Creator, Father, King #283

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

WHEN WAS THE LAST time you asked your parents any of the following questions?

• Mom, Dad, I’m getting a little rusty with my ABCs and 1-2-3s. Can I return to kindergarten?
• Solid food is so overrated. Can you start spoon-feeding me strained peas and carrots again?
• This whole bathroom thing really isn’t working for me. Mind if I go back to diapers?

Of course not! That’s ridiculous! Those days are long gone. You’ve matured and are at a different stage of life now.

Well, take a look at today’s verse. The same principle applies to the Christian life.

What’s It Mean?

As 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, being a follower of Christ is about becoming a “new creation,” going from something “old” to something “new.” The “old” is our former, sinful way of living. Here’s how Ephesians 2 describes every human’s “old” self, apart from Christ:

• Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. (verse 1)
• You used to live in sin . . . obeying the devil. (verse 2)
• All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. (verse 3)
• Once you were far away from God. (verse 13)

That’s pretty bleak. But thankfully, God steps into every true believer’s life and radically transforms them from “lost sinner” into a “new creation.” To do so, God’s Spirit begins the process with regeneration (a.k.a., “being born again,” John 3:3). When you trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins, God reconciles you to himself (2 Corinthians 5:18-19), restoring peace to a broken relationship. Then his Spirit continues to sanctify you throughout your lifetime (2 Corinthians 4:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:23).

In other words, God graciously gives you a new spiritual heart with new spiritual desires to please him that didn’t exist before. Sin will always war within you (Romans 7), but Jesus broke its power to rule over you through his death and resurrection (Romans 6:6-11).

As a new creation, don’t turn back to the old ways that Christ has redeemed you from. Press forward in your relationship with him. Grow and mature in your new life. “The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!”

Now What?

Do you like to cook, write, draw, paint, or otherwise create new things? Think about today’s verse when you do!

Did You Know?

For the Corinthians, being a “new creation” meant giving up all the things listed in passages such as Ephesians 4:22-31 and Colossians 3:5-9.