For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. (Gal. 6:15-16)
For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God. (2 Cor. 5:14-18)
All of us as disciples of Christ have been informed in one way or another that we are new creations in Christ. This is indeed good news and we rejoice in it. Of course this is a wonderful fact but it will be of little benefit to us if we don’t walk as new creations in this world. The word “rule” in the Greek speaks of a measuring rod or a rod which is used to support a growing plant. In our case as new creations it is what we use as the measuring rod for our walk in this world.
The apostle Paul uses the words “we judge thus” in leading us to understand the foundation of the new creation. The judgment of course is that we, believer and unbeliever alike have all died in the death of Christ.
While we may, or may not have come to the realisation of this, it is nevertheless a fact before God and this is the most important thing. I need to impress this point upon all so I will say it again. Seeing things the way God sees them or judges them is the most important realisation we will ever have.
The highest judgment in the universe is the judgment of God so the way He sees things is the highest goal of all learning. If God says we have died then as far as He is concerned we have passed away. This of course applies to us as beings who are of flesh and blood. In other words God does not, and never will, evaluate us, recognise us or judge us accord- ing to our fleshly existence or fleshly stand- ards. Paul is saying that because this is the way God judges things then we also judge thus. In other words we completely accept or agree with the judgment of God and de- clare that from now on we will never again judge or evaluate ourselves or any other person on earth according to fleshly stand- ards. This is possibly the greatest revelation a believer can receive if he is able to hear it and accept it. We would do well to dwell and meditate upon this truth every day until it becomes part of us. The next part is very important so let us read it carefully.
The foundation of this judgment of God‘s is what has happened to Jesus when He died and rose again so let us look at the relevant scripture again.
Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. (2 Cor. 5:16)
Jesus is no longer a flesh and blood man. He has passed through the veil and entered heaven itself on our behalf. He is still a man but the scripture says that He was put to death in the flesh and made alive in the Spirit. The next few verses help us greatly to see that His flesh and blood humanity was the veil which He passed through to become a life giving spirit.
And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life giving spirit. (1 Cor.15:45)
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit. (1 Pet 3:18)
Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh. (Heb.10:19-20)
The reason that God no longer recognises us after the flesh is because Christ Jesus is no longer recognised after the flesh. We have been united with Him in death, resurrection and ascension and truly we also are in the Spirit and not in the flesh. Therefore, Paul says, if anyone is in Christ He is a new creation. Halleujah. If we recognise Jesus after the flesh then we will recognise ourselves the same way or vice versa. This is where we accept our oneness with Him and realise that whatever our heavenly Father has accomplished with Jesus as the Son of Man, He has also accomplished with us. This is what Jesus meant when He said the following words.
In My Father’s house are many mansions (dwelling places); if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:2-3)
We are also informed by Paul that the only thing that counts before God is the new creation. Everything else is of no avail or profit. It is just as Jesus said: the flesh profits nothing, whether it be circumcised flesh or uncircumcised flesh. Let us look at what this means as our rule, standard or discipline of living as new creatures according to Paul. The following is by no means a comprehensive list as space limits this.
1: As born again new creatures in Christ we are not recognised as natural flesh and blood humans by God anymore. We have been saved out of that realm through our death with Christ and so we no longer operate in this form before God. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God and as the father of our spirits He is leading us, teach- ing us and disciplining us through the spirit of His word. We refuse to evaluate ourselves or anyone else after the flesh ever again.
2: We walk in the reality of knowing that all old things have passed away. In other words the way we have known all things previously has now been changed and that knowledge has passed away. Having been awakened to our true identity in Christ by being set apart from our mother’s womb having been fore- known by God. We call no man on earth our father since we have no earthly parents anymore. God is our father and Jerusalem above is our mother. We are sons of God with an inheritance and because we are sons we have been given the Spirit of sonship by which we cry “abba father”, Glory. (Gal.4:6)
3: Behold, as new creatures all things have become new. In other words, we must behold all things as new and not as they appear with our natural eyesight as old. We walk by faith and not by sight and see with the eyes of the heart. This is how we behold all things as new. We discipline ourselves through the Spirit not to look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary (only to the natural eye), but the things which are not seen are eternal. As new men we are being renewed constantly through a faith which is the actual substance of all things, Hallelujah.
4: Now all things are of God. Beforehand we recognised or judged situations, circumstances and trials as having the appearance of good or evil. Now as new creatures joined to Christ in one spirit in the Spirit of God we no longer recognise or know good and evil. We have learned to discern both good and evil as imposters of appearance and so we receive everything as good from our heavenly Father, knowing that He works all to the good thereby nullifying all that appears as evil. We are now His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which He has before ordained that we should walk in them. (Eph.2:10) None can snatch us out of His hand. Glory to God.
This is indeed the dwelling place which Christ went to prepare for us in the spirit. There is no doubt about it. We have been crucified with Christ and no longer live as old creatures in the flesh. Nevertheless we live, but is not we who live, it is Christ who is living in us and as us. (Gal.2:20)
He is the very endless life of our being, living in us to will and to do for His good pleasure. (Phil.2:13)
As our life He motivates us and causes us to walk in His ways and bring glory to Him. We never initiate anything since we have died. Indeed, it is true to say that all things are of God. AMEN.
In His Love, Noel Tuite
www.ekklesiadrogheda.com 