did. I read a comment on Facebook awhile back where a person said that the things that happened in the early church will never happen again, because it is a different time. But God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. So of course it can still happen, but if we never had a time that God moved for us, then how will people believe that He is the one true God if we can't show them the testimonies in are life?
I know of a missionary who my Church supports. He travels mainly to Africa. He was raised in Church, he never was abused or got caught up in drugs, I guess you could say that God spared him from all that. But when you listen to everything that he has been through since God has called him to become a missionary, and all the testimonies that he has, you know that God has experienced everything that God promises in His word first hand. While not all of us are called to get into ministry, as Christians we should be able to say without a shadow of a doubt that Jesus has moved in are lives.
The man's name is Steven McKay of Vessel of Honor ministries. You can look up his website if you want to know more.
So I ask you again, what testimony do you have of God moving in your life? You must have something.
And scripture is not what I am looking for, because the context of what I am asking is not about that.
"Has He saved you from depression and suicidal/self mutilating thoughts? Or restore your family who you have never heard from or seen in over 15 years? Or putting the right person in your path who blessed you with money for a need when you were broke? How about when you need a place for a roof over your head, and watch as he opened a door in less than 5 days that lets you live within walking distance from the Church He has you at?
*****My brother, if you don't have any testimonies that are like this, then you have never truly experienced what it means to live for Christ.."*****
"Did I say it would have been better that you were a drug addict, or have to have been through sexual abuse as a child growing up or any of the other extremes you said?"
Take a week. Think about what you have said. Then compare it to what God has said.
I guess if you can't use scripture you have nothing to say. Which is fine, without God's word we would all be lost.
But, You could at least say that God has moved in your life, even if you are not comfortable sharing what he has done. In the old testament and the new testament, not only do you have the word of God, but he also gave many signs and wonders. Jesus preached the word, but he also healed many people and cast out many devils. All of that is in the word of God, you can't argue with that.
He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. That is also in God's word. Which you should know unless you only read what you want. So therefore Jesus still works miracles, answers prayers and meets our needs. If you have never had anything like that happen in your life then I am truly sorrowful, because you are missing so much.
While yes the things I said might be a contradiction, I don't really need a week to know what I meant. And you never answered my question in the first place.
But I guess that is just you, always picking what you want and never actually answering the question asked of you.
For sure my brother, if you truly love God like you lean on the scriptures then you will meet Jesus for sure. But if you don't pay attention to what God has done for you, then you are limiting yourself in Jesus. It makes me wonder how much of a mighty man of God you could be if you added your own personal experience with Jesus unto your knowledge of the Bible.
I have read 2 of your replies and I find that when you talk about Messiah that you do not talk about Him, you want to talk about what He does. What Messiah does is because of who He is, and what He is like.
You place more importance upon experience then the Word of GOD Almighty, this is very dangerous, as the health and wealth, charismatics, Pentecostals and a host of other groups also place more importance upon their experiences then upon the Word of GOD.
I would rather error upon the truth then upon any experiences I might have in this life.
Rand you seem to compare the Word of GOD with your experiences instead of it being the other way around.
Mathew 28 : 18-20
Acts 1: 1-8
Do you remember where Messiah talks about being a witness OF Him, He never said to be a witness of what He does; do you understand what that means to be a witness OF Messiah.
In order to be a witness OF Messiah you first need to know who He is, and to know what He is like, to know His character, attitude and His personality.
Most people calling themselves ' Christians' will never come to know Messiah, for they refuse to open His book, and read what the Holy Spirit says about Him, so sad, instead they trust the person calling themselves pastor to tell them what they should know, and they call that 'faith'.
In your own words you show forth your own ignorance of the Word of GOD in order to believe what a man has been telling you what he believes the Word of GOD says about Ministry.
Rand: I know of a missionary who my Church supports. He travels mainly to Africa. He was raised in Church, he never was abused or got caught up in drugs, I guess you could say that God spared him from all that. But when you listen to everything that he has been through since God has called him to become a missionary, and all the testimonies that he has, you know that God has experienced everything that God promises in His word first hand.
While not all of us are called to get into ministry, as Christians we should be able to say without a shadow of a doubt that Jesus has moved in are lives
Gnw: Rand you say that ' While NOT ALL of US are called to get into ministry.
Where did you hear this trash from, NOT ALL, Have you never read the Word of GOD or are you waiting for some experience before you read for yourself.
Ephesians 4
9 (Now this [expression], "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) 11 And He gave some [as] apostles, and some [as] prophets, and some [as] evangelists, and some [as] pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
In verse 12, the English word ' service' is the Greek word:
Strong's Concordance
diakonia: service, ministry
Original Word: διακονία, ας, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: diakonia
Phonetic Spelling: (dee-ak-on-ee'-ah)
Short Definition: waiting at table, service, ministration
Definition: waiting at table; in a wider sense: service, ministration.
HELPS Word-studies
Cognate: 1248 diakon�a � ministry; active service, done with a willing (voluntary) attitude. See 1249 (diakonos).
For the believer, 1248 /diakon�a ("ministry") specifically refers to Spirit-empowered service guided by faith (4102 /p�stis, "the Lord's inbirthed persuasion").
EVERYONE is called to serve, that is what the word MINISTER means, one who serves. Tell me if your so called pastor serves, is he teaching anyone how to read, translate, or interpret the Word of GOD, or is he only telling you what he believes the Word says.
In the Word of GOD, the New Covenant, there is no position called pastor, no job description, no such person that leads the people, there is to be a PLURALITY of ELDERS / older men that have the OVERSIGHT of the body, not a single man, Read the book of the Acts of the Holy Spirit, also Peter and John in their writings call themselves ELDERS, not a pastor.
Rand, I see that you are like most of the people, you are following what a man has been telling you instead of reading, studying, and translating the Word of GOD for yourself.
Do not be a blind sheep, being lead by a blind person, ask GOD Almighty for His wisdom and understanding of His Word.
Ask that the Holy Spirit will reveal to you in the Word who Messiah is, and to know what He is like.
Philippians 3 :7 - 11
7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ�the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ�yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Look up the word KNOW, and KNOWING in verses 8 & 10, then you will begin to understand the importance of studying the Word of GOD for yourself. Use a concordance to look up the definition of words.
By the way, all of the English translations have a lot of errors, that is why it is necessary to learn how to translate, even if you learn only the basics you will be better off.
But is it wrong to talk about his works? They are testimonies that help us know that Jesus is always with us. And i look at it as that if you don't like to share them with people, in a way you are acting ashamed of God.
God is so good, why would you not want to talk about any part of His promises??
And i have met people who God called to go and become a part of ministries that can save souls. But they were afraid and did not do it. Thank you for correcting me, yes we are all called to be ministers for God. But he does not force you to do it. YOU can just keep his word to yourself and do nothing with it. But that is just sad if that's the case.
gracenotworksaves.... you have made a very good point. i did get caught up in what i was saying. so thank you for correcting me. I guess i have been looking at God's works to much and not what he is.
John 12:44-50
44. Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
45. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
46. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
47. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
48. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
49. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
50. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
1 Corinthians 2: 9-13
9. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11. for what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Acts 7:55-56
55. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God,and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56. And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God,
James 1:22-27
22. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23. for if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24. For he beholding himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
26. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deeiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
27. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Psalm 77: 10-14
10 And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.
11. I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
12. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
13. Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?
14. Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.
Proverbs 2: 1-12
1. My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
2. So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
3. Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liiftest up thy voive for understanding;
4. If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for a hid treasures;
5. Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.
6. For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
7. He layeth up sound wisdom for the rightness: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
8. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
9. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
10. When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
12. To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;
I could go on forever. Thank God he gave us his word so we can be safe from false doctrines.
But that is why i did not want to use scripture, because someone can disagree and use other scripture to counter what you said. What then?
If both people use scripture, then one or both of them are twisting it for their own ends. That is why you see so much of false doctrines. But Jesus warned us of that.
I said it in my first response if you paid attention to it. My fellow brothers and sisters, i beg that you don't rely on any man for your spiritual walk. It is good to have teachers of the word to help you when lost. But only by seeking God's truth for yourself can you become everything that Jesus intended us to be.
