The New Creation | One New Man

It’s the Lord’s will for all who become His New Creation and come into His church, to become the One New Man. Not just in a cerebral theology, but in truth, reality, and inward life. Satan is set on opposing the One New Man to come forth by interjecting divisions of the flesh. In America, the bulk of Satan’s fleshly deception has been spewing forth in three different forms: black versus white racism, Jew versus Gentile false doctrine, and an improper viewpoint of Native Americans. 

This article will examine how Satan is using fleshy and corrupted reasonings to sow division in the church. If we desire the Lord to have the One New Man through His New Creation, we must be aware of Satan’s schemes. We have to come into agreement and alignment with the Holy Spirit. 

The Natural Man

The entire human race came from Adam and Eve. So regardless of skin color, we all came from the same origin. 

“He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth..." (Acts 17:26 WEB).

Why are we dividing against each other based on skin color if we all came from the blood lines of Adam and Noah? Skin color should mean nothing, as it is the natural man. The spiritual is what matters. Once we become born again, we are a New Creation for God comes to live in us. The life of Adam begins passing away and the life of Christ comes forth in us.

“For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:27-28 WEB). 

The divisions of race are put to death when we allow the life of Christ to live through us. Even the divisions of gender are done away with in Christ. There should be no more strife between males and females, if we allow ourselves to become unified in one Spirit. We understand that males and females (though maybe different in function) are of equal value and importance. In the Spirit, there is no gender and there is no race, for those divisions are done away with in Christ. Slavery is also brought to nothing by the power of the New Creation. 

Various races that have been wronged or felt wronged in the past, are still continuing to draw lines in the sand based on race, instead of focusing on the One New Man. They cling to the color of their natural skin, instead of the inward revealing of Christ. Instead of putting on Christ, they continue to put on Adam (the natural life and the natural skin color). Believers should not be identifying as black or white, but a New Creation in Christ. We are a New Spiritual Man, not a skin color. I do not view myself as a white man, but as a follower and disciple of Jesus Christ. Those believers who are fighting for a skin color are wasting their time upon this earth. We should be fighting for Jesus and His Kingdom. Groups of blacks or whites who gather and rally around a skin color, are in fact promoting racism. This includes churches or worship groups. 

When we focus on ourselves and how we are treated, we are not living as Jesus’ true disciples. True disciples do not spend their time on “self-focus,” but are focused on the will and desire of their Master. Disciples don’t live to seek justice or fight for themselves, for they have died to this fleshly way. They live by the life of their Master, and they live for their Master’s purposes. 

Some people have been expending much of their energy addressing the the slavery of their ancestors, so that their very focus is making them have a slave-like mentality. You are what you focus on. So even though they are not slaves, they focus on the fact that others treat them like slaves; which empowers their flesh nature to hinder the New Man from coining forth (who is not in slavery to anyone except Christ). We should be focused on being a slave to Christ. I want to be a slave of Christ, not to be free from Him. This type of slavery is pure and good. 

“Art thou called being a slave? care not for it; but if thou may be made free, use it rather. For he that is called in the Lord, being a slave, is the Lord’s freeman; likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s slave.” (1 Corinthians 7:21-22 JUB)

“But now freed from sin and made slaves to God, ye have as your fruit sanctification and as the end, everlasting life.” (Romans 6:22 JUB)

Race Against Race 

Contrary to popular prophecy in the modern church, Jesus prophesied that race was going to rise against race in the time of the end (Matthew 24:7). Many translations use the word nation instead of race, but the word in the Greek is Ethnos. The word can be translated: a tribe, nation, or people group. Jesus clearly says that people groups will be rising in conflict against people groups. This obviously should not be happening with believers. If believers view themselves as a new creation in Christ instead of a certain skin color, then they will not be participating in the “rising up” of the antichrist spirit chaos that is taking place all over the world. 

Jesus’ real disciples will not engage in humanistic social justice wars to defend themselves. Jesus’ true disciples will be following the commands of their Master. 

“but I say unto you, That ye resist not with evil, but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. ¶ Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless those that curse you, do good to those that hate you, and pray for those who speak evil about you, and persecute you;” (Matthew 5:39, 43-44 JUB)

Jesus tells us how His disciples will be. They bless people that curse them, and pray for those who persecute them. That is the ways of the Kingdom of God. Earthly and carnal minded people will deal with racism and injustice in their own fleshly ways, and it will fall short of the Kingdom. Mans’ ways will cause turmoil and division. Christ’s ways bring life. We will see who Jesus’ true disciples are in the days ahead, by whether or not they follow the teachings of Jesus. Christians who go a different route than what Jesus has said, will be plainly seen for their carnal ways and identified as those who are not true followers of Jesus. If we do what we want and go our own path, then He is not our Master. 

