You Are Designed To Be The Best Person You Could Ever

Be

2 Corinthians 5:17

2 Corinthians 5:17Expanded Bible (EXB)

17 If anyone belongs to Christ, ·there is a new creation [the new creation has

arrived; or that person has become a new creation]. The old things have gone; [L look; T behold] ·everything is made

new [the new has come]!

2 Corinthians 5:17 New Living Translation (NLT)

17This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a

new person. The old life is gone;

a new life has begun!2 Corinthians 5:17

EPHESIANS 6:12 New International Version

For our struggle is not against flesh and

blood, but against the rulers, against the

authorities, against the powers of this

dark world and against the spiritual forces

of evil in the heavenly realms

•“If there is to be reconciliation, first there must be truth.”

― Timothy B. Tyson

Carnal vs Spiritual

•The carnal man acts from old principles,

•by old rules, with miserable ends,

•and in old company

•The renewed man acts from new principles,

•by new rules, with new ends,

•and in new company

• spir·it·u·al

• s̍piriCHo͞oəl/Submit

• adjective

• 1.of, relating to, or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things.

• "I'm responsible for his spiritual welfare"

• synonyms:nonmaterial, incorporeal, intangible; More

• antonyms: physical

• (of a person) not concerned with material values or pursuits.

• 2.of or relating to religion or religious belief.

• "the tribe's spiritual leader"

• synonyms:religious, sacred, divine, holy, nonsecular, church, ecclesiastical, faith-based, devotional More

• antonyms: secular

car·nal

k̍ärnl/Submit

adjective: carnal

1.relating to physical, esp. sexual, needs and activities.

"carnal desire“ “fleshly desire”

synonyms:sexual, sensual, erotic, lustful, lascivious, libidinous, lecherous, licentious; anything that satisfy flesh

antonyms:spiritual

Origin

late Middle English: from Christian Latin carnalis, from caro, carn- ‘flesh.’

The truth is:• The Spirit and Human Nature

• 16 So I tell you: ·Live [Walk] ·by following [guided by; in the power of; L by] the Spirit. Then you will not do what your ·sinful self [sinful nature; T flesh] ·wants [desires; craves]. 17 Our ·sinful self [sinful nature; T flesh] ·wants [desires] what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit ·wants [desires] what is against our ·sinful self [sinful nature; T flesh]. [L For] The two are ·against [opposed to; or hostile toward] each other, so you cannot do just what you ·please [want].

Human Nature

19 The ·wrong things the sinful self does [works of theflesh/sinful nature] are ·clear [evident; obvious]: ·beingsexually unfaithful [sexual immorality], ·not beingpure [impurity], ·taking part in sexual sins [depravity;promiscuity], 20 ·worshiping gods [idolatry], ·doingwitchcraft [sorcery], ·hating[hostility; antagonism],·making trouble [discord; strife], being jealous, ·beingangry [rage], ·being selfish [rivalries], ·making peopleangry with each other [dissensions], ·causing divisionsamong people [factions], 21 feeling envy, being drunk,·having wild and wasteful parties [carousing; orgies],and doing other things like these. I warn you now as I

warned you before: Those who do these thingswill not inherit God’s kingdom.

Lets reckon things:carnal

• sexually unfaithful [sexual immorality], ·

• not being pure [impurity],

• ·taking part in sexual sins [depravity; promiscuity],

• 20 ·worshiping gods [idolatry], ·

• doing witchcraft [sorcery],

• ·hating[hostility; antagonism],

• ·making trouble [discord; strife],

• being jealous, ·being angry [rage],

• ·being selfish [rivalries],

• ·making people angry with each other [dissensions],

• ·causing divisions among people [factions],

• 21 feeling envy,

• being drunk,

• ·having wild and wasteful parties [carousing; orgies],

• and doing other things like these.

Spiritual• Spirit produces the fruit of [L fruit of the Spirit is]

• Love ,

• joy,

• peace,

• patience,

• kindness,

• goodness,

• ·faithfulness [or faith],

• 23 gentleness,

• self-control. ·

There is no law that says these things are wrong [or No law can oppose such things]. 25 ·We [L If/Since we…] ·get our new life from the Spirit [live by the Spirit], so we should ·follow [be guided by; walk in step with] the Spirit.

“The key thing to understand is that while a

Christian can be, for a time, carnal, a true

Christian will not remain carnal for a

lifetime.”

Can a Christian, in a time of failure

and/or rebellion, appear to be carnal?

Yes.

Will a true Christian remain carnal?No.

I warn you now as I warned you

before: Those who do these things will not inherit God’s

kingdom.

•The heart of the sinner is filled with enmity against God, and God is justly offended with the sinner. Yet, behold,

there may be a reconciliation; the offended Majesty of heaven is willing to

be reconciled.

• “The church is not a theological classroom. It is a conversion, confession, repentance, reconciliation,

forgiveness and sanctification center, where flawed people place their faith in Christ, gather to know and love him better, and learn to love others

as he designed.”― Paul David Tripp, Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands: People in Need of

Change Helping People in Need of Change

•“The search for Jesus is about reconciling loss and tragedy to God and us.”― W. Scott Lineberry

To End Up with:• Romans 12:2 (New International Version)

•2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

John 15New Living Translation (NLT)Jesus, the True Vine

15 “I am the true grapevine, and myFather is the gardener. 2 He cuts offevery branch of mine that doesn’tproduce fruit, and he prunes thebranches that do bear fruit so theywill produce even more.3 You havealready been pruned and purified bythe message I have given you. .

John 15New Living Translation (NLT)Jesus, the True Vine

4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you.For a branch cannot produce fruit if it issevered from the vine, and you cannot befruitful unless you remain in me.5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are thebranches. Those who remain in me, and Iin them, will produce much fruit. For apartfrom me you can do nothing. .

John 15New Living Translation (NLT)Jesus, the True Vine

6 Anyone who does not remain in me isthrown away like a useless branch andwithers. Such branches are gathered intoa pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain inme and my words remain in you, you mayask for anything you want, and it will begranted!8 When you produce much fruit,you are my true disciples. This bringsgreat glory to my Father.