New Creations in Christ Jesus!

“We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.” – James 3:2 NIV

Would it be GREAT if we are all righteous before the Lord? Yes, it would be great and actually be in His presence all the time! However, we are all sinners, for “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23); we became sinners through Adam, the first man created by God [READ: Genesis 1-4].

When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. (Romans 5:12)

This is why God came down from heaven into the world as Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:6-8, Colossians 1:15) to crucify Himself on the cross, in order to disarm the spiritual powers, authorities, and rulers (Colossians 2:13-15).

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil--and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. (Hebrews 2:14-15)

So that we could be new creations in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17) to be the righteousness of God!

For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (1 Peter 2:24-25)

Therefore, since we are new creations in Christ Jesus, we need to live our lives like Him as 1 John 2:5-6 states: “… This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”

For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. (1 Peter 2:21)

Because of this, we also need to repent each time for going through the wide road rather than the narrow road, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matthew 3:2)

“… there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. (Luke 15:7)

This is because wide road leads us to destruction as we can see this in Matthew 7:13-14: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”