Every Christian entered into God’s family as a new creation that did not previously exist spiritually. They had a sin nature which was crucified with Christ and are now the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus!
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
If you are a Christian you have been provided a new nature.
Righteousness is not something you were able to earn! It is something you are as a result of being in Christ!
Christians do not have a sin nature that drives them to sin like unbelievers do. This does not mean we will never sin again. Unbelievers sin because that is their nature which was inherited at birth. Christians sin as a result of not allowing their minds to be renewed by God’s Word.
When Paul wrote that “old things are passed away” he was not referring to our old habits. This is a reference to our sin nature. It consists of our old habits, actions, and sins that will fall off as we immerse ourselves in the Word of God and allow it to renew our minds. This is a process we must enter into purposely and it is not automatic.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 12:2
Our old nature “passed away” when we became a Christian. This is not the end of our transformation though. The “things” that become new are in the spiritual realm. We have the same soul (i.e., mind, will, intellect, and emotions) and body. The body will continue to have urges to commit sin actions until we allow ourselves to be “transformed” by the renewing (i.e., saving) of our mind which will only happen in proportion to the time spent meditating on God’s Word.
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
Paul was not talking about our minds or body in this verse. There is a huge amount of misunderstanding regarding this in the body of Christ.
In the spirit we were held captive by Satan before receiving Christ. Every human being received his nature at birth. This is referred to as the sin nature. If a person will invite Jesus to be their Lord and Savior their spiritual nature will be changed from “sin” to “righteousness”. The “sin” nature passes away and their spirit is “reborn” with a new nature.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19
The Church as a whole is “imputing” sin to people but God is not. There are ministers who talk about the anger of God as if He will stop loving us when we sin. Paul paints a completely different picture. Jesus came “not imputing” our sins against us. He does not hold our sins against us.
God “reconciled” the world to Himself “in Christ”. Our sin nature created a wall between us and Him. Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection enabled Him to draw humanity back to Himself. Jesus’ sacrifice enabled God to “impute” our sins on Jesus.
Our sin nature was placed on Jesus and the anger and wrath of God was poured out on Him. This was the reason He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” The divine Son of God was driven from the presence of His heavenly Father as a result of our sin nature being placed on Him!
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
1 Corinthians 5:20-21
Paul tells us that Jesus “was made to be sin”. Jesus was the Son of God. He was holy and pure and did not become sin because of His actions. He took the sins of the entire world into His body on the cross.
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.
1 Peter 2:24
Jesus took our sin nature into His body. In return we are now able to take His righteousness into ours. This is the message of redemption!
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