For those who are in Christ, everything is new. The old man is dead and the new man is alive in Christ. When the old man was “buried,” his old nature, habits, tendencies, and attitudes were supposed to be buried with Him. The ‘old man’ represents our lives before Christ. We are now one with Christ: 1 Corinthians 6:17 says: “But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.”This is a very revealing truth. I say that because Proverbs 21:4 defines several aspects of the old nature that continue to live in the lives of many Christians: Proverbs 21:4: “Arrogance, superiority, and pride are the fruits of wickedness and the true definition of sin.” If we are born again, these aspects of the old nature must not be part us anymore. Pride destroyed the archangel lucifer. Pride, and arrogance will destroy our walk with God. Proverbs 16:18 (TPT) says: “Your boast becomes a prophecy of a future failure. The higher you lift up yourself in pride, the harder you’ll fall in disgrace.” Did you read that? Pride is like a prophesy guaranteeing future failure! If you are in Christ, reject pride, arrogance and superiority. It’s no longer part of your nature. Instead, allow the fruits of the Spirit to be seen in your life: love, joy peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galations 5:22,23). This way, everyone around you will see your new man (nature) and see “Christ in you!”
Who’s leading you?
Romans 8:14 says: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, to be “led” means: to be guided on a way especially by following someone going in advance; to be directed on a course or in a direction. Those that are led by the Spirit of God are following the Spirit’s promptings and do as the Spirit leads. This means that you can observe a person and see if they are really “sons of God” because if they are led to live sinfully, it is clear that they are not being led by the Spirit of God. The works of the flesh are clearly mentioned in Galations 5: 19-21: “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” If we are continually allowing the above works to flow out of our lives, we are not being led by the Spirit. The fruits of the Spirit are also evident. In Galations 5: 22-26: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” These are the fruits that God desires to see flowing out of our lives. It will happen as we learn to submit to His Spirit. Make a self-analysis. What is flowing out of you? If it is not the fruits of the Spirit, then check your heart, repent and turn back to God and be led by the Spirit of God!
Romans 8:14 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”
