Reference: II Corinthians13:5 and II Corinthians5:16-17
Before you begin reading this article, Iwant you to know that there are three positions that you can be in. These threepositions that I will deal with are the positions you can be in as Almighty Godsees you. Our text found in II Corinthians5:17 tells us that if any man be inChrist, then that individual is a new creature where old things have passedaway and all things have become new.
Now this "in Christ"position is the place that all true born again believers are in and thisposition is a spiritual condition. If you are not in this "in Christ"position then you are either in the flesh and being prone to the desires of theflesh or else you are thinking that you are in Christ when actually you arenot. To think you are in Christ when actually you are not, then you are in adeceived state.
The outright sinner who doesn't confess tobe a child of God is of course in the flesh and automatically obeys and followsthe desires of the flesh. The person who is deceived thinking they are inChrist when actually are not, these are the hardest to convince of whatposition they are in. To be in the flesh of course means to be prone to thefleshly desires not being able to overcome it's strong pull into sinful living.It is very easy to know just exactly where a person is if we are willing tocome to the light of God's holy word and let it reveal to us our true positionand condition.
Sad to say, but there are thousands ofpeople who are not willing to allow the word of God to be true and line up withwhat it has to say. Now the very word of God plainly tells us that if any manbe in Christ then old things are passed away and all things have become new.Now if you do as the apostle Paul says as stated in our text of II Corinthians 13:5 andexamine yourself to see if you are in the flesh, then you can as plain as thenose on your face find out just exactly where you stand in the sight ofAlmighty God as his word reveals.
Now if you will listen to the averageconfessing preacher and Bible teacher today, you will hear them say that nobodycan live without committing sin in their lives. Now if this be true, why thendid Paul say that if any man be in Christ then old things have passed away andall things have become new? Would it not be a fact that if you are yet prone tothe power of sin in some aspects of your life then the old things have notpassed away and all things have not become new?
Is it not also a fact that if the oldthings have not passed away then it's positively a proven fact that we have notbeen made a new creature in Christ? Now the very word of Almighty God tells usin I John 3:9 that whosoever is born of God then that individual does notand cannot commit sin. Now since God's word very plainly states this verything, why then are thousands of preachers in the world today saying thatnobody can live without sin in their life? Now since the apostle Paul tells usthat we are to examine ourselves to know that Christ is in us, then we mustexamine ourselves in accord with what the scriptures has to say.
Are you aware of the fact my friend justexactly what it means to say that you are a new creature in Christ? If you area new creature in Christ then this means that Jesus Christ is the very one wholives your life for you. Now if the Lord Jesus is your life, why then does hemanifest the works of the flesh in your mortal body? I am quite sure that youare not aware of what a true born again child of God is. I say this simplybecause of the fact that you have been led to believe that sin will yet beevident in the christian's life.
In case you didn't know that Christ willbe the one living the life of the true born again child of God, let me give yousome scriptures that bear out this very fact. In Colossians 3:1-4we find these words written that says: "Ifye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christsitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, and noton things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ inGod. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear withhim in glory."
Now please notice that these scripturesvery plainly reveals to us that Christ is the life of the true born againchildren of God and that their life is hid with Christ in God. Now the lifethat is hid with Christ in God are the old things that have passed away as sostated in our text of II Corinthians5:17. Paul tells us that if any manbe in Christ then the old things are passed away and all things are become new.
Now these old things are the sinful way oflife that we did while we were in the flesh and prone to sin's power. If youare yet prone to the power of sin in your life, then it's an evident fact thatthe old things have not passed away. If the old things have not passed awaythen the reason can only be for the fact that you are not a new creature inChrist. If you believe that you have been born again, but yet find yourselfprone to sin's power, then friend, you are being deceived from the truth of thegospel. Jesus plainly tells us that only the truth will make us free. If youare not truly free from the power of sin then you are not a child of God.
Many scriptures points out the fact thatthe child of God has power over all the power of the enemy, which is none otherthan Satan, the devil. The apostle Paul tells us in Romans 6:14 that sin shallnot have dominion over the true child of God. Now why can't you see the factthat if sin has power over you in some instances of your life that this easilyproves that you do not possess the power of the Holy Ghost in your heart andlife?
We are told in Acts 1:8 that we shallreceive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon us. This power is the verypower that we will have over all the power of the enemy. The power of the HolyGhost is exactly what keeps us from the destroying power of sin. If you saythat you are a born again christian and yet admit that you commit sin, then youare what the word of God describes as being one that denies the power of Godand having a form of godliness.
False preachers and teachers are rampantin the world today teaching false doctrines that are causing millions to speaklies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron. There aremillions of people today confessing to be born again children of God and yetpublically admit they commit sin. The word of God tells us in I John 3:8 that whosoevercommits sin is of the devil, but I will guarantee that ninety some percent oftoday's preachers will tell you that nobody can live without sin in their life.Who is true my friend, man or the word of God????