Not one religionist understands the new creation, that the old humanity was crucified with Christ. And not only the old humanity, corporately, but we, as individuals, were crucified with Christ. Martin Zender was crucified with Christ. But wait. I am still living, aren't I? Indeed. But it is no longer I who
am living, but living in me is Christ (Galatians 2:20).
Now you can see why not one religionist understands the new creation. It's tricky thinking. It's a simple truth, but tricky thinking. It flies in the face of experience. In fact, not all body of Christ members realize this truth. Proof? They imagine themselves to be losers. They think they're
nothing. And yet, ironically, they simultaneously believe that they have the power to wreck God's will for their life. Dang, that's a lot of power for a "nothing."
A realization of the new humanity is the key to deliverance from an overly careful life, from self-occupation, and from the weight of thinking of oneself as "totally unworthy." But
wait. Aren't there Scripture verses that say we're totally unworthy? Yes. But it's the unworthy us that was crucified with Christ. So that's gone. That way of thinking is gone. To speak of being unworthy NOW is to slap the face of Christ on the cross, Who took the old humanity to the cross with Him, then to the tomb, but then left the tomb without the damn thing. He left the old humanity in the tomb, and it's still dead. It hasn't resurrected and it won't. (And yet many, in their minds, imagine
it to be resurrected; they imaging it as still having power over them.)
I know the problem. The problem is that "you" are still living. I get it. Paul also gets it, and explains it in the briefest manner possible in Galatians 2:20–
"With Christ have I been crucified, yet I am living; no longer I, but living in me is Christ. Now that which I am now living in flesh, I am living in faith that is of the Son of God, Who loves me, and gives Himself up for me."
The new creation is how God now sees humanity subsequent to the cross. So even though it's still the old
humanity eating frosted flakes and blowing its nose, we are not to think of ourselves in accord with the "I" that died on the cross. We are supposed to think, "Living in me is Christ." Is this a matter for faith? That's the understatement of the year, which is why Paul finishes Galatians 2:20 with, "That which I am now living in flesh, I am living in faith that is of the Son of God, Who loves me, and gives Himself up for me."
Considering yourself as this new I that Paul says you are (he's inspired by the holy spirit, let me remind you) is the secret to being able to throw around the most popular personal pronoun in the world ("I" ) like parade candy without being conceited. YOU know you're not conceited but—oh!—the rest of the world can't handle it. They're still wrestling with the corpse, you see. They can't imagine the free life that
you now live. Their misery wants company.
Even some in the body of Christ don't get it. But especially Israel wannabe "kingdom saints" don't get it. How can they? This is not their truth. None of their writers (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, James, Peter) teach it. Those with a terrestrial destiny still battle the old I, and must. Their old I is reformed
("born again"), not crucified. The truth of the new humanity is not for them. How can it be? The new humanity erases national distinctions whereas Israel, even in the kingdom, recognizes national distinctions.
This is rarefied truth. It's a bold way to live. Do you want to make Christ happy? Then acknowledge the pain and agony He suffered on the
cross and tell Him "job well done" by considering yourself no longer according to flesh (2 Corinthians 5:16), but according to the new humanity. Because this is what He died for.
And it's now what you live for.
