THE NEW CREATION SAYS "...I KNOW I'VE BEEN CHANGED?
"…Do you want to get well...?" (John 5:6 MSG).
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I believe EVERY child of God can be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ, by the renewing of their mind/heart with revelation knowledge (the LIVING Word). “…be transformed by the renewing of your mind...[through the revelation knowledge of God’s truth, which is Jesus, the LIGHT of the world]...” (Romans 12:1 KJV).
Jesus said: “… I am (jesus, the word of god, who is) the light... (the revelation knowledge of God) ...of the world..." (John 9:5, 8:12 KJV). “... [the word, Jesus]... is a light to reveal God to the nations...” (Luke 2:32 NLT).
“... [Jesus is]....A Light of revelation...” (LUKE 2:32 NASB). “…In this world we are LIKE JESUS…” (1 John 4:17 NIV). In this world, God’s people are also, “… the light of the world (WITNESSES of HIS revelation knowledge)..." (Matthew 5:14 KJV).
God’s people are“…the Light which … [is empowered to]...[enlighten] every man (woman)…” (John 1:19 NASB). “…. [They]... now have this light shining in [their] hearts ...This makes it clear that [their] great power is from God, not from [them]selves…” (2 Corinthians 4:5-7 NLT).
“...Therefore if any man(woman) be in Christ, he(she) is a NEW CREATURE: old things are passed away; behold, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME (MADE) NEW…” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV).
Being MADE into a NEW CREATION means that God has MIRACULOUSLY prepared and equipped you BY THE POWER OF HIS WORD, with EVERYTHING you’ll ever NEED to be transformed into the IMAGE of Jesus Christ, HIS LIVING Word. “...old things are passed away; behold, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME (MADE) NEW…” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV). “…That great Shepherd of the sheep (God, the Holy Spirit), equip you with everything good for doing his will…” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV).
“…The Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV). “ …[you]…have this treasure (the WORD, the indwelling Holy Spirit, the LIGHT, etc.) in [your]…earthen vessel (within the heart)...” (2 Corinthians 4:6-7 KJV). “… His (Jesus’) name is called The Word of God…” (Revelation 19:12-13 NASB). “… God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son (HIS WORD) into our hearts...” (Galatians 4:6 NASB). “…THE WORDS ... they ARE SPIRIT…” (John 6:63 KJV).
“…GOD IS SPIRIT…” (John 4:24 KJV). “…It is God (the Holy Spirit) who worketh IN YOU (your heart), both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 KJV). “…Christ (the Word, the indwelling Spirit, the LIGHT) liveth in [you] …” (Galatians 2:20 KJV).
The indwelling Holy Spirit, the Word, the LIGHT, the GOOD seed EMPOWERS God’s people to “…be conformed (by becoming reconciled, restored, made whole, a new creation, or one Spirit with God through Christ again) to the image of his Son…” (ROMANS 8:29 KJV). “…Be transformed (by coming into agreement, by faith, with the New Creation you’ve become in Christ) by the renewing of your mind….” (Romans 12:2 KJV). “… [God’s people]... can do all things through Christ (conform and transform) which strengtheneth [them to do it]…” (Philippians 4:13 KJV).
There is NO DOUBT God’s people are NEW CREATIONS equipped with EVERYTHING they need to become transformed into the IMAGE of Jesus Christ.
Well, what is the problem? The problem is that transformation is a CHOICE of the human will. “…choose LIFE…” (Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV). “…Choose you (MAKE A WILLFUL CHOICE) this day whom ye will serve….” (Joshua 24:15 KJV).
“… I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV). “...Jesus (the LIVING Word of God, the indwelling Spirit, the revelation knowledge of God, the Holy Spirit) saith…I am ...the life…” (John 14:6 KJV). “…Choose you this day whom ye will serve (obey, follow, etc.)….” (Joshua 24:15 KJV). “…The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who CHOOSE that way. …” (Matthew 7:13-14 NLT).
The human will CAN create problems with transforming into the IMAGE of Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, when “…there was no king in Israel (RULE or LAW within their hearts): every man (woman) did that which was right in his (her) own eyes...” (Judges 21:25 KJV).
God’s people often, willfully, followed their OWN stubborn choices. “…But my people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT). “...But the people replied, “Don’t waste your breath. We will continue to live as we want to, stubbornly following our own evil desires…” (JEREMIAH 18:12 NLT).
So the question for God’s people is NOT can you transform into the IMAGE of Christ, but “Do you want to be transformed?” “…Choose you this day whom ye will serve (obey, follow, etc.)….” (Joshua 24:15 KJV).
