Why would God speak about a New Creation if the Old One were still good? When our old house is deteriorated we may not destroy it, we may renovate it. But what if our old house is beyond repair? What do we do? We tear it down, destroy it and build a new one. So does God. God is giving us a clear message that He has no intention of repairing His Old Creation in any way, but He will destroy it and replace it with a New One!
Let us now consider this subject very diligently as it will give us the final reason and proof of the Plan of God. It will give us the final Light of God on all things living and dead. It is God Almighty, Who decided to destroy His Old Creation, it is not man. Man has only two choices: (a) accept this fact and guide his life and destiny accordingly, or (b) reject this fact, neglect or disbelieve it and be likewise destroyed with the Old Creation.
I desire in my heart and pray that the Lord would grant us the reality of His final Light in a clear picture, which we may see, understand and be guided by.
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I am constrained at this very point by HIS SPIRIT to bring the following vitally important truth and fact before every believer and reader of this book.
Our Lord Jesus CHRIST was born Holy and Righteous and of the Will of God – just as our New Man was born. (Eph. 4:24// Jn. 1:12,13) Nature, the Old Creation of God, had contributed NOTHING to Christ or to our New Man. It has no part in Christ and thus has no part in our New Man. Nature, the Old Creation only contributed to Jesus His mortal body, so that He could become a Man of flesh and blood and thus be able to “carry the sins of mankind in His flesh and pour His blood unto death” and thus save men. Also, He could thus destroy the works of the devil (1Jn. 3:8) because the devil works in our flesh and causes men to sin in their flesh. Without His fleshly body, the Lord could not have saved us and destroyed the works of the devil. But even that mortal body of Jesus was discarded and replaced with a glorious body at His Resurrection. It is very important for us all to understand at this point – THE SEPARATION OF THESE TWO CREATIONS OF GOD.
OUR “NEW MEN” FORM THE BODY OF CHRIST (the true Church) AND CHRIST BECAME THE HEAD OF ALL THESE NEW MEN – THIS NEW CREATION – THIS NEW MANKIND.
Whenever CHRIST brings His Word, Sword, Judgment to our attention – it is the time for our decision! It is not the time to wait, discuss, speculate, procrastinate, take it lightly. Our very life and destiny depend on our timely decisions. I believe the Lord always gives us enough time to pause, ponder, ask, seek and then decide… and to repent, if it is shown to us by the Lord as necessary. But the Lord never gives an unlimited time for lazy and proud souls resisting repentance or necessary decisions. (Rev. 2:21)
There is the right time for every purpose under Heaven. (Ecc. 3:1) This is the time when CHRIST IS SPEAKING TO US through His Word, which is His Sword, His Judgment and I am just a small voice called by Him to present His Word to you for your sincere consideration. (Ps. 119:137-141) The Lord is not a fireman whom we only call when there is fire in our house, neither is He an ambulance driver whom we only call when we fear for our life. He is not sitting beside us waiting “until our majesty decides” to turn to Him with a request to satisfy us! Either He is Our Lord and we wait on Him to obey and satisfy Him or we are our own lords and obey only ourselves.
THE LORD IS NEAR NOW, HE CAN BE FOUND NOW. (IS. 55:6) NOW IS THE TIME FOR US TO ANSWER HIM, TO RECEIVE HIS WORD, HIS TRUTH, HIS CALL AND TO SATISFY HIM. THIS OPPORTUNITY MAY NEVER COME BACK TO US AGAIN. HE IS WAITING FOR OUR MEDITATION AND DECISION NOW.
TODAY WE ARE DECIDING OUR FUTURE, WHICH PLACE WE WILL BE BROUGHT TO AND ALSO THE WAY HOW WE SHALL GET THERE. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TURN TO HIM NOW IN TRUTH, IN TRUST AND WITH YOUR OPEN HEART. (1Jn. 5:14,15)
THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (Rev. 19:16) WILL BE WAITING FOR US BUT A SHORT TIME ONLY!
