New Creation Realities is another of the foundational DtN courses. This course is about recognising that the Christian life can only be walked out by faith in Christ. Knowing and trusting His Word about who you really are enables you to walk victoriously..
We know from 1 Thessalonians 5:23 that we are a three part being: body, soul and spirit. When we are “born again” it is the spirit part of us that becomes a new creation (2 Cor 5:17). It was made alive with the Holy Spirit. We are a temple of the Holy Spirit. He doesn’t just come and go, He came to live in us.
The real you, the part God relates to, is your spirit because God is spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 describes to us what that spirit part of you looks like – it has the nature of God which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance (self-control). We know we also have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16) and we have wisdom (1 Cor 1:30).
Ephesians 1:13 says that in Christ we were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. A seal implies a completed transaction (it is finished!), it implies ownership (you are his purchased possession – Eph 1:14) and it implies security (sealed with the king’s ring in the king’s name and no man may reverse it – Est 8:8).
Ephesians chapter 1 describes several aspects of our “in Christ” seal. This seal of the Holy Spirit tells us we are blessed, chosen, holy, blameless, redeemed, forgiven, we have the knowledge of the mystery of His will, we have purpose and we have an inheritance. There are many more “in Christ” and “in Him” scriptures that describe what this part of our spirit is like.
Ephesians chapter 6 describes the weapons of our warfare. I believe we “put on” the armour of God through our heart belief being established in the “in Christ” and “in Him” realities of the Bible. As we accept the truth that we are holy, accepted, blameless, justified and righteous in Christ we are wearing our breastplate of righteousness. As we truly believe that we are blessed, chosen, whole, redeemed, forgiven and complete in Christ we are wearing our helmet of salvation. We hold up the shield of faith by believing we have the faith of Christ, all his promises are yes and amen, we have an inheritance and an eternal hope. We have our feet shod with the gospel of peace when we put our trust and confidence in the fact that we have peace, we are reconciled, we have wisdom and purpose and we are partakers of the knowledge of the mystery of the gospel. The belt of truth holds it all together. If we do not completely trust in the truth of God’s Word we will always have doubt and unbelief creeping into our hearts and we will not be able to fully put on the whole armour of God.
Trying to “do” all these actions without first establishing your heart is an act of the flesh and is not sustainable, as ultimately our hearts dictate our actions. For example, many people think they are overweight and start to diet. Most fall away from the dieting very quickly as they don’t really believe strongly enough that they need to lose weight to overcome the temptation of food. However, if an event changes their believing, perhaps a medical, weight related diagnosis or reading or hearing something that changes their belief about food and its effects on the body, then a change in diet is much easier. When you read the Word of God, use it as a mirror to see who you really are. Look into the mirror and don’t forget what you look like, but plant the seed in your heart so you will bear fruit and act on the Word and you will be blessed in your deed (James 1:25). Scriptures that talk about the nature of God, the fruit of the Spirit, or “in Christ/Him” are talking about your born again spirit which is made in the likeness of God. Many NT scriptures that speak of “putting on” or “walking in” are speaking of your belief system. Meditate on the Word until you really believe it for yourself. If your life is not conforming to the “dos” of the Word which should be our outworking actions, see where your heart belief is lacking and meditate on appropriate scriptures of who you truly are in Christ. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Rom 12:2) and let your heart be established in the truth of Christ (2 Pet 1:12).