In America we currently have the right to speak against and take a stand against being mistreated. This is our rights under the constitution and it is good. But there is also a higher way. The ways of the Kingdom of God. Jesus taught the Kingdom. Some believers will prove that their citizenship is an earthly one by primarily standing behind an earthly country. Others will prove that their citizenship is of the Kingdom of Heaven, by living from the Heavenly constitution. These believers will both hear and do the words of Jesus, thus build their house on the rock (Matthew 7:24-27). 

Forgiveness and Slavery

Jesus taught His disciples to forgive. True forgiveness means that we release the person who wronged us from any debt, or the person that we think owes us a debt. If we do not release people from the debt they owe us (or that we only think they owe us), then the Father will not forgive us for our sins against Him; and we will be in slavery. He will also turn us over to tormentors or demons (Matthew 18:21-35). We have not forgiven others if we are constantly talking about their wrongs, and demanding they make restitution or reparations. Those who hold on to unforgiveness will remain slaves. Forgiveness is the key to our freedom. 

“¶ Then Jesus said to those Jews who had believed him, If ye abide in my word, ye shall be my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free. They answered him, We are Abraham’s seed, and we have never served anyone; how sayest thou, Ye shall be set free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever commits sin is the slave of sin. And the slave does not abide in the house for ever, but the Son abides for ever. If the Son therefore shall set you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:31-36 JUB)

Many who are focused on the fact that their ancestors were once slaves, are making themselves slaves to sin by harboring unforgiveness or bad attitudes. The more people broadcast and concern themselves with racial injustice done to their ancestors, the more like their ancestral slaves they become. Only by seeing who Christ is in us, and not keeping a record of wrong; can these people truly see and be released from their slavery. The love of Christ in us and through us does not take into account the wrong done to it (1 Corinthians 13:5). If we focus on the wrong done to us or our ancestors, then we are not allowing the love of Christ to fill us, transform us, and flow through us. We are in fact giving heed to Satan’s schemes to cause division based on the flesh or the natural life of Adam. 

A victim mindset will keep believers and non-believers alike in the chains of slavery. If we view ourselves as a victim, and see another race as a people group that owes us something; then we are trapped in Satanic slavery. Many stay trapped in this continual cycle of bondage. The answer is Jesus. We can grab ahold of His powerful grace and forgive others. When we forgive, we release those people from what we think they owe us, and we stop being a victim. Then no one has power over us any longer except Jesus Christ. 

Divisions

“For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying and strife and divisions, are ye not carnal and walk as men?” (1 Corinthians 3:3 JUB)

The more that believers focus on skin color, the more divisions they will cause. Only by seeing fellow brothers and sisters as who they really are (the New Creation), does fleshly division cease. We are the One New Man with Christ living in us. Believers and unbelievers causing racial division by continuously harping on race are promoting the works of the flesh. Strife, disputes, and dissensions are mentioned in Galatians 5:20. These practices of the sin nature must cease if we are going to be unified around Jesus. 

Jesus is who we should be focusing on and preaching. Satan has been attempting to distract believers from Christ, by enlisting them in a social justice war. True disciples will discern this, and not allow themselves to get sucked into it. Christ must remain our focus, not ourselves. Satan hates Jesus and will try to turn our attention towards ourselves, and away from Christ. Will we let Satan succeed or be pawns of his evil strategy?

Suffering

True disciples are not little children in the Spirit. They are not focused on their temporal earthly lives, and making sure that everyone treats them fair. The don’t complain like small children when others don’t treat them right. True disciples are mature sons of God who know that they must endure suffering as their Master did. These true slaves of Jesus Christ understand that they will be mistreated just as their Master, and that it is an honor to follow in His footsteps.

“Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in the heavens; for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12 JUB)

Jesus says to rejoice and be glad when we are persecuted or treated poorly by others. This is how we receive a great reward in Heaven. Jesus does not say to fight back against the persecution on social media, or right a song about the injustice. Jesus does not say to take to the streets in violence against the wrongs done to us. He says rejoice. We are either going to choose the Heavenly way of God, or the carnal way of man. What we choose will determine our position with the Lord for eternity. Sadly, many believers are choosing to divide over the color of their skin, instead of God’s Heavenly way. The Lord will judge all of us for how we respond and act to the environment around us. I want to focus on Jesus and choose the ways of the Spirit. 

