The new creation being is a newly created spiritual being God created for His purposes on earth. The old, dead in sin, only lived to satisfy the temporary cravings of the flesh. Sinners have no desire to consider their eternal future, but the newly created man and woman, who received eternal life at the moment of the new birth, rejoice at the prospect of spending eternity with the Lord.
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
- Three things require our attention in the verse above:
- In Christ
- Old things have passed away
- All things have become new
In Christ is your position as a born again follower of Christ. It is important to be fully aware of this significant aspect, because of the great changes it will continue to bring to your life. Ignorance of this truth will keep you in your old spiritual environment, with all that goes with it. Jesus prayed for us to be one with Him, and to be in Him — a prayer that is answered in the new birth, since there is no possibility for sinners to be united with Him:
I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. John 17:20-21
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 1:1-3
Your position in Christ is a place of intimacy where the enemy will never go. You became hidden in Him when you united with Him in the new birth. Sin drove a wedge between man and God, but Jesus reconciled us with Him when He paid the penalty for our sin
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:13
Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5;18,19
This confirms you are under new rulership, bearing in mind there are only two spiritual kingdoms: the dominion of darkness, and the Kingdom of God. There is no neutral zone in the spiritual, which means you find yourself in either the one or the other spiritual domain. Jesus Himself pointed to the differences between these two rulers:
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13,14
For He has rescued us and has drawn us to Himself from the dominion of darkness, and has transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption [because of His sacrifice, resulting in] the forgiveness of our sins [and the cancellation of sins’ penalty]. Colossians 1:13,14 ~ Amplified Bible
You emigrated from the dominion of darkness, where Satan rules, and immigrated to the kingdom of God’s beloved Son, where freedom rules. You now have a King who loves you, and where laws of freedom govern you:
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1,2
You were once subject to the brutal rule of Satan and laws of sin that kept you in bondage, but those laws no longer have power over you. This is an important aspect of your life in Christ, and certainly one you should understand lest the devil pulls you back under his control — something he can easily do with ignorant Christians. The truth sets you free and keeps you free!
Old things have passed away! This is good news that should never be forgotten: all the sin and shame of your old life were wiped out by the blood of Christ when you died to your sinful self. A dead person cannot be punished for his sins!
Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:3,4
For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Romans 6:5-7
Memories of your sins — and the wrongs done to you — will surface at times, and with it the temptation to doubt your position in Christ. The devil loves to remind believers of such things in an effort to re-establish control over them. Guilt is a very powerful tool in his hand and used to gain power over people. When this happens to you, remember what Jesus did, and the price He paid at the cross, and allow that truth to dominate your thoughts.
Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. John 8:36
And don’t forget: you do not qualify for, deserve, earn, or contribute to your salvation — it was God’s gift of grace to you:
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8,9
Since old things have passed away God will never look upon your past again — and neither should you.
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more. Hebrews 8:12
“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Hebrews 10:16,17
All things have become new. As a new creation in Christ, you started on a new beginning. Instead of looking over your shoulder to your past, focus on the new discoveries you have to make. You cannot change the past, but you can discover what the Lord has lined up for you. Find your new identity in Christ, with the new attributes given to you: there are some true gems waiting to be uncovered. You are richer and more powerful than you think! Paul points you in the right direction as you embark on this treasure hunt:
But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 1 Corinthians 2:9-12
- Things God has prepared for you that never before entered your heart
- He will reveal those things from the Word
- The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God
- As a new creation you have the Holy Spirit
- God wants you to know the things that He has freely given to you
God has “things” for you, and He wants you to discover them. He even gave you His Spirit to help you make those discoveries. Instead of trying to empty yourself of your shortcomings and failures, fill your life with the new. It is entirely up to you to go looking for the things God prepared for you, making them your own, and living up to them.
Memorize & Meditate: Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 1 Corinthians 2:12
Confession: I am a new creation in Christ; my sinful past has been wiped away by the blood of Christ. I now focus my time and energy on finding the treasures that God prepared for me.
