Christian Living
As Christians our faith tells us that Christ died as payment for
our sins. We believe He actually rose from the grave as proof that
He was, indeed, sent by God. Yet, it is also our conviction that,
upon this resurrection event, not only were the sins of mankind
atoned for but, through Christ, a second Genesis began.
Paul explains, "The first man, Adam, became a living soul. The last
Adam became a life-giving spirit" (1 Cor 15:45). The word Adam
means "man" and is representative of "mankind." There are now two
Adams or two species of man. The first species of man is the
descendant of sinful Adam. His life orbits around his carnal or
"natural" desires. He carries both the DNA of Adam's nature and
the consequences of Adam's sin. This natural man is focused upon
fulfilling the needs of his soul. He is, indeed, a "living soul,"
but he is controlled by fears, physical needs, intellect
boundaries, cultural environment and sin.
The second species or race of man is Spirit-centered. His
thoughts, dreams and experiences originate primarily from the Holy
Spirit, who lives in union with him. The highest aspiration of the
Spirit-centered man is not on attaining natural successes, but upon
attaining conformity to Christ. While the first man lives to
experience what the world around him can give him, the last species
of man, the Christ-man, lives for what he can give to the world: He
is a "life-giving spirit." The first Adam engendered descendants
with problems; the spiritual descendants of the last Adam, Christ,
provide the world with answers.
New Creatures
While men divide over many things - culture, skin color, language
or social status - from God's view mankind is only truly divided
into two subsets: those controlled by their souls and those
controlled by the Holy Spirit. One race is dead in sin; the other
is alive in Christ. One species of man is destined to perish; the
other will live forever. Just as the first Adam passed sin,
weakness and death to his children, so the second Adam, Christ,
passes virtue, power and eternal life to the children of God.
"Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old
things passed away; behold, new things have come" (2 Cor 5:17).
For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a
new creation" (Gal 6:15).
We are not merely men of flesh temporarily acting spiritual, but we
are spiritual beings temporarily living as men of flesh. If you
have received Christ into your life, you are part of the second
Genesis. You possess a new nature which, like Christ's, shall live
forever.
Identity Crisis
Yet, too many of us suffer from an "identity crisis." We are
confused about who we really are. We attend church, but internally
we are still deeply identified with the traits and expectations of
the first Adam. Paul rebuked the church in Corinth, which suffered
with fleshy attitudes, saying "are you not walking like mere men?
(1 Cor 3:3).
Hear me well: If you have received Christ, you are no mere mortal.
The very same power that raised Christ from the dead, abides also
in you. While you may experience many of the same trials that the
descendants of the first Adam face, you are buoyed by God's Spirit
as He faithfully works all things for good in your life. On the
other side of your trials is not death, but resurrection!
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in
you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life
to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you" (Rom
8:11).
We may look human, but abiding within us is a treasure more
valuable the earth itself: resurrection power.
And God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death,
since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power" (Acts
2:24). Just as it was impossible for death to hold Christ in the
grave, so it is impossible for the substance of "death" still in us
- our sins and failures - to hold Him as well. Christ conquers
death as readily as light drives out darkness. Indeed, in all
things we are "more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Rom
8:37 NIV).
Seated With Christ
As I was engaged in a particular struggle, a friend asked me, "How
are you doing under the circumstances?" I answered, "I'm not under
the circumstances; I'm seated with Christ in heavenly places. My
Father is God. There is no weapon formed against me that can
prosper. I'm born again from above, a new creation; I am a
partaker of the Divine nature."
Everything I answered came directly from God's word and represents
the reality granted me by faith in God's promises. Faith unlocks
the power of God's promises. So, beloved friend, you are not under
circumstances or "the weather," or pressures or curses; you are
alive together with Christ (Col 2), and positioned in the shelter
of God's domain. Yes, we face conflict, which God uses to perfect
our character, but He also "always leads us in triumph in Christ,
and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in
every place" (2 Cor 2:14).
Beloved, if you are not using God's word to define and shape your
spiritual identity, you will, in fact, be under circumstances and
clouded by the oppression that abides on the first Adam. You may
still be a Christian, but you will suffer from your identity
crisis. This is why Paul said, "put on the new self, which in the
likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of
the truth" (Eph 4: 24). You must accept, believe, and then apply
the word of God until you are fully established as a new creation.
"Those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to
the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many
brethren" (Rom 8:29).
This quest to walk in your new nature is the crux of your primary
battles in life. This is not just a war between your virtue and
your vices. No, it is a war between your identity after the flesh
and your true identity as a new creature in Christ. "Faith," John
tells us, "is the victory that overcomes the world" (1 John 5:4).
You are a citizen of a new realm. As such, you must learn the
customs and understand the language. In the kingdom of God,
everyone believes what God says about them. When God speaks, His
words create realities. Our faith accepts the grace and truth of
God's word and, in so doing, our lives are transformed.
Yes, we will still fail, but Christ is greater than our failings.
True, we will still err, but in all things God works good. Indeed,
we pass through hard experiences that God uses to conform us to the
character of His Son (see Phil 3:10), yet He also brings us through
such things so we can possess the power of Christ's resurrection!
Consider Paul's analysis of his personal journey:
"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live,
but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh
I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered
Himself up for me" (Gal 2:20).
Again, he wrote:
"Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is
decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day" (2 Cor
4:16).
Let us ask ourselves, is our spiritual consciousness focused upon
what is inwardly "decaying" or are our hearts lifted to that which
is "being renewed day by day"? Are we living as mere men or as new
creatures fashioned after the likeness of Christ? Would you agree
that it is time to get over your identity crisis?
Lord, forgive me for dwelling in the basement of my old nature
rather than the penthouse of Your love and promises. You have
chosen me to reveal Your life, You've given me Your Holy Spirit and
spoken to me through Your word. I am Your child, born from above
and destined to inherit Your glory. I worship You, my Lord and
King.
yours in Him
Evang. Ezekiel
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