Anyone who cannot or will not pick up his/her cross of sufferings, cannot be a disciple of Jesus. Those believers who are not allowing Christ to be their strength, will fight back against injustice (real or perceived). They then prove to the Lord that they are unfit to be His disciples, and are not willing to carry their crosses of sufferings, trials, persecutions, and attacks. Many of these believers are trying to save their earthly lives, and by doing so they are losing their higher spiritual life that is found in Christ alone. A true disciple prepares for mistreatment and persecution because his/her Master said it was coming:

“¶ If the world hates you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love its own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The slave is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my word, they will keep yours also.” (John 15:18-20 JUB)

“Then they shall deliver you up to be afflicted and shall kill you, and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended and shall betray one another and shall hate one another.” (Matthew 24:9-10 JUB)

Real men and women of God will not cry like children when injustice is done to them. Instead, by the grace of God, they will endure hardship like good soldiers of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:3-4). They will suffer like their Master did. Real men and women of God are not victims, nor are they slaves to men. They have one purpose: to know their Master and become like Him. They put aside all the earthly and carnal nonsense of the natural man in order to attain to the high Heavenly calling. Here is the attitude of real disciples:

So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. (Acts 5:41).  

Americans

Dictionary.com defines “native” as: being the place or environment in which a person was born or a thing came into being: one's native land; and born in a particular place or country. 

Therefore whoever is born in America is a Native American (obviously the same applies to other countries). Since all people came from Adam and Eve, then the original Native Americans moved to America as well. No one was originally here, but we all came here. Many in this country feel that there should be separation between the Native Americans who have been here the longest, and the Native Americans who have been here for the last 200-400 years or so. This is a childish reasoning and the foolishness of the natural man. This very way of thinking is in direct opposition to the One New Man and the New Creation of the Father. Many Native Americans who were in America first, stay separated from other Americans by living on government designated Reservations. This only adds to the fleshly division in America, and divides us as Americans.

Some think that the Native Americans who were here first should be called “First Nation People.” They, like school children, are exclaiming, “I was the first one in line! I deserve special treatment! I did it first!” Instead of breaking down the dividing lines and becoming one people, many are still dividing based on childish things like who was the first one to America. These works of the flesh must stop if the church in America is to become the One New Man. 

Jesus gave us a parable about people who He has called to work in His harvest (Matthew 20:1-16). Some called had to work their whole lives in ministry, while others have to work a few short years because they were called later on in life. Those who have been in ministry longer (who had seniority) start to complain against God when they saw the other ministers receive the same reward as them. Jesus exposes that their eye is evil, because He is good. 

We can learn a lot about the Lord from this understanding. He doesn’t care who started their ministry first, or who has been in ministry the longest. Jesus did not reward those who had done something first, or longer, with a greater reward. He doesn’t care who got to the U.S. first, or who has been here the longest. He cares about obedience, devotion, and hearts that are completely His. Those are the ones who will be chosen, and ranked first in the Kingdom of Heaven. Those who murmur about being first, or doing something longer; may find themselves last in the Kingdom of God. 

The seniority of man, or accomplishing something first (in terms of natural things), only fosters pride in men’s hearts. It is of the self-life or the fleshly life. The Lord will never support or encourage our natural life. He will encourage the death of it, and His life to come forth in us. Time spent walking with the Lord is valued however, because it spiritual. Friendship with the Lord is something produced over many years of faithfulness.

Many believers are stuck in an endless cycle of apologizing for the actions of their ancestors towards the first Native Americans. This is not the life of the New Creation, but a trap of Satan. When you ask someone for forgiveness, it is finished. Christ’s work was powerful enough to keep us from repetitive self-condemning cycles. Any injustice done in the past should be forgiven, so we can move on to the glorious future that the Father has planned for us. But we cannot violate the free will of others. If they want to hold on to injustice or perceived injustice; then they are disregarding the commands and counsel of Jesus Christ. If we disregard Jesus we are disrespecting Him. Those that despise the Lord through their disrespect will continue down a path of darkness, and remain slaves to their sin. They will maintain a “slavery” mentality and always think like a victim. There is freedom in Christ if they want to be free. 

Genocide and the Gospel

In the days of Moses, Canaan was a wicked land and Israel did not have possession of it. The inhabitants of the land despised God and were not planning on turning to Him. The canaanites worshipped other gods, and therefore brought the judgment of God upon themselves. How did the judgment of God come? God sent His people to wipe out the canaanites by the means of war and take possession of the land. 

“But in the fourth generation they shall come here again; for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.” (Genesis 15:16 JUB)

““When the Lord your God brings you into the land which you go to possess, and has cast out many nations before you, the Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than you, and when the Lord your God delivers them over to you, you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them.” (Deuteronomy 7:1-2 NKJV)

The Lord used His followers to almost completely destroy entire people groups who served false gods. The Lord did this in mercy, because in His great foresight He understand that the Canaanites would not repent and worship the true God (therefore they would send themselves to Hell anyway). Also, he did not want His own people to be corrupted by the worship of false gods. 

