A New Life- New Nature 1-13-26

Let’s look at the new nature, and the true meaning: Metamorphosis (Transformation). I have given this example several times.

A caterpillar eventually turns into a butterfly, and one the transformation takes place it is permanent; a caterpillar can never be a caterpillar again. A change took place- the caterpillar had an old nature, but once it became a butterfly, it had a new nature. It was not a caterpillar and a butterfly at the same time.

The caterpillar crawled on the ground because it could not fly, however a butterfly can do both. I believe this is a perfect example of how the butterfly can act like the old caterpillar (to us it means acting like our old self), but that’s not the real us.

Excerpt from Charles Stanley – In Touch: While  our behavior may not always reflect our new nature, the mistakes we make don’t jeopardize our salvation. Remember, it’s not our actions but Christ’s work on the cross that changed everything. And nothing can undo a spiritual rebirth that came about through faith in Him. 

Me- How can a person be charged two times for the same crime? Once the judge declares someone to be free, they can be charged for that same crime again. And how can a person be a sinner and a saint at the same time?

Once Christ paid the penalty for our sins, we are free. One cannot be free and be in bondage at the same time; sin is bondage. When we sin, we are never sinners; we are out of fellowship until we ask for forgiveness.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9); our relationship never changes. We are cleansed from our unrighteous acts; the way we conduct ourselves in ungodly ways.

When it comes to perspectives; there are TWO; our Perspective our God’s Perspective. The reason I put our perspective first is because from the human standpoint the natural comes before the spirit. Even though the Word of God is spiritual, we read it from our perspective which is clouded or not clear, but we must change our way of thinking to think like our Father in order to know Him better (intimately).

Jesus taught disciples things with which they could identify. For instance, Jesus called some disciples who were fishers; He used a natural situation to bring about a spiritual meaning: Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19).

Once the disciples were saved they were spiritual and it was necessary for them to think like God was thinking. Otherwise, we don’t understand the Lord when we are leaning to our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-7).

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9).

And He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 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. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:15-17).

What to take away- In writing this message it reminds me of Paul when he was witnessing to king Agrippa- I am writing to people who profess to be born again. I am doing everything through the power of the Holy Spirit to convince (persuade) you about the truth. Please don’t be like king Agrippa and say: Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuaded me to become a Christian” (Acts 26:28).

Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org