2 Cor 5:17-21 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation:
A new creature: This term edified within the Greek words translated here infers something that did not exist before. So this is not about changing a few things about yourself to comply with the scripture. Instead, it is about you being able to be someone who never lived before.
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.;
If God is not holding our sins against us, then should we hold others’ sins against them? The interesting fact is that many hold on to what others do either against them or someone else, some to the extent they see them as unbelievers though they are truly born again. If you, as a believer, consider yourself as holding a righteous bit of relationship with Christ, then you must reconcile any offenses you believe exist.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
As God has reconciled you with Him through Christ, He holds none of your past offenses against you. And since no believer holds a position higher than one just a little lower than God in the realm of spiritual prowess, you must be willing to reconcile.
Psalm 8:3-9 (AMP) When I view and consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained and established, 4 What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him? 5 Yet You have made him but a little lower than God [or heavenly beings], and You have crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet:
So what is this reconciliation? It is you restoring a relationship, but it requires certain issues to be resolved or brought to be compatible with a belief common to all who participate.
This is where many are at odds in their confession about how to relate to another believer who is not of the same foundation, as they view relationships by using worldly mannerisms.
Rom 15:1-7 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. 3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
Every believer in Christ is given a new heart, a new manner of life, a new spirit, and hope for the calling of God. Thus, the glory that God has set before them will reflect His glory in them and through them as they edify one another in a true relationship status.
4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
Suppose God can bear a believer’s imperfections as His Children, then they too can bear the imperfections of others. The word of God outlines there is to be an understanding of God’s desire in the manner of life as His Children. Their influence on those who enter a relationship with them through the salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ is critical to that manner of life being right in God’s sight.
Col 3:5-10 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
Believers may find it easy to cast off those old worldly sins and mannerisms, but when it comes to having a relationship with others, most especially other believers, they find it is not the same.
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
Since each of us has our own personality founded in our nature to do as we see fit, it causes faults in the sight of others. These faults can be the foundation of anguish, malice, and even wrath that causes a spoken manner, that instead of edifying, usually ends up caustically filthy.
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
However, one who is discerning of what this new man living is all about will not follow the world’s way of things but rather be one willing to do as God does.
Roms 12:5-18 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Believers can offer themselves as a living whole but remain individually different in their character.
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
No one is better than anyone else; all have been given offices, functions, and businesses to honor others. Thus, give to fulfill the body’s needs through gifts of either ministry or otherwise, honoring and preferring one another not to accommodate sins but differences.
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
You do notice Paul is talking to believers here! I am sure he, like us today, sees some believers treating unbelievers in ways much better than they treat another sibling of God. But keep in mind that any believer under persecution is so by the world because of faith in Christ, not some sibling rivalry.
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Learning to help those who need it and not become arrogant by it is something many struggles with simply because they have not come to understand the truth concerning how they are to be in life. A believer will never please everyone, meaning there are some; you will need to find a way to live in peace like it or not.
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