The Bible says that Jesus Christ is eternally the same, and that God does not change (Hebrews 13:8, Malachi 3:6). He cannot change because He is perfect. If God changed or needed to change then it would mean that He is not perfect. And if He is not perfect, then He is not God. So we know that He is perfect, and that He has always been merciful; and that He will always be a righteous Judge. 

Jesus came as a New Testament prophet and brought forth a New Covenant. Yet He prophesied destruction and judgment on His own people, because they would not turn to the One true God (Luke 19:41-44). One million Jews were killed and the temple was destroyed at the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophetic word 40 years later when the Roman army invaded Jerusalem. God is not a respecter of persons. He judges equally and fairly. 

The United States of America has been turning away from God over the last decades, and is at great risk of judgment through war and invasion. Before America was discovered by Europeans, the first Native Americans were practicing idolatry; and all of them were on a course for Hell. Only by the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ are we granted access to Heaven. In the Lord’s great mercy He sent Europeans to America so they could have freedom to worship Him. Could this have been a judgment on the first Native Americans (who were already destined for Hell)? Just as the Lord used Israel to judge the inhabitants of Canaan, did He use the European settlers to judge the first Native Americans for worshiping false gods (which was causing their own children to be destined for Hell)?

Through God’s mercy, Christianity was introduced in America (even if Europeans didn’t go about it in the correct way). It gave the first people to America an opportunity to repent of their idolatry, and know the true and living God. Now everyone in America has the opportunity to know Christ. We can see the introduction of the Gospel in America as mercy, or we can focus on the negative things inflicted on the first Native Americans by carnal Europeans when they arrived to America. The choice is ours, but I refuse to live in the mistakes of the past (including my own mistakes). We must forget those things that are behind, and press on to those things that are ahead (Philippians 3:13).

My ancestors did not come to America until the 1870’s, so I wouldn’t have anything to repent for on behalf of my ancestors for how they treated the first Native Americans. However, I do not associate with my ancestors or with a skin color. I am a New Creation, not a German American. The carnal man will take sides with his own nationality, race, or with his ancestors. What does the carnal man (of the same skin color or race) have to do with me? I am an entirely different creation, and I am apart of a holy and Heavenly nation (1 Peter 2:9). I will not allow people to group me in a category or associate me with others based upon my skin color, and then tell me I need to repent for the sins of that skin color. I am associated with the saints in Heaven and on the Earth. Those of the Spirit are my tribe, my people group, my nation, and my family.

In this nation we should all be Americans. Not divided into groups like Native Americans and Americans. Not divided such as African Americans and European Americans. Whoever was born in America is a Native American regardless of skin color or any other fleshly distinction. If we want to enjoy peace and reach our full potential, we must let the past go. Those who hold on to the past will be slaves inwardly, even though they may be free physically. 

What all of us need to be focusing on is allowing the Holy Spirit to build us into the One New Man, and Christ’s New Creation coming forth in fullness. We should be contending for the Lord having His way by building us into a dwelling place in the Spirit where He can rest. A spiritual place in which we will enter into our rest. It’s the desire of the Father and the Son to make their abode in us, and this will happen if we will choose to walk in the ways of the Holy Spirit. But to do this we must let the ways of the flesh be done away with. The Holy Spirit will correct our carnal mindsets if we will let Him. 

The Jewish People

In recent years, it seems the church has once again bitten into the apple from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Many have been making more distinctions of the flesh. Mainly with an unhealthy viewpoint of Israel and Jewish believers. The scriptures shine light on this issue. We should adjust our understanding according to the light of the scriptures, and forsake the false doctrine of men. 

If the Bible teaches us anything, it is that no one is special. Every person and race is sinful. This includes the nation of Israel and the Jewish people. Jesus is the only one who is special, and the only man to walk the earth without sin. All Jewish people or descendants from any other tribe of Israel, will go to Hell apart from Jesus Christ. Many Christians think that Jews have Father God, because “they worship the same God of the Old Testament.” This teaching is false. 

“Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.” (I John 2:22-23 NKJV ).

John clearly states that anyone who denies the Son, does not have the Father. If someone does not have the Father then they are not worshiping the God of the Old Testament. This is because the Father and the Son are One. Most Jewish people reject Jesus as the Christ, and as God. Therefore they are rejecting the Father also. They do not have eternal life abiding in them, but death. No one who has eternal death abiding in them is special or chosen. Jesus is the only special One and Chosen One. So only those who have Jesus living in them are special or chosen. Since God is not racist, everyone on earth has the same opportunity to become a child of God. 

