2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Have you ever wondered why everything in the Old Testament mirrors the spiritual concepts in the New Testament? Whether the topic is Creation or the individual parts of Creation, we can see that God formed everything. In looking back, we witness from the underlying message of Creation that Jesus was in it all.
You are a part of God’s Creation story, so am I, as well as all that is in the Universe. There is a difference between us and animals, mankind was given dominion over God’s Creation and was formed in His image.
As we witness the biological, ethical, and cultural differences in society, we see the creativity of God revealed. When we understand the central theme of God’s love for His people, we notice a very unique and uncommon trait on earth that could not be replicated elsewhere.
Deuteronomy 32:1-4 “Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak;
And hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
Let my teaching drop as the rain,
My speech distill as the dew,
As raindrops on the tender herb,
And as showers on the grass.
For I proclaim the name of the Lord:
Ascribe greatness to our God.
He is the Rock, His work is perfect;
For all His ways are justice,
A God of truth and without injustice;
Righteous and upright is He.”
The poetic beauty of God’s Creation is amplified by it’s perfection.
Creation was formed in perfection.
Do you know what else God describes as perfect?
1. Himself. God is perfect. Matthew 5:48
2. His law. James 1:25; Psalm 19:7
3. His Works. Deuteronomy 32:4
4. His Knowledge. Job 37:16
5. His Peace. Isaiah 26:3
6. His Truth. John 17:17
7. His Word. John 17:17
8. Jesus. John 17:19; 1 John 3:3
Anything in Creation that is deemed perfect is a revelation of God’s character. Anything He does is done in perfection. All that God is, is perfection personified.
Creation was made in perfection and yet corrupted by sin. God didn’t create sin, sin is simply man’s rebellion against God’s authority.
When Jesus gave Himself as a sacrifice for sin, He did far more than redeem us from the corruption that is in the world, He created us new again.
Revelation 21:5 “Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
The Kingdom of God is made perfect in Christ. To those who believe, He has granted membership into this Kingdom. Jesus is restoring the perfection that was His intent and purpose from the beginning.
We are now encouraged to “be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” This isn’t an impossible task but a promise that He has equipped you with an eye to something so much greater.
1 John 2:3-5 “By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments. If anyone says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him: Whoever claims to abide in Him must walk as Jesus walked.”
How can we know that we are a new Creation?
Oswald Chambers once said that “one of the tests for determining if the work of salvation in your life is genuine is—has God changed the things that really matter to you. If you still yearn for the old things it’s absurd to talk about being born from above–you are deceiving yourself.”
Has God changed the things that really matter to you?
Following the Lord’s lead must be a priority in your life. Far too often we see a continual compromise happening within the church. The idea of practicing Holiness is becoming a thing of the past. Pre-marital sex seems to be an expectation, not an exception. Gossip, slander, and backbiting are practices that divide the church, they don’t bring unity.
Our old life—-the way we used to think, speak, act, and dwell upon, these all are reflective of the old man. When you’ve been born again, the Spirit of God initiates a change in you that addresses your past by bringing about healing, while renewing your mind in the ways of righteousness. When a crisis comes, you are prepared to meet it as one who has been equipped by God for that moment.
John reminds us to check ourselves, to see if we are in the faith.
2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.”
How do we test our Faith?
In examining 2 Corinthians 13, we see elements of testing.
Submit to someone else’s evaluation of your life. Vs. 1 “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” Allow others to give you honest, godly feedback that comes from love.
Does your conduct align with God’s Word? If examining the Word of God makes you squirm or you try and defend yourself against it, you might be living in self-denial. vs. 8 “For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.”
The path of a believer is one of unity, love, humility, and grace toward others. “Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace vs. 11 ; Are you in conflict with others? Are you united with other people of Christ in love? Are you lifting others up or yourself?
If you are truly a new Creation, your life will show it and your joy will be made complete in Christ. There is such a different perspective when your walk is made new in Christ, you see the others differently, your desires change, and your love becomes an inexpressible revelation of God’s presence in you.
We can’t force ourselves into becoming new, our works will never match up to what God does in the life of a true believer.
Galatians 6:15 “For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.”
Becoming a new Creation is to accept Jesus’ answer for sin. To believe in Christ is to repent and turn away from the world. We are made new through Christ in us, actions are only representative of the work already done.
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Never forget who first formed you and has now redeemed you from death. Being apart of God’s new Creation is to be part of a work that will continue on for eternity.
The Lord’s call is a great privilege.
U.T. 