onething Conference 2012 – Mike Bickle
The New Creation and the Glory of God (2 Cor. 5; Rom. 5)
The New Creation and the Glory of God (2 Cor. 5; Rom. 5)
I.new creation: we are the righteousness of God
A.Paul’s dramatic declaration that we have become a new creation in Christ, with all things becoming new, has vast implications. The “he” that is a new creation is our spirit man. All things pertaining to our spirit become new. The “real you” is your spirit man, which is alive in Christ.
17If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away…all things have become new…19God was in Christ reconciling the world…not imputing their trespasses to them...21thatwe[our spirit] might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor. 5:17-21)
B.Old things passed away: We were under condemnation before God. We were powerless with regard to sin (at the heart level). We were under darkness, lacking ability to understand the Word or receive God’s direction for life. We were destitute, without hope of a good future in God.
C.All things have become new:We are acceptedand enjoyed by God. Our former powerlessness and darkness have passed, and now we have the authority of Jesus’ name and the indwelling Spirit, which enable us to resist sin, sickness, and Satan; walk in victory over sin; and receive understanding of God, His Word, and His will. Now we have a significant destiny in God.
D.The gospel is the good news of salvation, about receiving God’s righteousness (in three tenses):
1. Justification: our legal position—past tense, focused on my spirit (I have been saved)
2. Sanctification: our living condition—present tense, focused on my soul (I am being saved)
3. Glorification: our eternal exaltation—future tense, focused on my body (I will be saved)
We experience the fullness of our salvation over three time frames. One third of our salvation is complete—the salvation of our spirit. Our spirithas been created anew in holiness (past tense).
E.To understand the glory of the new creation, we must first understand that God created humans with three parts—spirit, soul, and body. Man is a spirit, he has a soul, and he lives in a body.
23May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless… (1 Thes. 5:23)
F.Our spirit is the place where God dwells—He lives in us. Our soul speaks of our personality, consisting of our mind, emotions, and will. Our body has five senses, which enable us to receive from the physical world.Many believers do not know who they are in their spirit. As we receive training for our body and soul, so we must receive training related to our spirit.
G.Before Adam sinned, his spirit governed his soul and body. His physical appetites, five senses, and emotions were subject to his spirit. After he sinned, he became spiritually dead and lost his ability to relate to God. Everything was reversed, and his body and soul gained power over his spirit. His spirit lost the place of dominion and became subordinate to his body and soul.
H.At the new birth, our spirit is joined to the Spirit, and we are filled with His supernatural life.
17But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. (1 Cor. 6:17)
5We have been united together in the likeness of His death…[and] resurrection… (Rom. 6:5)
I.At the new birth, our spirit man was so radically refashioned that Paul uses the term “created.”
24Put on the new man which was created…in true righteousness and holiness. (Eph. 4:24)
10Put on the new man who is…according to the image of Him who created him… (Col. 3:10)
J.The challenge is that we do not feel or discern our spirit. Our spirit man is “spirit” and, therefore, it is invisible and indiscernible, even “hidden” from our five senses. We cannot measure it by our emotions (soul) or our five senses (body). Paul referred to our true life, or our spirit man in this age, as being “hidden” in Christ. Our born-again spirit is called “the hidden person of the heart.”
3For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (Col. 3:3-4)
4The hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle spirit… (1 Pet. 3:4)
II.Peace, grace, and glory (Rom. 5:1-2)
A.In Romans 5, Paul set forth three results of being justified by faith in summarizing the purpose of salvation (5:2)—we can have a deep relationship with Jesus (peace with God), we stand in grace, and we participate in God’s glory (in part in this life and in fullness in the age to come). These are three facets of the “diamond of grace.” To understand justification is to have assurance of full salvation. If you are saved, then the glory of God is guaranteed to you.
1Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope [the certainty] of the glory of God. (Rom. 5:1-2)
B.Peace with God: Being in a position to experience a full, affectionate, and enjoyable relationship with God. Since He is a God of infinite burning love, to have peace with Him means that the offences that disqualified us from receiving His overflowing love have been forever removed.
- The Greek word for peace (eirene) points to the same truths as the Hebrew word shalom. It speaks of a full relationship with God, which includes both the absence of conflict with Him and the fullness of His salvation with its blessings. The enmity is totally gone (Rom. 5:10), therefore we have no condemnation (Rom. 8:1).
- Our relationship with God is established in the fullness of peace, and His love pours forth for us and in us (Rom. 5:5). This leaves us with the assurance of being enjoyed by God.
C.Stand in grace: Being in a position to experience all the benefits of a full relationship with God. We entered a new state, realm, or legal position before God when we were justified by faith. This new realm gives us access to all the benefits of salvation.
D.We can now enjoy confidencein God’s affectionfor us. Our condemnation has passed. We have the indwelling Spirit and Jesus’ authority, so we are no longer powerless and filled with darkness. We have a divine destiny and a good future in God. Paul repeated this truth of standing in grace when he later wrote of being under the reign of grace (Rom. 5:21).
E.Hope of glory: Being in a position to participate in God’s glory in part in this life and in fullness in the age to come. This is one of the ultimate statements in the book of Romans. “Hope” means certainty. We rejoice in the certainty of participating in and partnering with His glory. When tempted, it is powerful to confess that we rejoice in the hope of participating in God’s glory.
2We…rejoice in hope [the certainty] of the glory of God. (Rom. 5:2)
F.The point of salvation was to bring many sons to glory (Heb. 2:10). From ages past, God ordained a plan that we might participate in His glory (1 Cor. 2:7-9).
10It was fitting for Him…in bringing many sons to glory… (Heb. 2:10)
7We speak the wisdom…which God ordained before the ages for our glory…
9Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. (1 Cor. 2:7-9)
G.We participate in God’s glory in three ways—internally, externally, and eternally. Paul referred to experiencing glory in this age (Rom. 5:3-5; 6:4) and in eternity (Rom. 8:17-30).
- Internally: We participate in His glory internally by the Spirit (Rom. 6:4). Many do not see the evidence of God’s glory in their lives, because it looks very different from how they think it should look.
4We were buried with Him…that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Rom. 6:4)
- Externally: We participate in His glory externally through God releasing His power through us and on our circumstances, relationships, ministry, and finances, etc. The Lord affirms the value of the small things done in faithfulness (Mt. 25:21; Zech. 4:10).
17“Well done…you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.”
(Lk. 19:17)
21“Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.”(Mt. 25:21)
- Eternally: We will participate in His glory eternally in the New Jerusalem with a resurrected body (Phil. 3:21) and in receiving eternal rewards (1 Cor. 3:12-14).
17We are…joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. 18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Rom. 8:17-18)
H.In order to “rejoice” in God’s glory we must see what the Word declares about it. It includes our simple words, small deeds, and the intent of our heart to obey—all of these move God’s heart.
I.We are to rejoice in the certainty of God’s glory, not ignore it or downplay it. We are to be preoccupied with and focused on His glory. This is the mindset we are called to cultivate.
International House of Prayer of Kansas City ihopkc.org
Free Teaching Library MikeBickle.org