Dear Partner,

Joh 15:19   If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Did you know the world thinks you are crazy for being a Christian? Why shouldn't they? You are not of the world. As a born again Christian, the LIFE in your spirit did not originate on this planet. God is a Spirit and at your core, you also are a spirit. You have a soul. You live in a body. But the real you is a spirit, the very offspring of the living God.

You might say, "Gary, if I am truly a child of God … why do I seem to fail all the time? Why does my life seem so powerless? Why do I always have to resist temptation? Why do I always have to bite my tongue to keep from saying something in anger? I sure don't feel like a child of God. I feel like a giant mess most of the time."

Most people don't like the answer I am about to give, but for me … it is some of the best news I ever heard. The reason most Christians live defeated lives is that their minds have never been renewed to agree with what God has said about them in His Word. In a nutshell, the gospel message has been so watered down as it is preached in most churches that the people stay baby Christians their whole life. It is true the bible says we are to desire the sincere milk of the Word that we may grow thereby, but there comes a time when children are expected to grow up. That requires more than milk. The bible says that as we mature, we need to eat the strong meat of the Word of God:

Heb 5:12-14   For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. (13) For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. (14) But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

The reason I said earlier that this answer is some of the best news I ever heard is because … I can do something about it. God cannot change. The Word of God will never change. The devil will not change. But the good news is … I CAN change! The bible tells me exactly how to change and no longer live like a defeated Christian:

Rom 12:2   And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

The answer is to renew the mind so that it agrees with what God says instead of having its own opinion based on circumstances and feelings. Here is just one example … most people feel that they are powerless to live above sin. Why do they feel that way? Because it has been their experience that they fall to sin every single day, and most days … more than once. Then they hear preachers bellow from the pulpits that they are just forgiven, not really changed. They are still just the same old sinners they always were, just forgiven now by the blood of Jesus. All of that fits the daily circumstances of most people so it is easy to just believe that what they are saying is true. But none of that agrees with what God says about believers in His Word. Listen to just a few statements by the apostle Paul:

Rom 6:1-6   What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? (2) God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (3) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (4) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (5) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: (6) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Let's summarize a few truths from this passage:

1. We don't have to continue to sin.
2. We are dead to sin, no longer having to live in it.
3. We are to walk in newness of life.
4. We are to walk in the likeness of His (Christ's) resurrection.
5. Our old man is crucified with Christ.
6. From this point forward, we no longer have to serve sin.

Do you know how crazy that sounds to the world? Even to the Christian religious world? If you start talking like that in most churches they will soon show you the door. And when you first start talking like the bible is true, even you will wonder if you are talking crazy too. Why? Because it does not match your life experience. You begin to think, "How can that be true? I lost my temper this morning. I told a little white lie yesterday. I ate too much at lunch, and …." The list is endless. So which is true? God's Word or your experience? Jesus said, "Father, thy Word is TRUTH!" The renewing of the mind begins with us acknowledging that God's Word is true, no matter our previous experience. We are who He says we are. We can do what He says we can do. We can have what He says we can have.

Phm 1:6   That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

Sue and I love you and appreciate you.   We thank God for your generous and giving heart.   God bless you!

Your friend and co-laborer,

Gary Carpenter

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