“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (creation): old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
Dear Ones:
True “newness,” from heaven’s standpoint, can only be explained by determining WHERE one is living. When the Israelites passed through the Red Sea, and the Jordan, and then entering into the promised land, they not only entered into a “new” land but a land of new actions, and blessings, by God. The people became participants of God’s concept of newness, HIS newness of blessing and revelation. The people had left slavery behind, with its scars and memories of Egypt, in order to embrace that which was of God. There was to be, not only the promised entrance into a new land, but a new experience of God in that land, based upon greater promises. The greatest “newness” of Canaan, was not the physical blessings that existed there, but the experience of the living God, the new and fresh experience of knowing Him. When Scripture speaks of the “new creation,” our understanding of what this means begins with our position in Christ, for HE is always new.
In the revelation of God to man, the Lord often describes Himself as the Beginning and the Ending. When He created the world, He created it NEW, without flaw, without decay, and without the taint of sin. When the Apostle Paul speaks of the believer being IN Jesus Christ, having been placed in this living union by His Spirit, He is speaking not only of a change of position, or status, before God. He is speaking of the contact of Christ with the heart and soul of the believer. This “contact” goes so much further than just the cursory influence upon and in the individual. This union of Christ with the believer, which was brought about by God placing him in Christ, created a new beginning, that of a NEW creation. Why? It is because of the unchangeable newness of Christ. Christ is always new in His goodness, love, and holiness. When the believer is placed IN Him, “all things become new.” They are new by virtue of the fact that the believer now lives by the One who IS perpetual, unalterable newness. When Scripture speaks of “times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord,” (Acts 3:19) it is speaking of the expression of Christ’s freshness communicated to the believer by the Spirit.
With regard to new beginnings, they are such and provided by God, because they have their origin and power in the mind and heart of God. All things, from the new birth, to every aspect of man’s walk with God, Christ’s power and strength are needed, and available. The power of the precious blood of Christ is so great that it can wash away ALL sin, in the eyes of God. John writes of this reality: “…and the blood of Christ cleanses us from ALL sin.” (1 Jn. 1:7) He goes on to write that when we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, to forgive us of our sins, and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.” (v.9) The total, crushing burden of sins unforgiven, is removed by faith in Christ to wash all our sins, and ALL unrighteousness away. This is the creation of something new…for it is an act of God, which deals absolutely with that which is “old,” the result of sin.
Scripture tells us that the Lord, by His Spirit, restores, refreshes, renews, and revives the soul and spirit. These are not only specific acts of God involving the cleansing of the soul and heart form sin, but the revelation of power available in Christ, and given to the believing heart. When the Spirit of God was poured out at Pentecost, it was according to the promise of the Father, a promise of baptism by the Spirit, but also of power. That power was given to the heart of the individual believer, to fill, lead, and enable him to live a life worthy of Christ.
Dear Father, Open our eyes to see our newness in Christ, newness of cleansing from sin, and the strengthening of the heart by the Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad