A NEW CREATION IN CHRIST

Dr. Joseph Hazan

”You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet

cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ. He forgave all our sins.”

( Col. 2.13)

Since our rebirth as God’s children by the Holy Spirit living in us, our desire is to fulfill his will.

The life we now live is really his life. This is real life. Eternal life is knowing the Father and Jesus Christ who was sent for us to save us.

Human nature pulls us in the direction of self-will. The Holy Spirit directs us to do the Father’s will.

The real, eternal life is much higher than the temporary one:

“ Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God’s right hand in the place of honor and power. Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth. For you died when Christ died, and your real life is now hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is you’re your real life is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.” ( Col. 3.1).

WHAT TO AVOID

This passage of the letter to the Colossians lists things to avoid in our new life:

“ So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires. Don’t be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry. God’s terrible anger will come on those who do such things. You used to do them when your life was still a part of this world.”

We continue in Colossians 3.8:

“ But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage malicious behavior, slander and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old evil nature and all its wicked deeds.”

WHAT TO DO

As we conform to Jesus living in us, he renews us. We are now his holy people, so our lives reflect his holiness:

Again, from Col. 3.12-17:

“ Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tender hearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

You must make allowance for each others’faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love.

LOVE IS WHAT BINDS US ALL TOGETHER IN PERFECT HARMONY.

And let the peace that comes from God rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.”

So, we see the components of our new life, the eternal, spiritual, holy life we inherit, are all attributes of God, imparted to us by the Holy Spirit:

LOVE, MERCY, KINDNESS, HUMILITY, GENTLENESS, PATIENCE, FORGIVENESS, PEACE, THANKFULNESS.

We turn to Rom.8.5-8, where we find further instructions:

“ Those who are dominated by the sinful nature, think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.

If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.

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.”

But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. ( And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them are not Christians at all.) Since Christ lives in you, even though your body will die because of sin, your spirit is alive because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as he raised Jesus Christ from the dead, he will give life to your mortal body by this same Spirit living in you.”

LIVING IN GOD’S PRESENCE FOREVER

Those who are led by the Holy Spirit are born again children of the Living God.

So, as we will live forever in his Holy Kingdom with him, we will continue to praise him.

We find this promise in Rom.8.23:

“And even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit in us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering. We too eagerly wait for the day when God will give us our full rights as his children, including the new bodies he has promised us.”

In I. John 3.2-3 we find the description of our glorious future as God’s beloved children:

“ Yes, dear friends, we are already God’s children, and we can’t even imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we do know that when he appears we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who believe this will keep themselves pure, just as Christ is pure.”

The grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you and yours always!

Please come and join us for Sunday AM services. The directions are at this website.

God bless you abundantly with his marvelous love.