Old Versus New
Dearly beloved, we are no longer of this world; we are citizens of the heavenly realm and we should live and conduct ourselves as citizens that are worthy of the gospel of Christ.
The citizens of this world are consumed with different issues than we are. They do not have the hope that we have, the sonship rights that we enjoy, the privileged access to the One Living and True God that is ours in Christ, the salvation that is ours in Christ, nor the ability to deal with situations according to the power of God as we do.
The citizens of the world are preoccupied with worldly issues and strive to solve them with their natural abilities. The so-called god of this world blows them to and fro with his lies.
We all lived there in times past. We walked according to course of this world, influenced by the prince of the power of the air. In times past, our lives were motivated by the lusts of the flesh and of the mind, and we were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, made us alive together with Christ, (by grace we were saved;) and He raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly realm in Christ Jesus! Now we are born of God’s spirit, the spirit of sonship, and we have a new citizenship, that of the heavenly realm where Christ sits.
Since we are risen with Christ, we ought to seek those things which are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on the things of this evil world. As natural men, death was our sure end, but as people born of God’s spirit eternal life is our end.
Our manner of life should reflect this new reality. In Christ, we are justified, made the righteousness of God in him, sanctified in him as God’s children, were redeemed by Christ’s accomplishments, we have the wisdom of God in Christ, we have access to God as our Father, we are enabled by His spirit and He teaches us how to manifest it for profit, and, it will take our Father the ages to come to fully demonstrate the exceeding riches of His grace, with the attitude of kindness, to us who are in Christ!
We should live with thankfulness for the great grace He showed us in Christ Jesus our Lord!
Beloved, by believing in Christ, we have access to the One True and Living God, we stand encircled by His Divine favor, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God! One would think that these new realities might have a bearing on how we live.
Now we can walk worthily; we can walk by doing those things that please our Father, being fruitful in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God, empowered with all power according to His glorious strength in all patience and long-suffering; with joy giving thanks to the Father, who made us competent for a part in the share of the saints in the light.
Dearly beloved, He delivered us from the authority of darkness, and He transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins! Rejoice, dear ones, rejoice!
Instead of being fashioned by worldly causes, walk worthily of the Father’s good pleasure; be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so you may prove these new realities in your life in accordance with God’s good, well-pleasing, and perfect will.
You are in Christ now; as he is! Live like it.
Worship your Father as He seeks to be worshiped; truly in the spirit. Pray always with every prayer in the spirit.
Think in the same manner that the Christ thought. Strive to do the good pleasure of the Father’s will.
Live love as Christ loved and gave himself for us. Instead of judging one another, serve one another in love.
Be a cheerful giver, working to have to give to those in need.
Since we live in the spirit, let us also walk in the completeness of that reality. Exercise your spiritual rights in Christ as citizens of heaven and walk in that reality, dearly beloved.
Live by this standard: "Father, what would you have me do today?" Live to do His will, dear ones.