“He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:11-13 NKJV)

The Holy Spirit makes it clear in the scriptures that the Jewish people are not considered children of God simply because they are decedents of Israel. One must receive Jesus Christ inwardly and be born of the Spirit, in order to be granted the right to become a child of God. Some leaders in the church are still teaching and preaching after the flesh, instead of according to the Spirit. These leaders are still labeling natural Israel as God’s people or children. Obviously this is a false mindset and teaching. Only those who are of the Spirit, are God’s children or His people. 

To go a step further, many Jews are under the influence of an antichrist spirit, according to 1 John 2:22-23. A Jewish man (John) said this. Obviously John was walking in the revelation of the New Creation and the One New Man. He no longer viewed Himself as a Jewish man according to the natural life of Adam. If only the church could get this revelation also! Paul got it. He considered his life and achievements as a Jew to be worthless and embraced his new life in Jesus Christ:

“though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:4-8 NKJV)

When we choose to embrace our new higher life in Christ, the fleshly divisions of Adam fade away. Paul was not fighting for his former earthly life as a Jew. He was fighting for Christ to have His way, and the New Creation to come forth. Paul understood the One New Man, and that the spiritual is what matters to the Lord. Paul stated that Abraham’s true spiritual descendants were believers or Christians:

“just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.” (Galatians 3:6-7 NKJV)

Paul understood that true Jews and the real Israel, were those born again through the revelation knowledge of Jesus Christ (not a natural people):

“For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.” (Romans 2:28-29 NKJV)

“But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.” (Romans‬ ‭9:6-8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

The Hebrew word for Israel means: “God prevails,” or “He will rule as God.” The only people that God rules over are those people who choose Him and accept Him as their King or Ruler. Therefore people who reject Christ as Ruler, are not apart of Israel. True spiritual Israel has Christ as their King, and there are no exceptions.

“He that hates me hates my Father also.” (John‬ ‭15:23‬ ‭JUB‬‬)

If someone rejects Jesus as a false prophet, then they by their belief system, are saying Jesus is a liar; and thus hating Him. If people detest Jesus, then they detest the Father also, even if they claim to worship and love the Father. Since the Father and Son are One (John 10:30), you can’t hate one and love the other. Those who hate the Father by hating the Son are not God’s people. The Father loves those who both love and believe in His Son:

“for the Father himself loves you because ye have loved me and have believed that I came out from God.” (John‬ ‭16:27‬ ‭JUB‬‬)

I heard a well-known pastor say that he invited a Jewish Rabbi who does not believe in Jesus as the Messiah, to speak to the congregation. He did this in order to honor Israel as God’s people. But believers in Jesus are God’s people. And the Jewish Rabbi does not have the Spirit of God in him. Therefore an antichrist spirit would be ministering, speaking, and teaching believers who have the Holy Spirit. Something is seriously wrong with this, but many in the church are blind to it.

Paul preached and taught of a Heavenly Jerusalem that is life, not of an earthy and carnal Jerusalem that is death, bondage, and slavery (Galatians 4:21-31). We are what we focus on and preach. Obviously the Father loves the Jewish people and desires them to accept His Son so they can partake of eternal life. The scriptures tell us that only a remnant of Israel will do so and be saved (Romans 9:27).

Romans 11:2-5 explains that the Lord has always had a remnant of His people who He foreknew. Those who worshiped Baal during the time of Elijah were not considered the people of God. There was however a remnant of 7,000 who worshiped the living God. The Lord foresaw that these people would choose Him over Baal and stay faithful to Him. Those people who He foresaw choosing Him, He foreknew them; that they would be His people. Those of the flesh are not His people, only those of the spiritual (Romans 9:6-8).

Jesus was confronted by Pilate, and Jesus’ response reveals much understanding to who His subjects or people are:

“Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”” (John‬ ‭18:33-36‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

Pilate makes a good point to Jesus. Basically he is saying to Jesus, “If you are the King of the Jews, why would your own subjects or people turn you over to be killed?” Jesus’ response reveals this line of thought, “My subjects and people are not these people (the Jews are not my subjects). My subjects are of the Kingdom of Heaven. If the Jews were my people, they would be fighting for me instead of turning me over to die. Just because someone is a Jew in the natural like me, does not mean they are my servants. Race does not matter, only the spiritual.”

The Father does not favor people according to race, He favors people according to faith. Specifically, people who choose to accept His Son. If the Father favored people according to race, He would be a racist. We get God’s favor when we believe Him. Then it is accounted to us as righteous, like Abraham. Since the Lord is fair and righteous, He is not a respecter of persons (meaning He does not favor people unfairly). We all have an equal opportunity to seek Him and know Him; and thus be favored and chosen by Him.

