Completely New Life And Walk In Christ

The first century Christian lived a life far different from the one we live today. There were no televisions or radio or Internet to keep them entertained. Entertainment consisted of, if you were so inclined, going to the Roman Coliseum to watch the gladiator fights or the races, talking and visiting with your friends, or from various games that were devised the while away the time. Most Christians avoid the Coliseum, because pagan worship and murder was often held at the Coliseum. Sometimes the Christians themselves were the day's entertainment – thrown to the lions for worshiping a God not endorsed by Caesar.

The average Christian was poor – and often had a standard of living that was terrible by today's standards. Yet the Church flourished, growing by leaps and bounds. Why? Because the average Christian understood how blessed he was by the finished work of Jesus Christ our Savior.

All Sins Are Covered By The Atoning Blood: Doctrine of Blood

What Jesus Christ did on the Cross was to cover all of our sins with His Blood. Our God established Blood Atonement for sin from the very beginning of our creation. Man was warned to not eat the blood of animals, because life is in the blood:

Genesis 9:4 (KJV) "But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat."

God emphasized that life is in the blood by telling Israel that to eat the blood was an offense that would cause the believer to be cast out or separated from Israel.

Leviticus 17:10-14 (KJV) "And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people. {11} For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. {12} Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood. {13} And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust. {14} For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off."

Question: Why was it an offense to eat the blood of animals under the Mosaic Law?

God used the Old Testament sacrifices to teach Israel that – the sin that man committed must be covered with the blood:

Leviticus 1:3-5 (KJV) "If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD. {4} And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. {5} And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation."

Yet the blood of animals only foreshadowed the true sacrifice for sin. The blood of animals only provided a temporary covering for sin. Since man fell into sin, the blood of Man had to cover sin. But all men are under sin from birth. Thus it required that a Perfect and Sinless Man come and shed His Blood for us. This Man is none other than Jesus Christ our Lord:

Colossians 1:20 (KJV) "And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven."

Hebrews 9:22-28 (KJV) "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. {23} It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. {24} For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: {25} Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; {26} For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. {27} And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: {28} So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."

Question: Was the Old Mosaic Blood Atonement temporary or permanent? Explain your answer in detail.

a. The blood of Christ redeems the believer from the curse of sin:

1 Peter 1:18-19 (KJV) "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; {19} But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:"

b. The Blood of Christ declares the believer to be righteous before God:

Romans 5:9 (KJV) "Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him."

c. The believer in Christ is sanctified or set apart from this world in the eyes of God because of the Blood of Christ:

Hebrews 13:12 (KJV) "Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate."

d. The Blood of Christ cleanses us from our sins:

Revelation 1:5 (KJV) "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,"

e. The Blood of Christ endures, and can be depended on for eternal security as a believer in Christ:

1 John 1:7 (KJV) "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

f. There is no forgiveness without the Blood of Christ:

Hebrews 9:22 (KJV) "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission."

g. The Covenant that the believer has with God is everlasting because of the Blood of Christ:

Hebrews 13:20 (KJV) "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,"

h. Because of the Blood of Christ we have the right to enter into Heaven with God the Father:

Hebrews 10:19-22 (KJV) "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, {20} By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; {21} And having an high priest over the house of God; {22} Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."

i. The Blood of Christ made peace between God and the believer:

Colossians 1:20 (KJV) "And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven."

If you were a first century Christian, saved by faith in Christ, you would have been extremely satisfied that you no longer needed to offer sacrifices at a man made altar. The Blood of Christ paid it all.

Question: What are the nine things that the Blood of Christ does for the believer?

Empowered To Walk In The “New Man”

A Christian is a person that has been changed from the natural state which all men share, and has supernaturally been born into another state of being. This state is not sinlessness, for the testimony of Scripture is that we are all still yet sinners. Yet this new state is also not perpetually and willfully sinning, for this would be the state of the old unredeemed lost creature.

The Christian is a person who, because of advantage of birth, this person is enabled to walk and live more pleasing to God in this life. The person is enabled, but this new walk – though commanded, is not automatic. We who are saved are children of God, and are commanded by our Father to grow more pleasing to Him each day through study of the Word, Prayer, Fasting, and by a set apart or sanctified walk. Yet the testimony of Scripture teaches that the believer may be disobedient, and may walk apart from God. The Corinthian Church was a saved gathering of believers:

1 Corinthians 1:2 (KJV) "Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:"

Yet these people were in every form of debauchery imaginable. They were Christians because of faith in Christ, and the Blood of Christ covered them just as effectually as it covers us – yet they still allowed their flesh and their old Sin Natures to reign. They, in short, walked as heathen.

Question: Is the new creature in Christ sinless? Explain your answer.

Yet this is not our Father's Will. As Dr. Chafer said, the believer is Vitally Conjoined to Christ for Judgment of the "Old Man" Unto a New Walk. The new walk that the believer is empowered to do first is a walk that separates itself from willful or deliberate sin. The Bible uses four phrases or illustrations to explain why the believer is no longer under the dominion of sin:

a. As a Christian I am "Crucified with Christ":

Romans 6:6-7 (KJV) "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. {7} For he that is dead is freed from sin."

The Bible teaches that the day I surrendered myself to Christ as Savior, that my “old man” or Old Sin Nature was crucified on the Cross with Jesus. If I am in Christ, and He is in me, then sin no longer has the power to rule over me as master.

b. As a Christian I am "Dead with Christ":

Romans 6:8-9 (KJV) "Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: {9} Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him."

1 Peter 2:24 (KJV) "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."

If the believer died with Christ then we also died to sin. If we are dead to sin, then sin no longer has control over us. It is no longer a matter of “I can't help it”, like the alcoholic would say about the wine that enslaves him, or the drug addict would say about the heroin that is his master. Those who are identified with Christ are no longer identified with sin.

Question: Those who are identified with Christ are no longer ______ _______ _______.

c. As a Christian I am “buried with Christ”:

Romans 6:4-6 (KJV) "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. {5} For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: {6} 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."

Colossians 2:12-13 (KJV) "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. {13} And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;"

Again, if I am buried with Christ, then being buried with Him sin has no hold on me. Whether I sin or not is an act of will – do I will to sin, or do I will to serve. This is the choice that I have as a believer in and a member of the Family of God.

d. Finally, I am “Raised with Christ to walk by a new life”:

Romans 6:4 (KJV) "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

Colossians 3:1-10 (KJV) "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. {2} Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. {3} For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. {4} When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. {5} Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: {6} For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: {7} In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. {8} But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. {9} Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; {10} And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:"

The believer, because he is identified with Christ by the blood of Christ, has been given power over sin. We truly make our own choices as Christians.

Question: What are the four aspects of the Cross of Christ that the Bible uses to explain our new status as new creatures?

Question: IF I am enabled because of my identity in Christ to walk apart from sin, then what is my incentive to do this?

Will I follow God my Father and prosper, or will I follow that Old Sin Nature that I died to and suffer.

My Identity With Christ Frees Me

From The Law of Moses Under the old Mosaic system of Law the believer was not considered a child of God, nor was the believer free to call God “Father”. God was not “our Father” in the sense that we were in an intimate relationship with Him. God was awesome, God was powerful, God was fearful, God was holy – holy – holy, but God was not Father. Man under the Law was unable to approach God on these intimate terms.

Question: Why am I now free to call God my Father?

When I was a young parent I had a lot of trouble with my children and – how do I put this – the restroom toilet. I do not mean to offend, but this is a good illustration, so I'll use it anyway. My children just wouldn't flush the toilet! I told them time and time again until, one day, in anger I posted a sign above the toilet that read:

“Flush The Toilet”

Do you think the children did as I asked? No. In fact, the problem got worse. Finally I sat the children down and explained why daddy wanted them to do as he asked. I explained the term unsanitary and asked them, as their daddy, that they consider my feelings in the matter. Guess what? The problem decreased, and eventually went away.

So it is with the Law of Moses. The Law exists to convict of sin, to warn, to threaten, but has no power whatsoever to empower. The Law is for the heathen who needs the Law. The Christian is free from the Law, not so that he can be lawless, but because he serves God on a higher plane. The Christian serves God because He is our Father, and because we love Him.

Question: The Law exists to convict of sin, but has no power to ________.

The Bible uses two terms to describe the Christian's relationship to the Law. We are dead to the Law:

Romans 7:4 (KJV) "Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God."

The believer is also delivered from the Law:

Romans 7:6 (KJV) "But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter."

Galatians 3:24-25 (KJV) "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. {25} But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster."

Romans 6:14-15 (KJV) "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. {15} What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid."

We who are Christians are Children of God . As children we are no longer under the Mosaic Law, but are under a higher Law, the Law of Love, the Law of Family, the Law of our Father, the Law of the Spirit.

Question: The Christian is both ______ to the Law and _______ from the Law.

As adopted children of God:

Romans 8:15 (KJV) "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."

We have all the rights and privileges of children of God, but we also have all the responsibilities that children of the King enjoy.

Question: Christians have all the rights and privileges and responsibilities that __________.

As children of God we are called:

a. "Born again," "Ye must be born again"(John 3:7; 1:12; 1 Pet. 1:23).

b. “Quickened," or made alive, "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph. 2:1; Col. 2:13).

c. “Sons of God," "Beloved, now are we the sons of God" (1. John 3:3; 2 Cor. 6:18; Gal. 3:26).

d. "A new creation," "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature" (creation) (2 Cor.5:17; Gal. 6:15; Eph. 2:10).

e. "Regeneration," "But according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Tit. 3:5; John 13:10; 1 Cor. 6:11).

