One key ingredient in knowing God and being close to Him is walking in righteousness. To walk in righteousness, we must place our trust in the finished work of His son Jesus to forgive and change us.
The Bible says in 2 Peter 1:13 that Almighty God through Christ Jesus has given us ALL that we need for life and godliness. This is why 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that “therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold ALL things have become new”. According to C.H. Spurgeon;
“If you have been truly born again you have a new and holy nature, and you are no longer moved towards sinful objects as you were before. The things that you once loved you now hate, and therefore you will not run after them. You can hardly understand it but so it is, that your thoughts and tastes are radically changed. You long for that very holiness which once it was irksome to hear of; and you loathe those vain pursuits which were once your delights…”
1John 2:6 admonishes that “He that abideth in him ought himself to walk, even as he walked”. The “walk” here refers to the Christian’s way of life. We must know and accept that as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too were raised up in Him and ought to walk in the newness of the life we have received through him (Romans 6:4). If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation! We have been empowered to walk in a new life by the help of the Holy Spirit.
To walk in the newness of life and no longer be a slave to sin, you must disconnect from Sin. This is something you must do willingly. For whosoever is born of God does not sin. Why? because the seed of God abides in him (1 John 3:9). You need to lay aside every weight and sin that easily beset you so that you can walk in the newness of life that you received because the Lord knows those who are his. If you name the name of the Lord, you must depart from iniquity (2 Timothy 2:19). For God is of a pure eye, He cannot behold iniquity (Habakkuk 1:13).
A Life of holiness enables the believer access his redemptive rights in Christ. To walk in the newness of life also entails walking in all that the blood of Jesus delivered to us at Calvary. Salvation is not limited to the soul and the spirit of man. It covers all areas of human endeavor. The Psalmist in Psalm 105:1-5 says;
“Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness
and tender mercies;
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s”
Your new birth in Christ calls you to a walk in glory, virtue and dominion. New birth is a translation and an initiation into a new realm of life. It is connecting to a divine source for a new order of walking in majesty and commanding influence on earth. When a man is born again, he is born into a new order of existence. He is not born of flesh but of spirit. He is therefore no longer a normal being but a spirit being. John 3:6 says; “ That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the spirit is spirit”.
What died in you when Adam fell was your spirit. When Jesus came He gave it back to you. Now you belong to a supernatural class of people who blow like the wind and operate outside of the ordinary. The effects of their operations are only seen but it cannot be fathomed how it was carried out. You have become a carrier and worker of signs and wonders and walking in the newness of life.
John 3:8 “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is everyone that is born of the spirit”.
By virtue of your new birth, you have been restored to your former place of authority and dominion. You have command over every situation in life. No devil can defeat you because you are now a new class of being. 1 Peter 2:9 says that you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar person, called by God to show forth the praises of him who had called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. You are called not to fear what the people of the world fear.
You are different. Psalm 1:1-3 tells us that “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper’. Hallelujah!!!
God has called you to mature from childhood to son-ship and the whole world is waiting for your manifestation (Romans 8:19), thereby walking in the newness of life obtained through Christ. Sons in Christ are those who through an understanding of their divine nature, can operate as gods on earth. Sons have the divine ability to exercise control over all issues of life, bringing freedom to many.
Walking in the newness of life in Christ also entail your growing up. In Galatians 4:1-2, we understand that a heir as long as he remains a child does not differ from a servant though born a Lord of all. He remains under tutors and governors until the time appointed by the father (when he grows up). In essence, as long as you refuse to grow, you will live as a servant, never able to enjoy a great portion of your inheritance in Christ. Your son-ship gives you access to walk in the realm of the supernatural. You grow into son-ship through knowledge and spiritual exercises like praying, fasting, study of the word and so on.
John1: 12 says that; “But as many as received him (Jesus), to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name”. Your new birth ushered you into the realm of Power. 1 Corinthians 1:12 tell us that Christ is the wisdom and power of God. If you have Christ, the power of God dwells in you. Ephisians 2:6 say Christ hath raised you up together and made you sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
To sit together with Christ means we have been enthroned with him to reign as King. His mighty power is at work in you to dethrone every Goliath that is harassing your health, your marriage, your business etc by the reason of your becoming a son. You have been called to walk in the newness of the life of Christ you have received. This month, we will be teaching on “How to Live and walk in the newness of life in Christ”. Come to Rivers of Joy and be equipped.