NEW PERSON- OLD CULTURE

CARRYING THEIR OLD CULTURE

Many immigrants come to America with hope for a new life. They may become citizens but do they feel like an American? They may still feel like the person they were in their old country.

 

The old culture keeps them bound to their old life. It is only when they are assimilated into the American culture, learn the language and they drop the past they are fully an American.

Likewise when one accepts Christ and becomes a Christian they may not feel like they are a child of GOD. One reason is they don’t know how they are supposed to feel.

1 John 3:2 Dear friends, we are already God's children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.

Did you get that? You are not going to be a child of GOD you are already His child. The main thing is you need to take GOD’S word for that instead of what your emotions tell you.

If a Christian fails GOD in some matter it is going to interrupt your fellowship with GOD much like a spat between husband and wife.  But you’re still the husband and you’re still the wife. Likewise a person is still a born again believer albeit one who has some problems.

 

If you continue to sin on purpose this means you haven’t discovered who you are and that you aren’t a debtor to sin any longer who has to continue to obey your old father Satan.

The next time you are tempted to do wrong just refuse to do it. It is amazing to find out you have been delivered and don’t have to yield to sin.

Eph.2:10 For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Just as immigrants don’t fully know what becoming a citizen means so also oft times Christians don’t understand what they are in Christ. This is evidenced by the way they act and live.

1 Corinthians 5:17  This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Spiritually you are a new person. You were dead in sins and trespasses but now are alive in Christ.

Philippians  3:20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.

Grasping this thought is paramount in living a successful Christian life. You are a citizen of heaven and have all the rights afforded to the citizens there.

 

In every case you are empowered to refuse to sin for with the temptation GOD has made a way of escape.

Romans 6:13-14 and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

Well there it is in black and white. The old saying “Practice makes perfect,” is still true so the next opportunity to sin occurs; do what you know is right and claim your rights as citizens of heaven.  Simply refuse to sin.