“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

(2 Corinthians 5:17)

We all enjoy new things, new clothes, new shoes, or a new car, etc. However, far too often we do not realize that as followers of Jesus Christ we are new creations. God takes our old sinful self to the cross, where we died with Jesus, and now brings to us a new life as a new creation. We will one day live with Him for eternity. “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. . .. what counts is the new creation.” (Galatians 6:14,15b)

Our new creation starts with a new birth. Jesus, in His discussion with Nicodemus, says, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” (John 3:3) This birth is not a physical birth but a new birth by the Spirit of God. Jesus again says, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” (John 3:5-6) It is after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension, that new birth becomes available. Now the Holy Spirit could come to us with the new birth and new life. Jesus had taken our sin and old life to the cross. Jesus said before the cross, “very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7) The new birth comes to us by faith. “Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. . .. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” (1 Peter 21,23)

Our new creation grows as we become more like Jesus, “to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24) This all comes to us because of the actions of Jesus on the cross, Who took our sin in exchange for His righteousness. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) We are now to grow in the character of Jesus Christ.

Our new creation opens the door for us to come into the presence of God. “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:19-23) We have access to God through our own High Priest, Jesus. He understands our struggles as we learn to live each day as a new creation. What better place to be able to go then to the creator and the redeemer Himself. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . .. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. . .. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1,4,14)

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block