If you are a NEW CREATION aren’t you already TRANSFORMED? Yes and No. “…be conformed …” (ROMANS 8:29 KJV). “…If any man (woman) be in Christ, he (she) is a NEW creature …” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV). “…Be transformed ….” (Romans 12:2 KJV). “…by the renewing of[YOUR] mind….” (Romans 12:2 KJV).
God’s Holy Spirit conforms you by reconciling and restoring your soul with his SPIRIT. His POWERFUL WORD progressively transforms you by renewing your mind with the Holy Scriptures, which is SPIRIT too.
Thus, God sends forth the spiritual seed (Jesus, his Word), and it is SOWN into your heart. However, in order to transform, the SEED needs to be watered so it can GROW. “… God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son (HIS WORD) into [y]our hearts...” (Galatians 4:6 NASB). “…The sower (God) SOWETH THE WORD …The (spiritual) seed (Jesus) is the WORD OF GOD ….. THE WORD …was sown in [THE] HEARTS [of God’s people]... (symbolic of the ground or earth)…” (Mark 4:14-15 & Luke 8:11 KJV).
One of the GREATEST seeds ever sown into the EARTH was Jesus, the WORD OF God. Even GREATER is that seed was sown into the earth of the human heart. Jesus had another name. “… His name is called The Word of God (the spiritual seed)…” (Revelation 19:12-13 NASB). “ …[God’s people] have this treasure (this spiritual seed) “in” earthen (human) vessels…” (2 Corinthians 4:6-7 KJV).
Jesus is the “spiritual SEED” and when the earth (also the human heart) receives and accepts the SEED it changes them into NEW CREATION. This spiritual SEED WILL always produce a fruitful crop when properly WATERED with LIVING WATER. “…The seed that fell on good soil ... [will]... produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted... ” (Matthew 13: 18-23 NLT). “…The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…” (Galatians 5:22 NLT).
The spiritual SEED can ONLY be WATERED by spiritual WATER, so it can GROW and produce spiritual fruit that empowers transformation. “…God is Spirit ...[and his WORD is Spirit] …” (John 4:24, 6:63 KJV).
God, the Holy Spirit is referred to, in the bible, as a “...spring of living water...” (Jeremiah 2:13 KJV).
The bible also says, “....I (God, the Holy Spirit) will pour my Spirit upon THY SEED...” (Isaiah 44:3 KJV). “…The seed is the WORD OF GOD …” (Mark 4:14-15 & Luke 8:11 KJV). “…The Holy Spirit produces ...(spiritual) fruit in [the lives of HIS people when the SEED is watered]….” (Galatians 5 NLT).
“…God ...the … HOLY SPIRIT ... is the SOURCE of ...[LIVING WATER]…it is …God who does the work IN and THROUGH all of ...[HIS people]... The HOLY SPIRIT DISPLAYS God’s [working] power (to produce spiritual fruit) THROUGH each of [his people, when they water the “seed”] … (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “…the Father … he doeth the works...[of cultivating and producing spiritual fruit]…” (John 14:10 KJV).
As a NEW CREATION you must ask yourself: “...Do you want to be transformed?...” This may seem like a ridiculous question, until you or someone else starts LOOKING for spiritual fruit and can’t find any.“...Therefore if any man(woman) be in Christ, he(she) is a NEW CREATURE: old things are passed away; behold, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME (MADE) NEW…” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV). You are CONFORMED by reconciliation and restoration to God’s Spirit.
You are TRANSFORMED by renewing your mind through his POWERFUL WORD, which is also Spirit. “… God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son (HIS WORD) into our hearts...” (Galatians 4:6 NASB). “…The sower (God) SOWETH THE WORD …The seed (Jesus) is the WORD OF GOD ….. THE WORD …was sown in THEIR HEARTS (the ground; earth)…” (Mark 4:14-15 & Luke 8:11 KJV).“…Be transformed ….” (Romans 12:2 KJV). “…by the renewing of..[YOUR] mind….” (Romans 12:2 KJV).
Being a NEW CREATION means God has restored your soul to his Spirit and has SOWN the “spiritual SEED” into YOUR heart.
However, God’s people FREELY “choose” to water the spiritual seed (the SON) with spiritual water, (the Father) in order for it will GROW and PRODUCE spiritual fruit (the Holy Spirit) that empowers transformation. “...the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: ... THESE THREE ARE ONE...” (1 JOHN 5:7 KJV).
God KNOWS he has SOWN a GOOD SEED and he is CONFIDENT, if watered, it will NO DOUBT produce.
CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING BIBLE STORY: “…When the ground (which is symbolic for the human heart where the SPIRITUAL SEED is planted) soaks up the falling rain (which is symbolic for the LIVING WATER) and bears a good crop (the fruit of the Spirit, which displays God’s powerful WORKING SPIRIT) for the farmer, it has God’s blessing. …” (Hebrews 6:4-8 NLT).
HOWEVER, “.... if a field (symbolic for the human heart) bear (produces) thorns and thistles [or a bad crop, instead], it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it…” (Hebrews 6:4-8 NLT).
The rain represents God, the Holy Spirit who is also called a “...spring of living water...” (Jeremiah 2:13 KJV). The bible says, “....I (God, the Holy Spirit) will pour my Spirit upon THY SEED...” (Isaiah 44:3 KJV).
God, the spring of LIVING of WATER, seen through the rain, falls upon the ground (or the human heart), where GOOD SEED (Jesus, the WORD) has been planted. “…The sower (God) SOWETH THE WORD … …” (Mark 4:14-15 & Luke 8:11 KJV). “……The seed (Jesus) is the WORD OF GOD …” (Mark 4:14-15 & Luke 8:11 KJV). “…God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son (the GOOD seed) “INTO” ...[their].. HEARTS…” (Galatians 4:6 NASB). “…THE WORD …was sown in THEIR HEARTS (the ground; earth)…” (Mark 4:14-15 & Luke 8:11 KJV).
In addition, Jesus had another name. “… His name is called The Word of God (the “good” seed)…” (Revelation 19:12-13 NASB). “ …[God’s people]... have this treasure (this GOOD seed) “in” earthen vessels…” (2 Corinthians 4:6-7 KJV).
When properly WATERED by the LIVING WATER, Jesus, the good seed, will always produce a good crop (spiritual fruit). “...the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in [HIS people’s]... lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…” (Galatians 5 NLT). “…The seed that fell on good soil ... [will]... produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted... ” (Matthew 13: 18-23 NLT).
“…When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God’s blessing. But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it…” (Hebrews 6:4-8 NLT).
The same rain fell upon the ground, which produced thorn and thistles. God is HOLY and righteous, but he is STILL an equal opportunity God. “... I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike...” (Matthew 5:44-45 NLT). “...[God, the Holy Spirit]... sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust... (Matthew 5:45 KJV).
It is God’s prerogative to demonstrate HIS MERCY to ANYONE he chooses, even the UNJUST or the EVIL. God has the sovereign right to do what he wants. “…If the Lord will...” (James 4:16 KJV). “... God said to Moses, “I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.” So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it...” (Romans 9:14-16 NLT).
Fortunate for the undeserving, “...HE DELIGHTETH IN MERCY…” (Micah 7:18 KJV). “..come boldly unto the throne of GRACE ...[and] ... obtain mercy…” (Hebrews 4:16 KJV).
God is“... RICH IN MERCY…” (Ephesians 2:1-5 KJV). (Isaiah 63:9 NASB). “…Mercy triumphs over judgement.” (James 2:13 NASB). “...[Thankfully]... it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it...” (Romans 9:14-16 NLT).
The ground represents the human heart. The human heart can RECEIVE the rain, or reject it, or hardened to the point of becoming impenetrable. It is THAT kind of heart that will produce thorns and thistles. “…Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled…” (Hebrews 3:15 NLT).
A hardened heart is SO compacted by sin and darkness it leaves NO ROOM for anything else to come in. “... "Today," saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS..." (Hebrews 4:7 NASB).
A person willfully and voluntarily CHOOSES to stubbornly keep the living water OUT, which will eventually dry up the heart until it hardens. “... the people replied, “…We will continue to live as WE WANT TO, stubbornly following our own evil desires…” (JEREMIAH 18:12 NLT).
“…My people would not listen to me (they would not RECEIVE the living water). They KEPT DOING WHATEVER THEY WANTED, following the stubborn desires of their [OWN] evil hearts…” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT). “...But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless…” (Hebrews 6:4-8 NLT).
When the RAIN falls, the hardened heart will not receive God, the LIVING water’s gracious love, refreshing, and care for them, through the rain.
Thus, they cannot and will not produce GOOD crops (spiritual fruit), but will, instead, become USELESS. “….Apart from [God, the LIVING water’s love, refreshment, and care]… [the just or the unjust will not and cannot]...do nothing (or produce spiritual fruit)…” (John 15:5 NIV). “…if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it…” (Hebrews 6:4-8 NLT).
