Sunday, 9 April 2023
HE DIDN’T DIE FOR “CHRISTIANS”
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).
When we speak generically, we say, “Jesus died for the whole world.” Yes, that’s absolutely correct. But in some sense, He didn’t die for Christians. There’s a huge difference when we say "all of us ' meaning everyone in the world, and “all of us,” referring to Christians.
In the generic sense, Jesus died for all of us — the whole world; He was judged for us. But when you believed that He died for you and was raised back to life for your justification, it became possible for eternal life to be imparted to your spirit. Once that happened, you were born again; you became a Christian — a new creation.
The new creation is a brand-new man, a brand-new species of being; he has no past. You aren’t the same person that was born of your father and your mother; that’s the “old man” with the sin nature. That “old man” or “old you” died with Christ: “Knowing this, that our old man is cruciied with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin” (Romans 6:6).
The new you — the new creation — came from the resurrection: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). This “new you” is created in righteousness and holiness: “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:24). Hallelujah!
If it's true that the new creation has no past (and it's true), then he isn’t the one that Jesus died for. Understanding this will help you a great deal in your Christian walk. It’ll make it easier for you to understand why you're justified. The Bible says Jesus Christ was raised back to life for our justification (Romans 4:25). You've been justified in Him. In other words, in the mind of justice, you never sinned. You’re the righteousness of God in Christ.
PRAYER: I worship you Father, Lord God of heaven and earth, for blessing me with your Word. I declare that I'm a new creation in Christ Jesus and the lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places. I refuse to struggle for anything, for you've blessed me richly with all things to enjoy. I walk in favour, divine health and prosperity all the days of my life, in Jesus' Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 6:4; Romans 4:25; Ephesians 4:24 AMPC
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 12:1-21 & Judges 7-8
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 28:11-20 & Leviticus 9