These are all wonderful titles that God has given us, we who have accepted Christ as Savior, we who are identified with Christ. Are we lawless? No, we are His children, and as such are in a family relationship with one another. In our family relationship we are to avoid sibling rivalry, and are to encourage one another to good works:

Galatians 5:25-26 (KJV) "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. {26} Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another."

Galatians 6:1-2 (KJV) "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. {2} Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

Ephesians 4:2-3 (KJV) "With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love; {3} Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Ephesians 4:32 (KJV) "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

Colossians 3:16 (KJV) "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (KJV) "Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do."

Question: Are Christians lawless?

Sadly, many local churches today lack all of these characteristics. We either backbite and devour one another, nit picking one another to death, or we kill the wounded and fallen. Yet if every Church and assembly in this country would realize that we as Christians are all part of the same family of God – if we all encouraged and loved one another – then the Church would be a powerhouse in this country.

Yet Christians continue to dissemble and divide. This should not be, but it is.

How do I fulfill the Law?

I do just as my Lord Jesus did – I love as He loved, sacrificially, completely.

Romans 13:8-10 (KJV) "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. {9} For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. {10} Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."

If I want to walk pleasing to my Father, then I will love and submit myself to each Christian. I will not condone willfulness or sinfulness in myself or in others, but I will love.

Galatians 5:14-16 (KJV) "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. {15} But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. {16} This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh."

James 2:8 (KJV) "If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:"

Question: How do I fulfill the Law of God?

This is God's design, this is the Father's will, and it is for this reason that we were created. To love as Christ loved. To love as He empowers me to love, as He indwells my very being.

Are You a Christian?

The Bible says there is only one way to Heaven:

Jesus Christ said of Himself:

"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me." (John 14:6)

Jesus does not point the way to Heaven: Jesus is the Way. You cannot work your way into Heaven. Good works cannot save you:

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Trust Jesus Christ today! Here's what you must do:

1 Admit you are a sinner:

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23)

"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" (Romans 5:12)

"If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1:10)

That's hard to do in this modern era, because the media – both print and electronic – all tell us “If it feels good, do it!” Yet this is not the truth. Doing what feels good has led up to disease of all kinds. AIDS and HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases have become commonplace. Abortion is the answer often given when a child is born out of wedlock. Many have begun to believe that sin is synonymous with f-u-n, but are paying the price for their foolishness.

The truth is, our God is holy, our Creator is righteous. The Bible says of Him:

Isaiah 6:3 (KJV) "And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory."

Revelation 4:8 (KJV) "And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come."

Which means that we must be clean if we are going to enter Heaven when we leave this life. How do we get clean? Do we wash ourselves? Do we try to work our way to Heaven? No, it's much simpler than that. We ...

2 Must be willing to turn from sin (repent):

"I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:5)

"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:" (Acts 17:30)

When we repent we turn away from the bad thing that we were doing and turn toward another pure thing. Repent by pausing in your sin – turn to Jesus. Stop relying on the things that you were relying on, and begin to trust in – reply on – Jesus.

3 Believe that Jesus Christ died for you, was buried, and rose from the dead:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners. Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Romans 10:9)

Believe that Jesus paid the penalty for you, and begin to surrender your life to Him. Salvation is not what we do, but it is Whom we rely on. Rely on Jesus, call on Him for salvation. Ask Him to come into your life.

4. Through prayer, invite Jesus into your life to become your personal Savior:

"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:10)

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)

And, having invited Him into your life, believe that He has come. Surrender to Jesus! Trust in Him!

You can pray in any way that you wish, but a sample prayer follows to help you pour out your heart to Jesus. Just talk to God as you would to your Father, with respect but honestly, knowing that He knows your heart.

Dear God, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sin. I am willing to turn from sin. I now invite Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Savior.

Now believe that God is faithful, and has done as He has promised.

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" (John 1:12)

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

5 If you have received Jesus Christ as your Savior, or have lead someone to the Lord - as a new Christian you should recommend:

Read and study your Bible every day to get to know Christ better. Use the resources at bibleteacher.org. Ask an older Christian to guide you as you grow. Talk to a pastor. Come to Church.

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalms 119:105)

Talk to God in prayer every day:

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." (Matthew 21:22)

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." (Philippians 4:6)

Be baptized, worship, fellowship, and serve with other Christians in a church where Christ is preached and the Bible is the final authority:

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" (Matthew 28:19)

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25)

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for  reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" (2 Timothy 3:16)

Tell others about Christ:

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15)

"For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" (1 Corinthians 9:16)

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16)

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