2Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.
What of Today’s Verse…
Everyone who is “in Christ,” through faith in His name, is a “new creation.” We are new people. We are no longer who we were before we put our trust in the Lord Jesus. We are not the old person reformed or improved; we are a “new creation.” Yes, we have the same body, but that is a mere tent in which we dwell. “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2Co_5:1). Some day in glory, we will trade this temporal, earthly tent for an eternal heavenly one. Meanwhile, though we live in the same old tent we had in Adam, we are new tenants, a “new creation.” We may have the same old physical brain, but we are learning to think an entirely new way. “We have the mind of Christ… be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom_12:2 and 1Co_2:16). Christ lives in us, and His Spirit also dwells in us. His Spirit takes the word of God and unfolds the thinking of our Lord for us. As we embrace God’s way of thinking more and more, we are transformed to walk in the newness that is ours in “in Christ.”
In all the ways that matter before God, “old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” The old guilt is replaced by new forgiveness. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus… in whom we have… the forgiveness of sins” (Rom_8:1 and Col_1:14).
The old foolishness is replaced by new wisdom. “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God… But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God” (1Co_3:19 and 1Co_1:30). The old unrighteousness is replaced with new righteousness. “All our righteousness’s are like filthy rags… For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (Isa_64:6 and 2Co_5:21). The old hope of changing (self-help) is replaced by new hope of changing (sanctification, God changing us). “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength… You are in Christ Jesus, who became for us… sanctification” (Jer_17:5 and 1Co_1:30). This is grace upon grace.
Let us Pray:
O Lord, my hope, I thank You for making me a new person in Christ. Please strengthen my heart to spend time in Your word that I might hear more of these grand truths. Lord, I yearn to walk in more of this rich newness of life, in Jesus name, Amen.
Words of Wisdom
World Peace
Our expressions of love and compassion create a world at peace.
With every loving thought we hold, every kind word we express, we contribute to a world at peace. Each of us has the power to love and the ability to be patient and forgiving, no matter what is happening. Even in the appearance of turmoil and trouble, we can affirm: Peace, be still. We can still troubled waters with the power of our love.
As we go about our day, we express compassion wherever possible. As we pray, we see the divine good in our loved ones and we inspire others. Centred in the divine nature of our being and the oneness that we are, we are powerful. Our smallest acts combine with the actions of others to create a world at peace, a world that works for all.
“I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.”–John 17:26
