Author	Thread: A New Creature (Some Puritan thinking!)
Admin	A New Creature (Some Puritan thinking!) Posted : 21 May, 2010 08:40 AM A new creature (Horatius Bonar, "Christ and the New Creation") "If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17 What condemnation do these words pronounce upon the shallow, meager religion so common among us--making us feel that hardly any description of its professors could be more exaggerated or unreal, than that of being "new creatures." Take yon member of the church. He wears the garb and bears the name of Christ. He is a fair average specimen of a large class. He has the profession of being a Christian; yet . . . he is fond of the world; he grasps at its gold; he loves its fashionable gaiety; he reads its novels; he frequents its haunts of amusement; he enjoys its company; he relishes its foolish talking and jesting. Is he "a new creature" in Christ Jesus? Is it possible that, with . . . so much worldliness, so much selfishness, so much self-indulgence, so much pleasing of the flesh, he can have been "born again," whatever his profession may be? "A new creature!" Then . . . old feelings, old habits, old tastes, old hopes, old joys, old sorrows, old haunts, old companionships --all are gone! Old things have passed away, all things have become new! Formerly, I sought the things of this world. So now, by the necessity of my new nature, I seek the things above. Sin has become hateful, holiness supremely attractive. My vision has been purged, so that now I see everything as with a new eye; the evil, with an eye which loathes it; the holy, with an eye which loves it. I approach everything with . . . new feelings, new tastes, new sympathies, new antipathies. I behold everything in a new light, and from a new point of view. Myself, this world, the world to come, God, Christ, and the everlasting joys--all these are to me now, what they have never been before! My whole inner man has changed respecting them. There has been a new creation! What, then, have I to do with sin, with the flesh, with the vanities of so vain a life, as the men of this world are leading? Oh, the unimaginable blessedness of those on whom this new creation has taken place! Oh, the unutterable, the endless misery of those on whom no change has passed--in whom old things still remain Post Reply
View Profile History	A New Creature (Some Puritan thinking!) Posted : 21 May, 2010 09:12 AM For those that have entered the family of God by faith, they come to desire the sincere milk of the word of God that they may grow thereby. They must learn that in this new birth and creation, it is the spirit of man that is born anew, completely new, not renewed or restored. This new man will learn that he is a three part being: Spirit, Soul and Body. The soul of man being his mind, will and emotions, is unchanged in the new birth, and the new man, the inward man is to renew his mind to the word of God that ultimately his mind and will and emotions will not govern the inward man. for it is with the heart of man or the spirit of man that is in fellowship with the lord. Ro 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Jas 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. We also know the soul of man is refereed to in the word of God as the carnal nature and that is at enmity with God The inward man must learn to keep the flesh under, the desires of the new man in Christ. The inward man is to also keep his body under. Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Romans 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God It is time we teach the Body of Christ theses simple truths, that we might go to the world and bring in the harvest!! Post Reply