Both Jews and Gentiles are from the bloodline of Noah, who was chosen of God because of his right standing before the Almighty. So does that mean that Jews and Gentiles are chosen and special, since they came from Noah’s bloodline? Of course not. Those who have the Holy Spirit inside of them are chosen, because the Chosen One is living inside of them. We become chosen of God when we choose Him. Any Jew or Gentile can choose Christ at any time, for the Lord is not a respecter of races.

The Promises

The Holy Spirit, through Paul, made it clear that the promises were not given to Abraham's seed in the natural (the Jewish people). The promises were for Christ and His seed (believers):

Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ.  (Galatians 3:16 NKJV).

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.  (Galatians 3:28, 29 NKJV)

This scripture crystallizes the point. There is no Jew or Gentile in Christ. Only One New Man. There is no Messianic believer or Gentile believer, but only a believer in Christ. The flesh dies in Christ because it profits nothing. Only the Spirit gives life. Then Galatians 3:29 goes on the say, “if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed."

So only those who are born again believers in Jesus are Abraham's seed. Only those who are Abraham's seed are heirs of the promises. The spiritual children (Christians) of Abraham inherit the promises, not the natural children (the Jews). 

Here is the initial promise that the scripture is referring to: And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. (Genesis 13:14-16 KJV).

The land of Israel was promised to Abraham's seed forever. This is an eternal issue. The New Jerusalem coming out of Heaven is eternal. The Jewish people will not possess the land forever. Only Christ (the seed), and those who have Christ living on the inside will possess the land forever:

That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. (Genesis 22:17-18 KJV).

Again, Abraham's seed are Christians. In Christians shall all the nations be blessed. Only those who have faith in Christ are sons of Abraham: just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. (Galatians 3:6, 7 NKJV)

Both Jesus and John the Baptist had to war against a carnal mindset that reasoned, “we are special, chosen, and spiritual because of our race or our fleshly heritage.” They waged a spiritual battle against spiritual pride. John dealt with this deception by releasing the truth:

“and do not presume to say to yourselves [as a defense], ‘We have Abraham for our father [so our inheritance assures us of salvation]’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children (descendants) for Abraham.” (Matthew‬ ‭3:9‬ ‭AMP‬‬)

Jesus spoke the truth to the Jewish people also:

“They answered, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you are [truly] Abraham’s children, then do the works of Abraham and follow his example. But as it is, you want to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God. This is not the way Abraham acted. You are doing the works of your [own] father.” They said to Him, “We are not illegitimate children; we have one [spiritual] Father: God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father [but He is not], you would love and recognize Me, for I came from God [out of His very presence] and have arrived here. For I have not even come on My own initiative [as self-appointed], but He [is the One who] sent Me. Why do you misunderstand what I am saying? It is because [your spiritual ears are deaf and] you are unable to hear [the truth of] My word. You are of your father the devil, and it is your will to practice the desires [which are characteristic] of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks what is natural to him, for he is a liar and the father of lies and half-truths. But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me [and continue in your unbelief]. Which one of you [has proof and] convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? Whoever is of God and belongs to Him hears [the truth of] God’s words; for this reason you do not hear them: because you are not of God and you are not in fellowship with Him.”” (John‬ ‭8:39-47‬ ‭AMP‬‬)

According to Jesus (the One whose opinion actually matters), the Jewish leaders were sons of the Devil (not children of God or God’s people), because they were bound and controlled by the sin nature. This was true of the majority of the Jewish people at the time, because most wanted Jesus dead (Matthew 27:25). Jesus also tells the Jewish people that they are not of God and they don’t belong to God, because they can’t hear God’s word through Him. So why are numerous pastors and leaders declaring that the Jewish people are God’s people, when Jesus said they were not? Who are we going to believe, the words of Jesus or the words of leaders in the current church?

Whoever is not in fellowship with God, is not Gods’. Jews today are still controlled by the sin nature and thus children of Satan. This is also true of all Gentiles today who do not know Jesus Christ. Without Christ we are all dead in our sins. In Him is eternal life.

The Religious Spirit

I understand that the Lord has called some believers to pray for Israel, and to even go and do ministry there. Do what the Lord has called you to do and be blessed in it. But the warning is: Jesus Christ must be the focus. If we are talking more about a people group, a nation, and a natural city than we are Christ; then we are getting off course. A religious spirit is attempting to trap believers in bondage by getting them to focus on natural Israel and the Jewish people. The religious spirit says that it is very spiritual to do so. It’s interesting that Jesus never preached this line of thinking. Jesus directed all the attention to His Father and His Heavenly Kingdom. Jesus came releasing the New Creation, not contending for the old one. The religious spirit preaches the old creation, and that is how we can tell the difference between the Holy Spirit and the religious spirit.

