New Creation in Christ
2 Corinthians 5:17
’17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.’
We hear this statement and as new born Christians, we rejoice, clap our hands, say amen and hallelujah.
But….do we really know what it means? The power behind the statement? The actions and obedience asked of us?
What and how do we do it? What do we do?
Do we get it when someone says we are dead but now are alive?
From death to life?
So many questions. I see 4 statements that has helped to dig deeper into that verse:
1. IF ANYONE IS IN CHRIST
2. HE IS A NEW CREATION
3. OLD THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY
4. ALL THINGS HAVE BECOME NEW
1. IF ANYONE IS IN CHRIST
In Christ- What does that mean?
Let us look at what it is like to be without Christ:
Before Christ, I lived by the whims of my flesh. What I decided, I wanted it now. I wanted people to praise me and pay attention to me. So I would bend backwards to do anything for them. The more I did, the less I felt loved or cared for. So I began to feel hopeless. I lost who I really was and what my values were. As a woman, I committed adultery, moved with men I should not have, fought with my spouse all the time and never enjoyed peace. I thought dying was better and tried to commit suicide. Lost, hopeless and surrounded by darkness. I guess that is what it is like without Jesus
When I think about it,
MY GOD IS REAL IN MY LIFE BECAUSE I SEE WHERE I WAS AND WHERE I AM NOW.
Where I was, was not a good place but boy! nothing can take the place of where I am now.
In Christ I have every spiritual blessing and are called sons and daughters of God:
Ephesians 1:3-5
‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will
In Christ I was born of God:
John 1:12-13,
‘Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God–children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.’
In Christ all my wrong doings that made me wallow in guilt are forgiven:
Isaiah 43:25
‘I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.’
I am now freed from sin and it no longer has power over me. I have no fear because of the freedom I enjoy through Christ.
In Christ, I have salvation; not only for myself but for my family. I know where we are going- heaven and eternal life.
Acts 16:31
And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household’
Romans 10:9-10
‘Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved’
In Christ, I receive Holy Spirit the Helper sent from heaven to be my teacher, guide and friend. He will tell me all about Jesus.
Acts 2:38
‘Peter replied, Repent and be baptized, Every one of You, in The Name of Jesus Christ for The Forgiveness of Your sins. and You Will Receive The Gift of The Holy Spirit.’
In Christ, I can boldly come into the presence of God and call Him, Father, who sees me through Jesus, blameless and sinless.
Our position in Christ is to accept Him and His Word. We have to believe in Him AND invite Him into our hearts and our lives. We have to surrender, and let go of everything including control. It has to be a total surrender. Everything about me has to reflect Him. I am hidden in Christ. When people see me they should be seeing Christ. When a guy or gal says “I am into you” ; meaning we know that person intimately- their mannerism, habit, personality, their laugh and even how they think.
Can we say that about our relationship with Christ?
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