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We are living at a time when the House of God is in ruins and God desires to restore it to the most splendid and glorious Temple IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. This Heavenly Temple will never decay again or become ruined but will be for ever. The Lord says that He will shake the earth and Heaven again (Heb. 12:26) and He will do it also through His servants that will cooperate with Him in this shaking and Judgment.
The last great men the Lord used to restore His House and the wall of Jerusalem were Ezra, Nehemiah and some others. If we re-read these two books of the Bible, we should get the picture of what the LORD is doing now in the spiritual world and in HIS SPIRITUAL HOUSE. He is searching for Ezras and Nehemiahs who would cooperate with Him in this last restorative spiritual work of the Lord.
As a small Remnant moved from Babylon to Jerusalem to do this great work, so also a small Remnant of today moves from the spiritual Babylon, which is the Church at large to Heavenly Jerusalem, to the spirits of just men made perfect. (Heb. 12:22,23) And as they had first established the altar (Ezra 3:3), so the Cross must first be established in the true Church (the Remnant). Then they built the wall and we must also build a spiritual wall whereby we will be separated from anything that defiles and refuses to be crucified and obey the Almighty God. Finally, they rebuilt the House of God. We are called to do likewise and to cooperate with the Master-Builder. The first step is to judge-assess, then to judge-condemn all that must be removed, destroyed, overturned, shaken. (Jer. 51:6-9)
We shall make an important observation at this point concerning the Remnant, the Firstfruit, the Manchild (Rev. 12:5), the undefiled dove – the Shulamite Maiden (S.Sol. 6:9,13), the current Bride of Christ. (Note that the Bridegroom writes His New Name on His Bride only – Rev. 3:10-12) After the work of Nehemiah was finished, lots were cast and one tenth of the people (“tithe of people”) that returned from Babylon, freely moved to live in Jerusalem, while the 90% lived elsewhere. (Neh. 11:1,2) This was the “Remnant of the Remnant” of Israel. In these days, a spiritual “Remnant of the Remnant” is also chosen by the Lord, elected by the “lots” of His foreknowledge (Rom. 8:29,30; 9:27; 11:5) and they “move” to become His Holy City willing to pay the price.
Wherever the Cross is not (re)established, that house with all its inhabitants will fall (Mt. 7:26,27), will be ruled out and destroyed with the Old Creation, which cannot satisfy God. All Nature, all Old Creation including our bodies continually grow old and decay. And that, which grows old and decays must vanish away. That includes the Old Covenant, which was replaced by the New Covenant. (Heb. 8:7,13) So it shall be with the Old House–Babylon in order that the New House–New Jerusalem may be established. All this great work will be done and accomplished by the Great Power of God and by His Great Grace toward us who believe and are willing to be subdued to Him and to His Work.
Let us re-read the “TRUE MEANING OF THE CROSS”, point 2. (page 108) and consider this important fact again. Let us also enlarge this fact because the Cross of Our Lord does not apply only to us believers. It applies to all pagans and to all the Old Creation! Its effects are so far reaching that we may have never considered and understood them during our entire Christian life.
Let us, therefore, repeat the basic facts, believe them, also understand them and keep them in our mind and heart.
ALL THE OLD CREATION ENDS AT THE CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST! ALL THE OLD CREATION IS BEING JUDGED THERE! NOTHING FROM IT GOES BEYOND THE CROSS! BEYOND THE CROSS, THERE BEGINS A BRAND NEW CREATION, HOLY AND IMMACULATE, WHICH WILL LAST FOR EVER AND EVER!
The above reality touches both physical and spiritual Creation. Physically, there shall be a New Earth and a New Heaven and the old Earth and Heaven, which are polluted, will be destroyed or will pass away. (2Pet. 3:6,7,10, 13// Rev. 21:1) There will be a New Jerusalem and the Old Jerusalem will also be destroyed. (Rev. 21:2) Every spiritual “old man” and every physical man of flesh and blood shall be destroyed and none shall enter into the New Creation.
