August 2010

A New Creation

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new”

2 Corinthians 5:17.

Have you ever wanted a clean slate, a ‘do-over’ in life? Many people have expressed a desire to change at some point in their life. Dissatisfaction of who they are, their life’s circumstances, or the presence of guilt ignites this desire. The Bible presents everyone with an opportunity to begin again with a clean slate!

 

Why does one need to be changed into a new creation? In the third chapter of Romans, the Bible describes the condition of a person outside of a relationship with God. The Scriptures declare ‘all under sin’, ‘none righteous’, ‘none who understands’, and ‘none who seeks after God’, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. Jesus said in John 3:3 a person needed to be “born again” in order to enter the kingdom of God.

What produces this change? It is one’s relationship with Jesus Christ! Our text verse states ‘if anyone be in Christ’, not if you belong to a church, have been baptized, or live a good life. Jesus left heaven, clothed Himself in human flesh, suffered vicariously on the cross, shed His sinless blood as payment for your sins and mine, died, was buried, and arose physically and victoriously from the grave on the third day. This is the good news, the Gospel! When an individual realizes their sinful condition and with a repentant heart confesses Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, trusting in the Gospel, believing God has raised Him from the dead, he/she will be saved from the wrath of God (Romans 5:8-9; 10:9). The moment this takes place the Holy Spirit of God places the repentant sinner ‘into Christ’ (1 Corinthians 12:13, 27).

What changes? One’s spiritual position changes, becoming a child of God (Romans 8:16). Believers receive a ‘new divine nature’. God’s Holy Spirit takes up permanent residence within one’s life. The Lord imputes His divine nature to His new child which provides the power to live a life of godliness for His glory (2 Peter 3-4). Believers receive a ‘new mind’ that they might know God (1 Corinthians 2:10-16). Believers are given a ‘new heart’ that they might love God (Romans 5:5; 1 John 4:8-9). Believers receive a ‘new will’ that they might obey God (Romans 6:13).

These changes will produce within every believer a ‘new desire’. There should be a desire to obey God (1 John 3:24; John 14:15, 21, 23-24). As one lives an obedient life, this desire for God will strengthen, while the desire for the allurements of this world should weaken (1 John 2:14-15). A believer should have a desire to fellowship with God and his fellow believers (1 John 1:1-3). Believers should develop a stronger desire for purity from sin (1 John 3:1-3).

“Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s”, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

If your ‘profession of faith’ has never produced a significant change in your life and there is no desire for God or the things of God within your life; I encourage you to examine your relationship with Jesus. Christians will not be perfect until they get to heaven, but they/we need to live now as if we are already there—to the glory of God!

Learning to serve,
Robert Finley