A New Life In Christ

A New Life In Christ (II Corinthians 5:17)

II Corinthians 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.

Paul had formerly lived for himself, in the flesh, viewed things from a carnal, humanistic point of view. He was now living in the Spirit for Christ and saw things in light of the cross or from a heavenly point of view. He was a new creature. He had been born again. All the old habits, attitudes, values, and thinking was in the processing of fading away and his new life in Christ was sprouting forth. Like a vibrant new stock in the spring pushing up beside the dead brown plant of last season, new life in Christ is a transformation from the inside out. All things become new.

1.The Change in Devotion.
One's interests will greatly change. A saved person will have interests in spiritual things which an unsaved person will not. A saved person will have devotion for Christ which an unsaved person will not. Those who accept God’s forgiveness and by faith yield their lives to Jesus are “born again” (John 3:3-8) and completely renewed from the inside out. Through a personal relationship with Jesus, a believer becomes a new person (Galatians 6:15; Ephesians 2:10, 15; 4:24; Colossians 3:10), renewed in God’s image and demonstrating His attributes, (II Corinthians 4:16; I Corinthians 15:49; Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10). They become Christians. As new creations, Christians share His glory (II Corinthians 3:18) with a renewed knowledge of God (Colossians 3:10) and a transformed way of thinking and behaving (Romans 12:1-2) that begins to reflect God’s holiness. This speaks of moral purity, spiritual wholeness, separation from evil and dedication to God’s purposes, (Ephesians 4:24). All of this restores the believer to the purpose for which God originally created him or her.

2.The Change in Demeanor.
There will be a change in the person's behavior when he is saved and reconciled to God. We are truly a new person in Christ. The grip of a great God molds us into a new creation in Christ. This is the message of the Christian ministry. A person can start life all over, no matter how corrupt he or she has become or how far down he or she has fallen. God longs to make a new creature out of that person. The transformation that is brought about by the new birth is not only an instantaneous miracle, but also a lifelong process of sanctification. For those so transformed, everything changes; the old things have passed away. All things "become" new. The word "become" indicates a past act with continuing results. God is continually working in our lives. When we are gripped by a great God, old values, ideas, plans, loves, desires, and beliefs vanish, replaced by the new things that accompany salvation. So what is new in our life?

To be in Christ means that a believer walks and lives in Christ day by day. It means that they do not "walk after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Romans 8:1, 4). It means that "denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" (Titus 2:12). It means that they bear the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). It means that they abide in Christ, that they become connected and attached to Christ.

3.The Change in Destiny.
This is the greatest and most important change. The eternal destiny of the reconciled soul is heaven. The unreconciled soul is headed for eternity in hell.

When a person becomes a new creature in Christ it means their whole being, nature, life, and behavior changes:

• Once dead to God. Now a new creature and alive to God.
• Once had no relationship with God. Now given a relationship with God.
• Once not sure about God. Now absolutely certain about God.
• Once never fellowshipped with God. Now fellowships with God all the time.
• Once living in sin and immorality. Now lives in righteousness and holiness.
• Once doomed to judgment and eternal separation from God. Now destined to live eternally in the presence of God.

New Things for Christians
1. A New Birth (John 3:3)
2. A New Heart & Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26)
3. A New Man (Ephesians 4:24)
4. A New Song (Psalm 40:3)
5. A New Name (Revelation 2:17)
6. A New Home (John 14:1-2)
7. A New Body (II Corinthians 5:1)

An English aristocrat visited the Fiji Islands. Being an infidel, he critically remarked to an elderly chief, “You’re a great leader, but it’s a pity you’ve been taken in by those foreign missionaries. They only want to get rich through you. No one believes the Bible anymore. People are tired of the threadbare story of Christ dying on a cross for the sins of mankind. They know better now. I’m sorry you’ve been so foolish as to accept their story.” The old chief’s eyes flashed as he answered, “See that great rock over there? On it we smashed the heads of our victims. Notice the furnace next to it? In that oven we formerly roasted the bodies of our enemies. If it hadn’t been for those good missionaries and the love of Jesus that changed us from cannibals into Christians, you’d never leave this place alive! You’d better thank the Lord for the Gospel; otherwise we would be feasting on your body. If it weren’t for the Bible, you’d now be our supper!” Thank God for those who have obeyed the Lord, trusted in Him, and have become NEW creatures in Jesus Christ!

PRAYER: Lord, I know You are calling me to come closer and deeper than ever before, so right now I approach You with great reverence and surrender myself more fully to You. Today I am dedicating myself as a living sacrifice to be used in whatever way You choose. With all my heart I vow to give You my soul, my emotions, my spirit, my body, and everything else that I am and that I possess. I consecrate myself to You. I want to live for You and to serve You for the rest of my life. Right now, I yield to You completely. When You speak, I will do exactly what You tell me to do. I want to live a life that is pleasing to You. In Jesus name, AMEN!

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