“A NEW CREATURE IN AN OLD WORLD”

14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

17 From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

DCLM Daily Manna For Today MESSAGE:

Those who studied the Church of the First Century say that because of the persecution the members encountered, they were circumspect about the admission of new faces into their fold. They wanted to keep off “false brethren” who posed as true followers. The believers were said to have devised numerous means to identify genuine claimants to salvation. One way was to have the aspiring new disciple sketch the image of a fish on the sandy ground. It was a wordless contact that gave the unmistakable message that followers of Jesus were fishers of men.

However, Paul refers to the surer identification mark of a Christian. He said such a person must be “a new creature.” He must “bear in (his) body the marks of the Lord Jesus.” He is not to be guided by adherence to the principles of the old covenant. Being born again simply signifies a new personality who has completely done away with everything evil linked to his former personality. He is now a new creature.

Transformed, the believer is meant to offer the despondent inhabitants a fresh breath of hope, not only through preaching, but also by the lifestyle of holiness, transparency, patience, hospitality and tenderheartedness, among other virtues.

The Lord expects believers to reproduce themselves as new creatures by bringing more souls into the kingdom of God. This is the only reason believers still remain on earth after being saved. Preaching the gospel and winning souls is also the only way to fulfil the prophecy that “the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
The true mark of a Christian is his transformed life.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
James 1-5