WE ARE BEING RENEWED IN KNOWLEDGE - PART 2

The true essence of the Christian life is to be continually renewed in true knowledge in the image - Christ. Colossians 1:15 (NLT) noted that Christ is the visible image of the invisible God, who existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation. Therefore every Christian needs to know this supreme image better and as a result, be renewed in the process of knowing. Before we came alive to God, it was Christ's sacrifice that made it possible for us to be reconciled to God. And that's the reason we celebrate the Good Friday - to mark or recall the passion, suffering, and death of Christ Jesus on the cross.

Reference: Colossians 3:9-10 Amplified Bible (AMP) "Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new [spiritual] self who is being continually renewed in true knowledge in the image of Him who created the new self."

In His death, Christ took on the sins of the world, even the most outrageous act of transgression and crime ever committed by mankind, in order to set us free from sin and death. At the cross, we also died with Him and conformed to His death by dying to sin. At that point, the corrupt nature, known as the "old self" or "old man" was crucified with Christ. For this reason, Romans 6:6 (KJV) reminds us saying, "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 body of sin symbolizes the flesh of Christ Jesus which at that point bore all the sins of mankind. Our "old self" is our sinful nature, the one that existed or wallowed in sin. Since our old man (or old self) is crucified with Christ, the body of sin which was Christ's body bearing our sins, was condemned to death on our behalf, so that we might die to sin (see also 1 Peter 2:24). No wonder He was raised with a glorious body (see Philippians 3:21).

The Bible says, "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV). What motivated Christ's death on the cross? It was God's excessive mercy and unconditional love for us. Ephesians 2:4-5 (NLT) reads, "But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!)." Beloved, it was God's mercy that initiated and established our salvation, while His love was the practicalizing influence. In other words, the gift of salvation is the product to God's mercy and love towards mankind, made possible by His grace.

Having known all this, there is therefore a mentality to live by. First, you must be conditioned to know that you have stripped off the old self with its evil practices. Second, you must live with the consciousness that the body of sin has been destroyed; thus sin no longer has power or dominion over you. Third, now that you have put on the new self, you must walk by the Spirit and be continually renewed in true knowledge of Christ, so that you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. That means, be consumed with the Spirit life such that you find it very difficult to give sin any room or yield the members of your body to be used to express its desires.

Romans 6:12-14 (NIV) reads, "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace."

The more we focus on His image, the more we see His life lived out through us. This means that it is impossible to live the Christian life, without being constantly renewed in true knowledge in the image - Christ. In short, only Jesus can live the Christian life through us. Therefore we must remain dead to sin so He can live. To this effect, Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20 (ESV) - I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Romans 6:2, 7, 11; Galatians 5:24; Colossians 3:3; 1 Peter 2:24.

Exuberant Declaration: I have put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and I make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. Christ Jesus, having died for me on the cross, has paid full penalty for my sin. I'm eternally joyful that God raised me up with Christ from spiritual death. Hence, sin is no longer my master. I'm alive to God and the love of Christ controls me. Hallelujah!