NEW CREATIONS IN THE MESSIAH JESUS

What New Creations [members of the New Humanity] in the Messiah Jesus should know about who they are and what are they to do from now to the end of this age. 

FIRST: Live by the creed of the lord Messiah Jesus. 

Mark 12:28-32

The Great Commandment – The creed of the lord Messiah Jesus 

²⁸ And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 

²⁹ Jesus answered, “The most important is:

‘Hear, O Israel: Yehovah is God, Yehovah is one. [Deuteronomy 6:4-6] ³⁰ And you shall love Yehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 

³¹ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 

³² And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that He is one, and there is no other besides Him.

Note: To be able to keep the creed of the Messiah Jesus you will need the enabling power of the spirit of God to do so! Any attempt to try to keep the creed of the Messiah Jesus in your own power will fail miserably. Submit to the Kingship of God and seek His enabling power to succeed in all you do. He will never require anything of you without providing you with the power to accomplish His will. Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, and knock and the door will open for you to walk through! Remind yourself that as the Messiah Jesus gave his all for you, you should be willing to give your all for him.   

SECOND: How do we live according to the creed of the lord Messiah Jesus?

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians explains how we can love our God and Father Yehovah will all our heart, mind, being, and strength and how to love our neighbors as ourselves. 

Let's see how Paul’s letter to the Ephesians does this. 

Ephesians 1 

Greeting 

Paul, an apostle of the Messiah Jesus by the will of God,

To the saints who are also faithful in the Messiah Jesus: ² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the lord Jesus the Messiah. 

Spiritual Blessings in the Messiah 

³ Blessed be the God and the Father of our lord Jesus the Messiah, who has blessed us in the Messiah with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, ⁴ even as He foreordained us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. 

In love ⁵ He predestined [marked us out beforehand] for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus the Messiah, according to the purpose of His will, ⁶ to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved.

⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, ⁸ which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight ⁹ making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which He outlined in the Messiah [His chosen one] ¹⁰ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 

¹¹ In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined [marked out beforehand] according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, ¹² so that we who were the first to hope in the Messiah might be to the praise of his glory. ¹³ In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the glad tidings of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ which is the down payment of our inheritance until God redeems His possession, to the praise of His glory. 

Thanksgiving and Prayer 

¹⁵ For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, ¹⁶ I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, ¹⁷ that the God of our lord Jesus the Messiah, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, ¹⁸ having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might ²⁰ that He worked in the Messiah when He raised him from the dead and seated him at His right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. ²² And He put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the called-out assembly, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. 

Ephesians 2 

By Grace Through Faith 

2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins ² in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience; ³ among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 

⁴ But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with the Messiah; ⁶ and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in the Messiah Jesus, ⁷ so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in the Messiah Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in the Messiah Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 

One in the Messiah 

¹¹ Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision [Israel], which is made in the flesh by hands; ¹² remember that you were at that time separated from the Messiah, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 

¹³ But now in the Messiah Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah [his sin-offering sacrifice]. ¹⁴ For he is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility ¹⁵ by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, ¹⁶ and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross [stake], thereby killing the hostility. ¹⁷ And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. ¹⁸ For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 

¹⁹ So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints [holy ones] and members of the household of God, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, the Messiah Jesus himself being the cornerstone, ²¹ in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy Temple in the lord. ²² In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God in the Spirit. 

Ephesians 3 

The Mystery of the Gospel Revealed 

1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of the Messiah Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles; ² assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, ³ how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. ⁴ When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of the Messiah, ⁵ which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. ⁶ This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in the Messiah Jesus through the gospel. 

⁷ Of this gospel, I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of His power. ⁸ To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of the Messiah, ⁹ and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages by God, who created all things, ¹⁰ so that through the called-out assembly the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was according to the eternal purpose that He has realized in Messiah Jesus our lord, ¹² in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. ¹³ So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. 

Prayer for Spiritual Strength 

¹⁴ For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family^[c] in heaven and on earth is named, ¹⁶ that according to the riches of His glory, He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of the Messiah that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 

²⁰ Now to Him who can do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, ²¹ to Him be glory in the called-out assembly and in the Messiah Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. 

