“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” -2 Corinthians 5:17
What a powerful verse! This is the essence and heartbeat of the Christian life. When we put our trust and faith in Christ, we become a new creation. The old sinful ways are rejected and the new godly self is embraced.
This verse shows the Christian religion is not about following tradition or going through meaningless rituals. This religion is about having a personal relationship with The Son of God–the image of the invisible God. That’s why when we are in Christ, we become born again. There is a true change.
How does this change occur? Think about it for a moment. There’s an old saying: “You are who you hang out with.” Right? The more time you spend with someone, the more you take on their character, idiosyncrasies, and personal habits. Same is true when you decide to pursue a relationship with God.
God will change you. Spending time in His word, praying, going to church, and fellowshipping with like-minded believers will cause you to have a real change. Your old sinful self will be replaced by a new godly-seeking self.
Does this happen over night? Of course not. Change is a process. Growing in your Christian walk takes time and effort. Scripture encourages us to cultivate the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self control (Gal. 5:20). And the great news is this: When you abide in Christ and “in” Christ as this verse alludes to, then you will grow spiritually.
It’s just like a tree. When you first become a believer, you are like a tiny seed. You must be planted in fertile ground to grow. You need sunlight, water, and other nutrients to help you too. This means you need to be in God’s word, praying, and fellowshipping. But in the end, it’s God who causes the growth. He sprouts you into a mature believer.
Of course, being a believer is not easy. You will go through tough times. Scripture talks a lot about how the serpent tries to steal and rob your joy. He will try to pluck up your seed and prevent you from growing in faith. But do not let this happen. Call on the name of the Lord, and the devil will flee from you. He has no authority over your relationship with God. Don’t believe me? Dwell on this verse.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:39).”
Isn’t that amazing? Nothing can separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. You are a new creation! The old has gone. Behold, all things are new. Being born-again is the essence of the Christian life. God gives you His Spirit. He will never leave you or forsake you.
I could talk forever about the goodness of God, but as humans we like to dwell on the negative. And let’s face it. Living in this world is hard. We suffer many challenges. Life can be unfair. Circumstances may not go the way you plan. But in the end, here is what matters: Nothing can separate you from the love of God. Isn’t that comforting to know?
From this day forward, you must believe that God will work out all things together for your good. From this day forward, keep your head up high and lean on the Lord during tribulation. Jesus plainly told us to cast our burdens upon him. For his yoke is easy and his burden is light (Ps. 55:2).
You are a new creation. Don’t let your old self tempt you back to the lusts of this world. Don’t give in to temptations that will rob your joy and spiritual peace with God. When you are being tempted, God said He promises a way of escape. Take that route through prayer and seeking Him. Abide in his presence and all your worries and anxieties will cease. Cast your cares upon the Lord, for He cares for you! You are a new creation. Let’s pray.
Dear heavenly Father,
Your word tells us we are a new creation. If we are a new creation, then our old self is gone. Our old self of lust, lying, and thievery have been quenched out by the fire of the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, revive us again. Teach us your ways. May we forever embrace the fruit of the spirit. Forgive us of our sins and lead us to your holy sanctuary. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Conform to Jesus 