“Except a man be born-again (NEWLY born of the Spirit and not of mortal flesh), he cannot see the Kingdom of God (or the New Creation).” (Jn. 3:3)
Only the New Man shall enter into the Kingdom of God. The New Man is the man who was born-again, baptized and passed through his cross, which God prepared for him! THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO DESTROY THE OLD MAN, OLD CREATION AND GAIN THE NEW MAN, NEW CREATION! And he that passed through his cross is the Overcomer from the Book of Revelation, chapters 2 and 3. It is he “whose life is Christ” (Col. 3:4) and that not in theory but in his own living experience. He has Christ’s Character and Virtues, His Authority, Beauty and also His Glory. (Jn. 17:22)
“HE THAT OVERCOMES (dies on his cross – denies himself) shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” (Rev. 21:7)
“But the FEARFUL, AND UNBELIEVING (pagans AND “fearful and unbelieving believers”)… shall have their part in the lake, which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Rev. 21:8)
We should not be fearful and scared to consider very diligently and prayerfully the above Word of God and Its true meaning for every one of us individually and also for the Church.
I have already received accusations from all sorts of believers and “ministries” saying that I am nothing but a prophet of “gloom and doom”. Yet, I am only quoting what God says. And God is neither a prophet of gloom and doom, nor a prophet of prosperity or heavenly peace (Mt. 10:34) and happiness for anyone not believing and not obeying His Word. God tells us plainly what He provided for man and then shows him the consequences of his decisions. And I only bring it to the light and conscience of believers in the Church of Jesus Christ. It is hell, which is furious that I dare to expose their deepest deceptions and, may be, rob them of many potential victims.
What else should I say about the “believers who do not believe” the Word of their Saviour and Lord? Do we realize that when we do not believe the Word of God, WE ARE MAKING THE ALMIGHTY GOD A LIAR? UNBELIEF IS THE GREATEST SIN MAN CAN COMMIT AGAINST GOD! That applies to EVERY WORD OF GOD and not just to our favourite verses. (1Jn. 5:10-12// 2Tim. 3:16) That is why the UNBELIEVING HEART IS CONSIDERED EVIL! (Heb. 3:12)
And those of you that neglect or ignore ANY Word of God are making God unimportant. This would be the most terrible thing for any believer to do or continue doing. Unfortunately, it is a very sad and tragic reality with very many believers.
Let us now devote the necessary time to explore the reasons why many believers do not believe and why they prefer to lead a spiritually miserable and unfruitful life. Also, why many ministers “serve God by breaking His Word”! The chief reason is that they stand on the basis of their NATURAL LIFE and keep satisfying their natural desires and personal interests and not the interests of the Lord of all lords – Jesus Christ! (Phil. 2:21) The fact is that…
BY SUCCEEDING IN THE NATURAL, THEY ARE DAMAGING THE SPIRITUAL. THEY ALWAYS GREATLY MISINTERPRET ALL THEIR NATURAL SUCCESSES AS BLESSINGS FROM GOD!
THEY ALWAYS LOOK AT SPIRITUAL THINGS FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF THEIR OWN NATURAL UNDERSTANDING AND PERSONAL INTERESTS; WHETHER FOLLOWING THE SPIRITUAL THINGS WOULD BRING THEM ADVANTAGE OR DISADVANTAGE, WHETHER THOSE THINGS WOULD BE IN THEIR PERSONAL INTEREST, OR NOT! THEY ALSO CONFUSE SPIRITUAL WITH NATURAL THUS COMMITTING VERY GRAVE ERRORS.
Take any situation where the Word was given to us or we were admonished or advised to change something or do something or go somewhere… and immediately our mind started to manufacture its evaluations, comparisons, fears, disadvantages, dangers to follow the Word or advice given! True? Please, do not tell me that you do not know what I am talking about! We may seldom, if ever, look at the Word and spiritual things from the viewpoint of the LORD and see WHAT KIND OF DISADVANTAGES WE PUT HIM INTO when we neglect, forget, disobey or simply do not care to do His Word; or when we postpone doing His Word for several years. Has such a thought occurred to you how might Our LORD be affected by our disobedience or neglect of His Word? What may the LORD be losing thereby?
