A New Creature

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

When Paul spoke of Christians (those “in Christ”) as being new creatures, he did not mean that we are no longer human as if we had become a new species. We remain human beings made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). But there are significant changes that come when one becomes a disciple of Christ. Let us notice a few of the “new things” that come when one becomes a “new creature” in Christ.

New Life

Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him” (Colossians 3:9-10).

This “new self” that is renewed according to the image of the Creator is to be patterned after Christ. Peter said, “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth” (1 Peter 2:21-22). The “old self” represents our time when we were given to sin (Colossians 3:5-9). In Christ, we “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).

But when does this new life begin? This is a vitally important question. Some believe that one begins his new life in Christ at the moment of faith or when he acknowledges Jesus as Lord and invites Him into his heart. Yet notice what Paul wrote: “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4). After Jesus died and was buried, then He was raised to life again. We follow this pattern. After we are buried with Christ in baptism, then we are raised to a new life. Baptism is the point at which the old man becomes the new man.

New Master

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness” (Romans 6:15-18).

We are to put away the sins of the old man (Romans 6:6). We are to no longer be “slaves of sin.” The reality is that we will serve a master. We are fortunate enough to be able to choose our master. We can choose to be “slaves of sin” and follow after Satan, or we can choose to be “slaves of righteousness” and follow after the Lord. We must make the choice to obey Christ. Without obedience, whatever faith we may have is “useless” (James 2:20).

New Purpose

Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God” (1 Peter 4:1-2).

In Christ, we have a new purpose that is different from the purpose we had before coming to Him. Peter mentioned suffering as Christ suffered. However, our purpose in life is not just to suffer for the sake of suffering. We suffer, and do so willingly, because our aim is to live according to the will of God. Suffering will come for those who “desire to live godly in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:12; cf. 1 Peter 4:12, 16). Despite this suffering, we must be determined to fulfill our purpose – to live according to the will of God.

New Hope

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4).

Those who have been born again (through baptism – Romans 6:3-4; John 3:3, 5) have a “living hope.” This hope does not pertain to anything in this life (1 Corinthians 15:19); rather, it is about eternal life in heaven. Paul said that those who are “without God” have “no hope” (Ephesians 2:12). While this was our condition before coming to Christ, we have a new hope in Him. This hope of heaven is not just a wish, but is “a hope both sure and steadfast” (Hebrews 6:19).

Conclusion

When one becomes a new creature in Christ by forsaking sin and obeying the will of the Lord, he has the hope of eternal life. If he continues to follow the Lord and do His will, he can continue to look in hope toward the reward of heaven.

If you do not have this hope, consider your condition and obey the Lord in faith. If you do have this hope, continue following Him, lest you forfeit your reward.


.