8 BOCNEWS.com DECEMBER 2017 Newness of Life What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through bap- tism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. You are to walk in newness of life. The word ‘new- ness’ is ‘replacement of old quality’, ‘replacement to a better quality’. Newness there means it is a replacement to a better quality. We have received a new quality of life from Christ Jesus. A new quality. We did not receive a new lifestyle. Did you get me? Christ did not give us a new lifestyle; He gave us a new life. Does that make sense to you? Christ did not give you a new lifestyle; He gave you a new life. It is your new life that brought the new style. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV): 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now every time you see the word ‘therefore’, I’ve told you, there is something there before. You don’t meet somebody and just say, “Therefore.” If I just meet someone and I say, “Hello, good morning! Therefore,” what do you think he would say? “Therefore what?” So anytime you see ‘therefore’, find out what is there before the therefore that was there, because it will give you a better understanding of what Paul was trying to say. Now, from verse 12 he was talking about the importance of being reconciled to God 2 Corinthians 5:12-13 (NKJV): 12 For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. If we act crazily, it is for God. If we act as if we are wise, it is for you. 2 Corinthians 5:14-16 (NKJV): 14 For the love of Christ com- pels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 16 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. Everyone among the disciples knew Christ accord- ing to the flesh. Matthew, Mark, John, and all the disciples—they only knew Christ according to the flesh, because the time He spent with them in the flesh was all they knew. In fact, while He was still in the flesh, He asked them, “What do people say I am? Who do people say I am?” They were all saying, “You are Elijah. You are this. You are Moses.” Then He said, “Okay, granted. Who do you say I am?” And Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus said, “Ooh, Peter, not you—that’s not from you. The Peter I know cannot talk like that.” Do you get that? He said, “That’s not you. Mm-mm. Flesh and blood has not revealed that to you. Oh, Father is doing something in you, Peter. The Holy Ghost brought that to you.” You know what? A lot of people say that Peter got a revelation—no; Peter had an inspiration, because Peter was yet to get a revelation. You didn’t get it. When you get the revelation, there is a totally dif- ferent way you respond to it. Are you getting me? Something that is a revelation becomes a part of you. You will tell anyone that tells you it is not true, “You don’t know what you are talking about.” But if it is an inspiration it just comes. Most people in the church get inspired. “Hey! Ye-ye-ye-ye-ye!” Then as soon as they get out there it disappears. Even though Jesus used the words, “Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you,” the real words are, “You were inspired by the Holy Ghost to say it, Peter.” Now, why do I say that? If you roll down to verse 10, Jesus began to talk about how He would die, and Peter said, “Come here, Jesus! What are You talk- ing about? What are You talking about, Jesus? Don’t say that again!” He rebuked Jesus—can you imagine Peter rebuk- ing his own boss? “Stop that! Why are You saying You are going to die? I just told everybody here that You are the Messiah; now you are saying You are going to die.” Do you see that? He was defending his revelation. “We heard the revelation: You are the Christ, in case you forgot. You will not die.” What did Jesus do? “Get behind Me, Satan!” What would have happened if it was revelation? What would have changed? What he said in the first time was not revelation to Peter. Let me put it this way: Peter didn’t say it because he had a revelation; he said it because there was an inspiration. I went to Africa and ministered there. Then I went back to that same place two years later. This lady SCRIPTURE By Rev. Dr. Ade Ajala Ade Ajala 1. MARVIN SAPP - CLOSE 2. THE WALLS GROUP - THE OTHER SIDE 3. TROY SNEED - TAKING IT BACK 4. TASHA COBBS LEONARD - HEART, PASSION... 5. ISABEL DAVIS - THE CALL 6. JEREMY CAMP - THE ANSWER 7. WILLIAMS BROTHERS - TIMELESS 8. ANGELLA CHRISTIE - INTIMATE CONVERSATIONS 9. TYE TRIBBETT - THE BLOODY WIN 10 C. WEST - HIDE & SEEK Do you run your life by revelation or inspiration? Because running your life by inspiration is a fluffy spiritual jamboree. But when you run your life by revelation, it’s a steady spiritual journey. Continued on Page 12