Don’t you see that every time the Lord desires from us a decision concerning His Word, His Way, His Judgment, His Will, His need – WE START REASONING how it affects us and what we stand to lose? Because we might lose too much, you see! We might lose some brethren, our position of an elder, usher, chief musician, deacon, respected leader or preacher. We might also lose our salary or part of our congregation or our “warm nest” in our own denomination. True? The effects of our decision for the Lord and His Word may be reaching as far as that, or farther. Every time I decide for the undiluted Truth of the Lord or for an uncompromising stand for Him, I always end up in some “trouble”, in some opposition, chiefly from Christians! And I quite often lose something or someone to whom I may have ministered for years. (Jn. 6:63-67!)
It is not easy for many believers to admit these things since the degree to which they follow their nature is also the degree of their spiritual blindness. That simply means that they DO NOT SEE what they are doing to the Lord, to themselves and to their brethren.
My question to you is simple: Where is your New Man? Have you already met your New Man inside of you? Have you experienced Him in your heart and spirit? Have you seen or tasted His fruit?… because He walks and lives by faith, not by reasoning.
WITH FAITH, YOU DON’T COUNT WHAT YOU MAY LOSE, YOU COUNT WHAT THE LORD GAINS! YOU JUDGE IN YOUR OWN HEART, IF THIS IS SO, OR NOT. (Phil. 3:8)
Now, WHO IS THIS NEW MAN? The first “New Man” that opened up the way from hell to Heaven and satisfied God the Father was His firstborn Son Jesus Christ. He, as a Man, always did the things that pleased His Father. (Jn. 8:29)
Jesus “made Himself of no reputation and took upon Him the form of a servant… and being found in fashion as a Man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death by the cross.” (Phil. 2:7,8)
Therefore, God has raised this NEW MAN JESUS from the dead and highly exalted Him. God has also “appointed a day in the which He will judge the world in righteousness BY THAT MAN Whom He has ordained”. (Acts 17:31)
God, being fully satisfied with THIS MAN, set HIM as the HEAD OF THE NEW CREATION and also as a STANDARD for His Judgments of all other men in this world. Pagans, of course, cannot measure up to Jesus Christ, as they have no means to achieve it. Believers are called to measure up to and be like Jesus Christ, be New Men, as they were given the same Spirit that was in Jesus-Man during His earthly life and ministry. Consider the following facts:
1. Jesus-Man received the same gift of the Spirit of God after His baptism (Mt. 3:16) as we received. (Acts 2:38)
2. Jesus-Man was led into temptations by the same Spirit (Mt. 4:1) as we are led into our temptations to learn to resist the devil. (Jam. 1:2-4; 4:7-10// 1Pet. 1:6,7) He was a true Overcomer as we are also called to be Overcomers. (Mt. 4:1-10; 16:21-23// Jn. 16:33, etc.)
3. Jesus-Man was strengthened by angels from heaven (Mt. 4:11// Lk. 22:43), we are strengthened by His Spirit (Eph. 3:16) and by His glorious Power. (Phil. 4:13// Col. 1: 10,11// 2Tim. 4:17)
4. Jesus-Man had to bear the chastisement of our peace upon Himself (Is. 53:5), and we have to bear upon ourselves the chastisement from the Lord. (Heb. 12:4-8)
5. Jesus-Man had to learn obedience through the things He had to suffer. (Heb. 5:8) We have to learn our obedience through the things, which we have to suffer. (Rom. 16:19// 2Cor. 7:15; 10:5,6// Philemon 21// 1Pet. 1:2)
6. Jesus-Man could do nothing of Himself but had to deny Himself and decide to do the Will of His Father and not His own. (Jn. 5:19// Mt. 26:39// Lk. 22:42) We also can do nothing of ourselves, must deny ourselves and decide to do His Will and not ours. (Jn. 15:5// Mt. 16:23-25)
7. Jesus-Man was not of this world, neither are we of this world. (Jn. 17:14-16) As His Father sent Him to the world, so also He sent us into the world. (Jn. 17:18)
8. The glory, which the Father has given to His Son Jesus, the Son has given to us – that we may be one even as the Father and the Son are One. (Jn. 17:22)
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To be continued next week in chapter 4 – part 2
brother Hanola
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