Ezekiel 18:2-3
“What do you mean when you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying:
‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes,
And the children’s teeth are set on edge’?
“As I live,” says the Lord God, “you shall no longer use this proverb in Israel.
New creations must learn to drop some popular Christian lingo. Saying things like “I’m a sinner” and “I’m not worthy”need to be eliminated from our speech and replaced with praise and adoration for the finished work of Jesus Christ! In Christ Jesus, we are no longer identified by our sins but rather by His accomplishments.
If we have been exonerated from our sins then how can they be a part of us any longer? Salvation and forgiveness of sins is for everyone who recognizes that they are a sinner and in need of redemption. Accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior ushers in our new creation identity.
But deception is waiting. Deception says “you’re a lousy sinner, you’re not a Christian”. Deception says “Christians don’t act like that”. Deception says Christians don’t think like that”.
Deception says that “you are not worthy”. But Jesus says “come now let us reason together, though your sins are like scarlet I will make them white as snow”. Father values us highly. We are His prize creations. But we had a problem, sin nature. Our old crusty sin nature is what we are to surrender to Jesus Christ at our conversion.
Then we need to continuously remind ourselves that our flesh is crucified with Christ and no longer lives. Yes we have a flesh body and that’s why deception has such an easy time convincing us that our flesh is not dead. Familiarity and lazy thinking and non agreement with the Word of God fuel those lies. The truth is in Christ Jesus we are new creations and the old has gone. New life yearns to thrive. Let’s wrap ourselves around the truth and discard all the lies and doubts and fears. Let’s agree to stop saying things that just plain don’t align with the wonderful Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Father, I’m so grateful for Your grace and mercy. I am a new creation and I am thankful for Your love. I will value myself because You highly value me. I will love myself because You love me. I know that You have made me righteous and holy and blameless and I am super grateful. I will not say things that are contrary to the awesome truth in Your Word. Holy Spirit, please continue to reveal the truth to me. I’m grateful for Your teachings and leadership. I love You. In Jesus name. Amen.