The religious spirit teaches that traveling to natural Jerusalem to worship God is more spiritual. It says that if we add natural Old Testament activities in with our Christian worship, we will attain to a higher level spiritually. Jesus had something different to say:

“Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”” (John‬ ‭4:21, 23-24‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

Jesus states that in order to worship the Father, one MUST worship Him in the Spirit. This means that one must actually have the Holy Spirit in them to be able to worship the Father. Therefore one must believe that Jesus is the Messiah, so that the Holy Spirit will dwell in them. Current Jews who don’t believe in Jesus and don’t have the Holy Spirit, cannot worship the Father in Spirit and truth. Believers who get caught up in attempting to worship the Father through natural ways or Old Testament acts, are not worshiping the Father in Spirit and truth. God, who is a Spirit, can truly only be worshiped in the Spirit.

The religious spirit will do anything it can to trap people in bondage by releasing false mindsets. If it can get us focusing on celebrating the Jewish feasts and thinking there is spiritual significance in that; then it has accomplished its purpose. That purpose is: distract from Christ and make believers think they need “to do” other things so that they will be spiritual. The religious spirits want us to be trapped in doing religious things in order to try and be spiritual, instead of abiding in Christ who is spiritual. Only by communion with the true and living God do we have spiritual life. If we allow the religious spirit to place us in a prison cell of carnal thinking, we help that spirit put us in bondage.

Like Peter on the “Mount of Transfiguration,” the religious spirit tries to get us focusing on natural and carnal things. Peter wanted to celebrate the feast of tabernacles and build some booths while the glory of the Father was already over them as a covering (Matthew 17:1-6). Do we want to be tabernacled in God’s thick glory, or make a natural booth in an attempt to celebrate and be spiritual? I’m choosing to seek the Lord and wait in His weighty presence. I want to be tabernacled in Christ, who is the Passover Lamb.

Some believers are attempting to go back to the feasts like Peter was attempting to do. The enteral Son of God was before Peter, and Peter turned his heart to natural things. In essence, Peter was saying, “Something needs to be added to Christ and the glory of the Father. Let’s add a natural thing, so that it will be more spiritual, or so things will be better. Let’s do a natural thing to honor God.”

There are certain leaders and believers who think that it is more spiritual to call Jesus by His Hebrew name, “Yeshua.” These believers always use the Hebrew name when saying the name of Jesus. Some read from a Bible translation that translates most words into English, accept it translates Jesus’ name as Yeshua. It’s interesting to note that this would be an improper translation of New Testament scripture.

The New Testament was overseen by Holy Spirit, and it was written in Greek, not Hebrew. The Lord could have had it written in Hebrew just like the Old Testament, if He wanted it to be; but He did not. The Greek word used in the New Testament for the name of Jesus is “Iesous.” Those of us that speak English don’t go around saying His name in Greek. The Lord wants us to use His name in whatever language we speak, since He is the God of all who choose to come to Him. Hebrew is not the language of Heaven, any more than English or Greek would be. God can communicate without using an earthly language at all. He can speak heart to heart, without any words.

The religious spirit will always try and trap man in natural things under the guise of those things being more spiritual. “We need to say Jesus’ name in Hebrew, because it’s the original language of God,” the religious spirit might whisper. Well God is not a Hebrew, and speaking a natural language of men does not make one spiritual. If using the Greek language was an unacceptable way to say God’s name, then the Holy Spirit wouldn’t have had men use it. In fact, the Holy Spirit used Greek to bust men out of a religious mindset. It’s sad that many are being bound by the religious spirit yet again. If I spoke Hebrew then I would say Jesus’ name in Hebrew. However I speak English so I will say His name in English. Be free to say the Lord’s name in whatever language you speak. Don’t be bound by the religious spirit operating in the church.

The current church is now struggling with some of the same issues that the early church was struggling with. They didn’t fully understand the New Creation and the inward life. Instead of inward communion with the God who lives within, they (like us) were attempting to do outward things. The words of Paul to the church in Galiatia are just as relevant to us right now:

“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians‬ ‭3:1-3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

Christ desires us to come inward with Him, where true life is. This is worshiping the Father in Spirit and truth. The religious spirit tries to get us to worship God outwardly in carnal ways in order to keep true worship from the Lord.

Jewish Believers vs Gentile Believers 

Some in the church have been creating further divisions in the flesh by separating according to race. Their reasoning is that Jewish believers still need keep some of the law, celebrate certain feast days, worship together, and observe special rituals of their culture. They are teaching two different churches: a Jewish church and a Gentile church. This way of thinking is in direct opposition with scripture and the coming together of the One New Man:

“Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (II Corinthians 5:16-17 NKJV)

We are told by the Spirit not to regard one another after the flesh any longer, but by the spiritual. If we divide by race, we are continuing down the path of racial division. We are embracing the natural life, and rejecting the spiritual life of the New Creation. Christ is spiritual and Christ is enough. In Him is the fulfillment of the feasts. In Him is the fulfillment of every type and shadow. Being with Jesus and becoming one with Him, is the feast and rest that He desires. All of our religious activities, programs, and laws; take us away from the Lamb and bog us down in a religious system. 

Some leaders have been preaching natural Israel just as much as Christ. Obviously the Father wants all to come to repentance and be saved (including natural Israel). But the Lord doesn’t want preachers to replace Jesus with natural Israel. This replacement theology must come to a stop. Leaders are called to promote Jesus Christ and His Heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22-24, Revelation 21:2). The Lord is focused on His Heavenly and spiritual city of God coming forth (the New Jerusalem), while some leaders are focused on a natural and earthly city of Jerusalem. This reveals the carnal mindedness of leaders in the current church. We need to be focused on our Father’s business, which is of the spiritual nature. 

We should be progressing in the Lord, in which there is no longer any distinction in believers (in the natural). Race or who we are in the natural shouldn’t even be a consideration, for we are one in Him. We are not two different churches (Messianic believers and regular Gentile believers). This reasoning is nothing but fleshly garbage, fostered by the natural life of man. The Bible never teaches this (only the fleshly reasoning of man). The book of Acts is a history of what happened, not a blueprint of how the Holy Spirit wants everything done. The truth is revealed in Christ and the epistles. We must let the Spirit make us into the One New Man, as the scriptures teach. Speaking of Jewish believers and Gentile believers:

“For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.” (Ephesians 2:14-18 NKVJ)

There is one body of Christ, not two separate bodies or churches (Ephesians 4:4). The religious spirit seeks to divide the body of Christ by making Jewish and Gentile believers divided; just as this religious spirit tried to do throughout the book of Acts. Anyone who is in Christ should be called a Christian, believer, and a disciple; and not distinguished by their natural race. Those who still want to keep Jewish or “Messianic believers” separate are promoting racism. Don’t all Christians believe that Jesus is the Messiah (making us all Messianic believers)? Why then do we have a “special” name for Jewish believers? Is it because we don’t want to put off the “old man”? Do we really love the old man that much, that we are refusing God’s One New Man?

But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians: 4:20-24).

Conclusion

I am not trying to say that I understand the hurt of every person, or what some people have gone through. We all have different hurts, sufferings, and various “crosses” to carry. I understand that my words fall short, as we all see in part and know in part. However, I am trying to say that Jesus is our answer. In Him is found the power to forgive. In Christ, is found our healing and victory. He is the One who binds up and heals the broken hearted. He gives us the power to get up and move on, when we don’t have strength to do it on our own. We must turn to Him. Christ is the answer to all of our problems. He is the problem solver.

Christ did not preach an earthly people group or earthly nation. He preached a Heavenly Kingdom and city. The Lord has not called me to preach America or Israel, but to preach the Kingdom of God. America is a sinful nation that needs to repent and turn to Jesus. Jerusalem is currently a city in bondage and slavery, and she needs Christ. We need to be praying for the Heavenly Jerusalem to come, that is the mother of all who are born again from above (Galatians 4:25-26). The Heavenly City is what is on the Lord’s heart. This eternal city is where the great King will rule from after it comes to Earth (Revelation 21:22-27). That city is us believers (of all races) who are currently in Heaven and on the Earth.

The only nation of people on the earth that is classified as God’s chosen people, is a spiritual nation. This nation is a Heavenly one. The people of that nation have their citizenship through the blood of Jesus Christ. All are welcome to join this city, but Christ is the only way to become a member of this chosen race.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a [special] people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter‬ ‭2:9‬ ‭AMP‬‬)

Let us pray that the Lord will have the church that He wants. Let us pray that the body of Christ would truly be one body. We must be followers and disciples of Jesus. Not divided by race or striving for our fleshly distinctions, but unified in the Spirit. We must contend for the Christ-life to come forth in us, and allow the Adamic life to fade away. We are all different, but we must be in unity in regards to our focus, devotion, desire, passion, intimacy, and obedience to Christ. This true unification will enable us to be one church in the Spirit. It will keep the enemy from dividing and conquering us. We have to allow ourselves to be conquered by Christ.

-Ty Unruh (2021)