Romans 6:3-4 “Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
People tend to like new things. The newest trends, fads fashions and interests are lively and socially motivated as progression leans towards quickly becoming bored of things and leaving the old and worn out behind for the next thing coming down the turnpike. Innovators, trendsetters and influencers have to constantly be discovering and communicating something new for the never-ending public fleshly desire of the soul (mind, will and emotions) for the newest fast-paced craze in life on earth. As the famous philosopher Mick Jagger once stated: “I can’t get no satisfaction”. And people do not want this trendy lifestyle to change. The adage you her is: “never grow up and never grow old.” Do you see it happening? But, there is another old saying: “The only thing guaranteed not to change in life is that things are going to change.”
Whether we believe it or not, reality is that (1) we are all created by God, (2) sin came into this perfect world created by God, killing our inner spirit because our Creator is of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness (Habakkuk 1:13) and corrupting our soul with self-centered, ungodly desires, and (3) the consequence is that we all are going to physically age, wear out and someday die, for the wages of sin against our just and Holy Creator s death - Romans 6:23a. But that is only the first death because there is life beyond the grave for eternity. The question is where will you choose to spend it – separated from all that is good in Hell or in glorious Heaven with the Lord? But, what was wrong with the old flesh, that it needs replaced? Well, because no choice is to remain in the sinful fallen flesh, which is judged already and the default is Hell.
We are all dead and condemned in our transgressions and sins against God and His righteous and holy Word (Ephesians 2:1), but Romans 3:20-24 says that “no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law [you cannot earn your way to sinless Heaven]; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin [seeing that we deserve to go to Hell]. But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” You see, there is a plan of salvation and a newness effort for us underway to seek, redeem and save those lost on the highway to Hell.
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That is why in John 3:3-7 Jesus answered the Pharisee Nicodemus and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’” The Greek words for the term “born again” are “gennaō” (meaning conceived, created and delivered of God making men and women his sons and daughters by the power of the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ's work) and “anōthen” (meaning anew from heaven).
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” God’s Gospel plan is that since sin kills us, He sent His Son Jesus the Christ to die and pay our penalty for all who believe that He exists, repent of their sin, trust in Him, accept the redemption in His atoning blood and receive His free gift of salvation, adoption and citizenship unto the kingdom of Heaven. If you haven’t already, make the choice to be made new and have newness of life in Christ. If you already have, then live it out daily in love, joy and peace. Revelation 21:4-5 says that in heaven God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”
New in Christ, Brian
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