Ephesians 4 

Unity in the Body of the Messiah 

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, ² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³ eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit; just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call; ⁵ one lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. ⁷ But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of the Messiah's gift. ⁸ Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high, he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men/women.” ⁹ (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰ He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) ¹¹ And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds-teachers, ¹² to equip the saints [holy ones] for the work of ministry, for building up the body of the Messiah [the called-out assembly], ¹³ until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to full grown manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Messiah, ¹⁴ so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.¹⁵ Rather speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into the Messiah, ¹⁶ from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. 

The New Life 

¹⁷ Now this I say and testify in the lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. ¹⁸ They are darkened in their understanding,  alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. ¹⁹ They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 

²⁰ That is not the way you learned the Messiah!  ²¹ Assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, ²² to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, ²³ and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. 

²⁵ Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. ²⁶ Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and give no opportunity to the devil. ²⁸ Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. ²⁹ Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. ³² Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in the Messiah forgave you. 

Ephesians 5 

Walk in Love 

Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children. ² And walk in love, as the Messiah loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 

³ But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. ⁴ Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. ⁵ For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience ⁷ Therefore do not become partners with them; ⁸ for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the lord. 

Walk as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), ¹⁰ and try to discern what is pleasing to the lord. ¹¹ Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. ¹² For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. ¹³ But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, ¹⁴ for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says: 

“Awake, O sleeper,
    and arise from the dead,
and the Messiah will shine on you.” 

¹⁵ Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the lord with your heart, ²⁰ giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus the Messiah, ²¹ submitting to one another out of reverence for the Messiah. 

Wives and Husbands 

²² Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the lord. ²³ For the husband is the head of the wife even as the Messiah is the head of the called-out assembly, his body, and is himself its savior. ²⁴ Now as the called-out assembly submits to the Messiah, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. 

²⁵ Husbands love your wives, as the Messiah loved the called-out assembly and gave himself up for her, ²⁶ that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, ²⁷ so that he might present the called-out assembly to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and blameless. 

²⁸ In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Messiah does the called-out assembly, ³⁰ because we are members of his body. ³¹ “Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” ³² This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to the Messiah and the called-out assembly. ³³ However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. 

Ephesians 6 

Children and Parents 

Children, obey your parents in the lord, for this is right. ² “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), ³ “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” ⁴ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the lord. 

Bondservants and Masters 

⁵ Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would the Messiah, ⁶ not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of the Messiah, doing the will of God from the heart, ⁷ rendering service with a good will as to the lord and not to man, ⁸ knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. ⁹ Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master^[c] and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him. 

The Whole Armor of God 

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 

¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, ¹⁹ and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. 

Final Greetings 

²¹ So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the lord will tell you everything. ²² I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts. ²³ Peace be to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith, from God the Father and the lord Jesus the Messiah. ²⁴ Grace be with all who love our lord Jesus the Messiah with love incorruptible. 

If we abide by all that Paul has written in his letter to the saints at Ephesus then we will be living our God and Father Yehovah with all our hearts, minds, beings, and strength and loving our neighbors as ourselves and thus keeping the creed of the lord Messiah Jesus. 

Books could be written to explain Paul’s letter to the Ephesians and still, there is more to comprehend. It is an amazing instructive and corrective letter that we all should heed! 

P.S. As New Creations in the lord Messiah Jesus we are members of the New Humanity that God has created since Adam’s rebellion. The Federal head of the New Humanity is the lord Messiah Jesus as Adam was the Federal head of all his descendants.

You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, and you should show forth the praises of Him who called out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, given God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by renewing your mind. Then you can test and approve God’s will; His good, pleasing, and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2

As New Creations in the Messiah Jesus, we will as glorified immortal men and women co-rule with him when our God and Father Yehovah sends him down to take his place on the throne of David at Zion. The Messiah will establish a Theocratic Government that will rule the nations and all those in him will be given positions of service in that government.

It is the members of the New Humanity that will enter into the New Earth and New Heavens that God will create after the White Throne Judgement, and after the earth is cleansed by fire.

Only those who are glorified and immortal members of the New Humanity will enter into the New Earth and New Heavens and our God and Father Yehovah will come down to dwell on earth at Zion where He has placed his name and He with the lord Jesus will dwell there with access given to all those who are there to communicate with them face to face. 

What a glorious future we can broadcast to all people to show them the result of submitting to the Kingship of Yehovah and to the one whom he has sent, the lord Messiah Jesus, and decide to repent and obey all the words Yehovah gave to His son to give to mankind to obey, and thus to receive all the blessing that would follow that obedience! 

Let’s be about the work we have been given to do enabled by the spirit of our God and Father Yehovah!

Written by Bruce Lyon