“FROM NOW ON!”

2 Corinthians 5:14-17                                                      (ESV)

“14 For the LOVE of CHRIST controls us, because we have concluded this: that ONE has died for all, therefore all have died;

15 and HE died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

16 “FROM NOW ON”, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

Although I am on the back side of 50 years old, I still consider myself a Spiritual Novice, someone who is so far behind in KNOWING CHRIST and ALL HE accomplished for mankind that I am sometimes ashamed when I see something as REVEALING as I saw this morning from a dear friend.  Below are the WORDS:::

The problem? clueless pastors and crossless people.  Over half of those purporting to be pastors were never called by God (James 3:1); and over half who are called, are "milk on the mustache" leaders (Hebrews 5:12-14; 6:1-3).  The people are primarily "Crossless", not knowing that, Jesus not only died for our condition (sinful), but also our disposition as Jews, Gentiles, slaves, slave owners, all cultures, and all religions (Galatians 3:26-28; Colossians 3:10,11).  Christ changed our position from, being in the flesh, to being new creations in Him.  Bottom line: in Christ, all fleshly distinctions are erroneous; and for believers to describe one another after the flesh, is a violation of the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, and makes us vulnerable to the law of sin and death (2 Corinthians 5:14-17; Romans 8:2).  There are no Blacks nor Whites in Christ!

For most of my life I could not SEE what CHRIST had done for me with HIS perfect life, sacrificial death, and VICTORIOUS RESURRECTION from the grave!  When you FULLY UNDERSTAND that JESUS CHRIST obliterated racial, socio-economic, and gender boundaries, you are able to SEE how much HE accomplished.  Colossians 1:15-20 says “HE is the IMAGE of the invisible GOD, the firstborn of ALL creation.  For by HIM all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-ALL THINGS things were created through HIM and for HIM.  And HE is before all things, and in HIM ALL THINGS hold together.  And HE is the head of the body, the church. HE is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.  For in HIM ALL the fullness of GOD was pleased to dwell, and through HIM to reconcile to HIMSELF ALL THINGS, whether on earth or in heaven, MAKING PEACE by the blood of HIS cross!”

ALL THINGS were made by HIM and through HIM, including the ALL the people on the earth!  We will ALL give HIM Glory, either like the Children of Israel, or like Pharaoh at the bottom of the Red Sea!  When we finally SEE that HE is WHAT/WHO HE says HE is, and we are who HE says we are (nothing more), only THEN will we be content with our lives.  We cannot achieve PEACE and CONTENTMENT outside of CHRIST.  

The ANSWER for ALL the problems of “this world” is for HIS CREATION to honor and glorify HIM!  Unfortunately, Scripture says that in the last days humans will become more and more convinced that HE is the problem, not the solution!  Exodus 14:14 says “The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent."  I’ve never been real adept at being silent, but I am learning to allow GOD to be GOD and to NOT get in HIS WAY!  “FROM NOW ON” I will live try to live my life serving the GOD WHO MADE ALL THINGS!!!