2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
What does it really mean to be a new creation? What is the experience like? When Jesus said to Nicodemus that he needed to be born again. He must have asked Jesus this similar question. What does it mean?
In John 3:3-8
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
To become a new creation is like having a heart transplant, it is more like being restored to health. When Adam and Eve sinned, human beings lost their close connection to God. To be a new creation is the restoration of the lost connection with God. To be a new creation is a spiritual regeneration, which is done by the Holy Spirit. We are restored to a place of intimate relationship with God. A spiritual connection, making it possible for God's Spirit to indwell us and flow through us as it was meant to, before the fall. To be born again, is to become a new creation.
When we accepted Christ as our Saviour and made Him Lord over our lives, we are expected to live a new life as a new creation.
Paul wrote to the Ephesians Church in Ephesians 4:17- 24
But I will take this from verse 22-24
22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Paul is telling us that as new creations; we have to PUT OFF…THE OLD MAN - This is similar to stripping off our dirty clothes, we take them off because they are dirty and we put on new clothes …. PUT OFF…. The old man.
As new creations we are expected to put off the old attitude, the old character, the old annoying words, the old actions etc.
Paul tells the Corinthians Church in 1 Corinthians 6:11
11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
The new creation means that in your real life, things are dramatically changing. You have new desires; the old desires have no power over you.
As new creations over the course of our lives here on earth, God replaces the old "program" with a new one, and we begin to love and crave the things of the Spirit, and reject the things that He rejects. As new born babes desire milk, the new creation desires the things of God.
If you are born again the Spirit of God works on the inside of you, reminding you of who you are, He reminds you of whose you are in Christ Jesus. He draws your attention to the things that are pleasing to God.
Can you confidently say today that you are a new creation? How do you know you are a new creation?
You must sit back and ask yourself “how do I react in the face crisis?
How do I treat others? What is my speech like, is it seasoned with grace to its hearers? Do I criticize more than I encourage others?
Am I still drawn to my old desires, do my old desires still have a hold over me? If you answer is yes to all or some these questions, it is time to sit down with the Lord and ask Him to help you.
Titus 2:11-14
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
A new creation allows the Holy Spirit to work through them and free them completely from their old desires. We have the grace of God that enables us to live a godly life. We have no excuse.
Hence Jesus said to Nicodemus, in John 3:6
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
As new creation we must allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to us that which we must let Go.
In 1 John 1:7
7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
We can truly and confidently live the new life in freedom and victory. As we acknowledge that we are truly a new creation in Christ Jesus and that old things have passed away all things have been made new.
Philippians 2:13
13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
God is working in you, please cooperate with Him and put off the old man.
