Rhapsody of Realities 19 April
Scripture: For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter (Romans 7:5-6).
Our opening scripture is part of Apostle Paul’s letter to the Church in Rome, where he admonished them to serve God in newness of spirit, and not according to the old ways of the flesh. Why is this important? It’s because the Christian is essentially a new creation; a brand new man, born with the life and nature of God. Therefore, to serve God in newness of spirit means to serve Him in your present state as one who’s been recreated in righteousness and true holiness, and not according to the Law or the senses.
This brings us to an understanding of what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; old things—the old life of the flesh and everything associated with it—are passed away, and all things have become new. Being born again, you’ve put on the “new man” who, according to Colossians 3:10, is renewed in knowledge in the image of God that created him. Think about that! No wonder the Bible says as He is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17).
Romans 6:6 says, “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” The old life was supplanted with the life of Christ. It wasn’t just a mere change that took place in you when you were born again; it was a translation, a replacement of the old with the new. It’s a brand new life. This new life transcends this world. It can’t be tainted by the corrupting influences of the earthly realm.
Read yesterday’s Rhapsody of Realities here
Romans 6:4 says, “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.” The expression “newness of life” means that the old life has been completely replaced by a new one that never existed before. This new life has its origin in God. Glory to His Name forever!
PRAYER: Thank you blessed Father for the life of Christ in me, for making me a partaker of the divine nature and causing your divinity to be expressed in and through me. I walk in the consciousness of my new life and nature in Christ today and always, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Ephesians 4:22-24 –
22 Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion;
23 And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude],
24 And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.
Colossians 3:9-10 –
9 Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old (unregenerate) self with its evil practices,
10 And have clothed yourselves with the new [spiritual self], which is [ever in the process of being] renewed and remolded into [fuller and more perfect knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it.
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 17:20-18:1-14 & 1 Samuel 8-10
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Romans 12:9-21 & Psalm 119:161-176
Thank you for studying today’s Rhapsody of Realities – Replacement of the Old with the New – written by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome.
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Rhapsody of Realities 19 April 2022
