The old has gone, the new is here!
2 Corinthians 5:17 - Anyone can be a new creation in Jesus Christ
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
What a joyful statement from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, fully loaded with praise and promise!
Paul begins by explaining who this promise is for — anyone in Christ! He wasn’t limiting the new creation to just Gentile or just Jew, only rich or only poor, speakers of specific languages, members of particular races, or those who were from specific countries. He’s saying that anyone can be a new creation in Jesus Christ.
There is a disclaimer in this statement, though — the promise of being a new creation is limited to those who are in Christ. Those who are self-centered, or who idolize other humans, or who find things or ideas to be more important than Jesus are not recipients of this promise.
Paul is expounding on the doctrine of regeneration. Regeneration, or rebirth, is where the common title “born again” comes from. GotQuestions.org has this wonderful explanation of regeneration and its effect on sinners:
Regeneration is a radical change. Just as our physical birth resulted in a new individual entering the earthly realm, our spiritual birth results in a new person entering the heavenly realm (Ephesians 2:6). After regeneration, we begin to see and hear and seek after divine things; we begin to live a life of faith and holiness. Now Christ is formed in the hearts; now we are partakers of the divine nature, having been made new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17). God, not man, is the source of this transformation (Ephesians 2:1, 8). God’s great love and free gift, His rich grace and abundant mercy, are the cause of the rebirth. The mighty power of God—the power that raised Christ from the dead—is displayed in the regeneration and conversion of sinners (Ephesians 1:19–20).
The important thing to understand here is that we aren’t just forgiven by coming to Jesus in faith; we become new creations in Christ! Does that mean we’re now perfect beings? Certainly not! We are changed from what we were before, and we are continually being changed, transformed to be more like our Savior.
Becoming a new creation is a gift from God that we receive by faith. Charles Spurgeon pointed out that this is much more of a miracle of creation than creating the world:
“My brethren, it was more difficult, if such terms are ever applicable to Omnipotence, it was more difficult to create a Christian than to create a world. What was there to begin with when God made the world? There was nothing; but nothing could not stand in God's way — it was at least passive. But, my brethren, in our hearts, while there was nothing that could help God, there was much that could and did oppose him. Our stubborn wills, our deep prejudices, our ingrained love of iniquity, all these, great God, opposed thee, and aimed at thwarting thy designs… Yes, great God, it was great to make a world, but greater to create a new creature in Jesus Christ.”1
We have an obligation to God as new creations. From Enduring Word’s David Guzik:
Living as a new creation is something God works in us, using our will and our choices. So, we must both receive the gift of being a new creation and be challenged to live the life of a new creation. All this is God's work in us that we must submit to. This reminds us that at its root, Christianity is all about what God did for us, not what we can or should do for God.
I’ll finish today’s devotional with a short and inspirational quote from Adam Clarke:
"The man is not only mended, but he is new made… there is a new creation, which God himself owns as his workmanship, and which he can look on and pronounce very good."2
If knowing that God owns you as His workmanship and that He pronounces you very good doesn’t fill you with exhilaration and happiness, I don’t know what will!
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Today’s prayer comes from Knowing Jesus:
Thank You, Father, that in Christ all things are made new. Thank You that in Christ, old things have passed away, and I have been made a new creation, in HIM. Help me to truly understand that this amazing truth is not only something for the future but something that took place the moment I believed in Christ as Saviour. I pray that I may come to a deeper understanding of what it is to be a part of a new, and heavenly creation in Christ, in His name I pray, AMEN.
Scripture quotations taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica US, Inc.®. Used by permission.
Commentary quotations from Enduring Word are used with the written permission of the author
Spurgeon, Charles Haddon "The New Park Street Pulpit" Volumes 1-6 and "The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit" Volumes 7-63 (Pasadena, Texas: Pilgrim Publications, 1990)
Clarke, Adam "Clarke's Commentary: The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments with a Commentary and Critical Notes" Volume 6 (Romans-Revelation) (New York: Eaton and Mains, 1832)