New creature? 6-13
I pray all is well with you. I heard a TV pastor this morning and for the first time disagreed with his message. He quoted several scriptures to say that at salvation all evil within us is crucified with Christ. He interprets it to mean we are a totally new creation without sin, forever more. It may be true that we are cleansed, in the moment, by the blood of the lamb but I believe that what he described is a glorified body (knows no evil) that we only obtain through physical death. The pastor then contradicts himself by admitting he still has sinful thoughts but overcomes them by the renewing of his mind. My observation is that 99%+ of saved Christians, thereafter, struggle with the temptations from their flesh, which still retains the knowledge of evil. It seems to me the only one reborn is my spirit third of my being, which only knows good and who speaks only those things in God’s will to my mind. I must renew my mind and be strong-willed to listen to the spirit and just say no to the flesh’s advice. Then, like a child, my flesh will quit asking whenever he already knows what the answer will be. All fleshly sins cause temporary pleasures for our bodies but come with terrible long term consequences. In example, drunkenness feels good for a short time but the consequences of hangovers, wrecked cars, poor health, lost family or jobs, jail time or worse is imminent. We must remember to be strong-willed and just say no when we discern the thought is coming from our flesh. Only then will the flesh quit asking while we are in our earthly bodies. Heavenly Father, I pray this is Your truth and not mine.
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