“Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17 NKJV)
The Christian life is not intended to be natural or ordinary. Instead, the Christian life is designed to be supernatural, superior, or extraordinary.
Apostle Paul admonishes the believers in Ephesus to no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles (Eph. 4:17-20). He further exhorts them to walk as children of light (Eph. 5:1-8). This appeal is for all Christians today!
Similarly, Paul sharply rebuked the Corinthian Christians for behaving like mere, ordinary, or natural men in His epistle to them.
1 Corinthians 3:1-4 – NKJV
1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.
2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;
3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?
4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?
Like the Corinthian Christians, sadly, some Christians today still think, judge, speak, live, or walk as though they are mere, ordinary, or natural men without God’s life, nature, and Spirit in them.
But why are some Christians living in sin today as though they are still dead in sin or slaves of sin?
Why are some Christians today still gratifying the lusts or desires of the flesh as though they are still debtors to the flesh?
Why are some Christians today full of fears, worries, and anxieties and cares about this life as though they still belong to this world?
Ignorance of who they are now in Christ!
Ignorance of what Christ has accomplished in and for them!
Ignorance of what they now have in Christ!
Ignorance of what Christ can do through them!
Without precise and correct knowledge of your new spiritual identity (nature, life, condition, status, position, authority, and inheritance) in Christ as a result of the New Birth experience, it is impossible to live a higher, supernatural, or superior life that God intended for you to live as a Christian in this world.
In his letter to Philemon, Paul points out that your faith can only be effective with precise and correct knowledge, recognition, or full discernment of who you are and what you have in Christ Jesus.
Philemon 1:3-6 – NKJV
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers,
5 hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,
6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
The Greek word translated as “acknowledgment” in this scripture (Phil. 1:6) is “epignosis,” referring to “precise and correct knowledge, recognition, and full discernment.”
Having rebuked His disciples (James and John) sharply for asking for permission to call down fire from heaven to consume a village of the Samaritans who rejected them, just as Elijah did, the Lord Jesus Christ pointed out that their reaction to the people’s rejection was borne out of their ignorance of what manner or kind of spirit they are of (who they are now in Christ) (Luke 9:51-56).
Similarly, the primary reason why you also process and respond in an unchristian manner (just as unbelievers will do) to what happened to you, what people say or do to you is because you lack precise and correct knowledge, recognition, or full discernment of what manner or kind of spirit you now have in Christ.
You must know who you are and what you have in Christ as a new creation to live the supernatural life you are designed and expected to live in this world.
The Scripture amply teaches that the product of the New Birth experience is a New Creation.
2 Corinthians 5:16-17 – NKJV
16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
The Scripture teaches that as a new creation, you are now seated in Christ in the heavenly places, “far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. (Ephesians 1:21 NKJV).”
Because of your union with Christ in His death, resurrection, ascension, and glorification, you wield unlimited spiritual power or authority over all the forces and works of Satan.
Ephesians 2:4-6 – NKJV
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
Beloved, as a new creation, Jesus Christ is now your new spiritual identity or image. Whatever is true of Christ is now true of you. Whatever belongs to Christ now belongs to you, too!
Therefore, you must be diligent in growing in the revelation knowledge of Jesus Christ. The more you see and know Christ, the more you will see and know who you are, what you have, and what you can do in and through Christ.
What does it mean to live a supernatural life?
Find out in the second part of this piece!
Prayer:
My Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for making me one spirit with Christ Jesus through the New Birth experience. My Dear Holy Spirit, teach and help me grow and increase daily in the revelation knowledge of Christ and thus myself as a new creation in Christ, in Jesus’ name. Amen.