Are you living as a new creation? Does your life demonstrate that you have been changed by the Gospel? Jesus says unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). What does it look like practically to be a person who has been born again? It is impossible to be in Christ, and not look different than your old self and the unbelieving world around you.
Last Friday marked the first day of Spring, which is my very favorite season, minus the pollen of course. I’m already planning landscaping projects for my yard. I love it when there are new buds on the trees, flowers are blooming, and the temperature is once again comfortable. This time of year always reminds me of new life and the new creation we are in Jesus Christ.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17
This is one of those verses I learned as a new believer thanks to a song my daughter and I used to sing. Scripture tells us that it is impossible to be in Christ and not be a changed person. I can absolutely say that my life today looks completely different than it did thirteen years ago before I became a follower of Christ. For this reason, Christians should not look like the rest of the world. The truth is that apart from Jesus Christ we are corrupt and motivated by deceitful desires. In Christ, we are chosen, set apart, and practice righteousness.
In Christ
What does it mean to be in Christ? Sometimes I think we, myself included, gloss over the words in Christ and don’t realize the significance it holds. To be in Christ means we are one spirit with Him (1 Corinthians 6:17). We have no condemnation and are made right with God the Father in Christ (Romans 8:1). We have security and future assurance of heaven, and we no longer walk in darkness. In Him we find our identity, purpose, and example.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9
For many years I claimed to be a Christian, but did not live in Christ. I found my identity and purpose in lesser things and refused to reject and repent of sin (1 John 3:9). The old me continued to walk in darkness because I wanted to blend in with the unbelieving world. I rejected the truth and refused to be transformed by the Word of God (Romans 12:2).
The Old Has Past
Apart from Jesus Christ, I was a terrible person. I was selfish, self-centered, prideful, stubborn, irritable and a slave to sin. But in Christ, I am justified, forgiven, redeemed, and given a purpose. I have been given the Holy Spirit and as a result, I fear the Lord and I delight in His law. I approach God’s Word with a desire to know Him more and to become more like Christ through my obedience to His commands.
to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24
I think it’s healthy and important to acknowledge where I came from in order to appreciate God’s work in my life. I don’t ever want to dwell on past mistakes because God has forgiven me for them. However, when I struggle with sin it is easy to feel defeated. I must remind myself that while I will never be perfect on this side of Heaven, I am not who I was before. It’s also important to remember God’s work in my life when I am faithful because it is tempting to want praise or a pat on the back. In those moments I have to remind myself that I am not faithful for the praise of man. I am faithful so that others will give glory to God, and it is only through the work of the Holy Spirit that I am faithful. The old me was not faithful, but would always want a pat on the back.
[H]e saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, Titus 3:5
The New Has Come
The message of Scripture is, come as you are. However, the rest of the message is, don’t expect to stay that way. The progressive church seeks to leave out that second part of this message. As a result, they focus on conversion and not discipleship. They censor God’s Word by leaving out anything they believe is offensive. They don’t understand that God uses Scripture to convict us of sin and to make us see the brokenness in ourselves and the world around us. Some might call what it says offensive, but it is through Scripture that we see our need for a Savior and our need for change.
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
For new believers, change is immediate, but it continues over the course of our lives. We should always be growing in our knowledge of and obedience to God. We should be constantly taking off the old self (repenting of sin) and putting on our new self (the character of God). No matter how long we have been a Christian, we should always see room for growth. The best way to grow is to be a disciple who disciples other women.
If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him. 1 John 2:29
Abiding As A New Creation
Over and over again, God tells us through Scripture that we are a new creation in Christ. Yet, this is the very message that I believe is missing from many churches and ministries today. In an attempt to appeal to unbelievers, many Christians seek to blend in rather than be set apart. As followers of Christ, we have to choose to abide in the Word even if it makes us peculiar to or an enemy of the world.
since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 1 Peter 1:23
Through the Holy Spirit and the study of and obedience to God’s Word, we are living as a new creation. I plan to talk more about this next week. I encourage you to always be growing in your devotion to God through prayer in the study of His Word. Are you attending a Bible-preaching, disciple-making church and entering into environments of discipleship? Are you studying Scripture and seeking the Lord in prayer? When we do these things, God transforms us into a new creation.
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