God GRACE is CLEARLY upon those who choose to receive and soak up his love, refreshment, and care.
Yet, those who have hardened their hearts, have cut themselves off from God’s Grace, through their own choices, and will no longer be USEFUL for God’s purposes. “…it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it…” (Hebrews 6:4-8 NLT). "… You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men…” (Matthew 5:13 NASB).
“...If a man (woman) abide not in me, he (she) is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned....” (John 15:1-10 KJV).
A good crop (spiritual fruit) is the result of the ground or human heart that chooses to RECEIVE, ACCEPT, have FAITH, trust in or depend upon God, the LIVING water, to DO the TRANSFORMING work “IN” them (their hearts) and “THROUGH” them (their actions). “...There are many ways in which God works in [the lives of his people], but it is ....God (the LIVING water and powerful WORKING Spirit) who does the work in and through all of ...his...[people]… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “……the [HOLY] SPIRIT DISPLAYS God’s power (to cultivate and produce spiritual fruit) THROUGH each of [his people] … … (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “…It is God which worketh IN [his people] both to will and to do of his good pleasure…” (Philippians 2:13 KJV). “…That great Shepherd of the sheep, equip [his people] with everything good for doing his will, and may he work “IN [them]” what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ…” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV). “…the Father … doeth the works (of cultivating and producing spiritual fruit in and through HIS people)…” (John 14:10 KJV).
“…When the ground soaks up the falling rain (it is trusting and depending upon the rain to cultivate it and enable it to produce) and [enable it to bear]...a good crop (become “spiritually” USEFUL) for the farmer, it (is the ground that soaks up the rain that) has God’s blessing (serves his purpose)…” (Hebrews 6:4-8 NLT).
“God [the LIVING water and powerful WORKING Spirit] … worketh in [his people]…” (Philippians 2:13 KJV). “…the Father [the LIVING spiritual water] ...that dwelleth in… [the hearts of his people through the spiritual seed], he doeth the works (of cultivating (transforming) the NEW CREATION and producing spiritual fruit)…” (John 14:10 KJV). The apostle said:
“… I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law (without soaking up the LIVING water) could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ (the spiritual seed that gives or restores spiritual life and produces spiritual fruit) to die…” (Galatians 5:4 NLT).
“…God [the LIVING water] ...does the work IN AND THROUGH all of [THOSE] who are [truly] his [people]… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “…The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance…” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). "....The [spiritual seed watered by the spiritual LIVING water]...produces this kind of [spiritual]...fruit in [the].. lives.. [of God’s people] …” (Galatians 5 NLT) “…The Holy Spirit gives birth to SPIRITUAL LIFE (first through reconciliation and second, by planting Jesus, the spiritual seed into his people’s hearts and third, by his people choosing to water the seed with the spiritual LIVING water)…” (John 3:6 NLT).
“… His name (Jesus) is...called The Word of God (the “spiritual” seed)…” (Revelation 19:12-13 NASB). “…THE WORDS (the SEED) .... they ARE SPIRIT…” (John 6:63 KJV). Thus, “…The Lord (the Word, the spiritual seed) is that Spirit (too)…” (2 Corinthians 3:17 KJV). “…Jesus Christ (the Word, the spiritual seed) is IN YOU (each of God’s people)…” (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV).
“… God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son (HIS WORD) into [the] hearts [of his people]...” (Galatians 4:6 NASB). “…The sower (God) SOWETH THE WORD …The [spiritual]...seed (Jesus) is the WORD OF GOD ….. THE WORD …was sown in THEIR HEARTS (symbolic for ground or earth)…” (Mark 4:14-15 & Luke 8:11 KJV). “…Jesus Christ (the WORD, the spiritual seed) is IN YOU (within God’s people)…” (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV).
“… [God’s people] CAN DO all things (display God’s spiritual fruit, and do righteous works) THROUGH Christ which strengtheneth [them]…” (Philippians 4:13 KJV). “….Apart from [the spiritual seed and being watered by the spiritual, LIVING water]… [God’s people cannot]... do nothing [they cannot produce spiritual fruit]…” (John 15:5 NIV).
“…GOD IS SPIRIT…” (John 4:24 KJV). “… …The seed is the WORD OF GOD (and is also SPIRIT) …” (Mark 4:14-15 & Luke 8:11 KJV). “…THE WORDS (of God (the SEED)) .... they ARE SPIRIT…” (John 6:63 KJV). “....I (God, the Holy Spirit) will pour my Spirit upon THY SEED...” (Isaiah 44:3 KJV).
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