Book 3 of Musings How Do We Become a New Creation?

The Apostle Paul taught us that if any person is in Christ Jesus, there is a new creation.

What does this mean? What do we have to do to qualify?

The expression "a new creation" refers to a transformation infinitely greater than merely making a profession of belief in Jesus Christ.

Paul says, "Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God."

No doubt the "old things" refer to our original personality.

All things are become new reminds us of God saying; "Behold I make all things new." We certainly are not speaking here of a modified adamic nature.

I would like to point out a problem with the translations of this passage. Perhaps the translators are endeavoring to be helpful, as sometimes is the case. But I want you to notice something and see what you think.

The translations read "he is a new creation," or, he is a new creature."

But the Greek seems to read "there is a new creation."

Compare "he is a new creation"; "there is a new creation."

Do you see a problem here? I certainly do.

When I first became a Christian, knowing nothing of the Bible, I was taught that once I accepted Christ I was a new creature, according to 2 Corinthians 5:17. I accepted this teaching blindly, not having much of an understanding of what it meant.

It was several years before it began to dawn on me that I had not become a new creature instantly but was on the way to becoming one.

There is a genuine issue here.

The believers in America are not aware, as far as I can tell, that salvation is a program. They think it is a ticket. They imagine that once they "accept Christ" and are filled with the Holy Spirit, the next major event is eternal residence in Heaven.

They are not at all aware accepting Christ and being filled with the Holy Spirit are only the very first steps on the journey that leads to a total transformation of their personality.

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Part of the reason they believe this is because they have been taught that if they profess Christ, this is the same as being "in Christ," and therefore presto! they now are a totally new person. I would submit that numerous people make an initial profession of Christ but never go on to abide in Him.

To abide in Christ is to be dwelling in His Presence more each day. When we begin as a Christian we may be aware only a brief period each day that we are living in Christ. But as we press forward into eternal life our awareness of Christ increases, as we seek His guidance in every detail of life. Now it can be said of us that we are "in Christ."

The key to the new creation is that of abiding in Christ. We cannot change ourselves, although we can resist most of the sins that tempt us if we are willing to exert our will power. But the actual new covenant, the writing of God's law in our mind and heart can be accomplished only through the work of the Holy Spirit, as we seek to live in Christ at all times.

At first; it cannot be said of us that all the old has passed away, and all has become new. The amount of observable change at the time of an initial profession of Christ varies greatly from person to person. At one extreme is the individual who goes down to the altar and there is no visible change in his or her personality after that. (Although who can say what will be true ten years from now? After all, the Gospel of the Kingdom is a seed!)

At the other extreme is the drunken, abusive person who receives Christ and becomes a lamb. I have seen this with older people. But for most of us, our husband or wife could not report that we have been totally transformed in behavior upon receiving Christ as our Savior.

Our children could tell that we are not completely new.

Our neighbors would see us as much the same person.

Our boss on the job might not notice such a giant change (although sometimes there is a dramatic change when a person receives Christ, but it is not at the level of all the old has gone and now all of the personality is of God). And the wonderful change may not be as lasting as one would hope. We can notice this in the amount of personal problems that arise in the local assemblies among people who have been believers for many years.

There is a problem with informing people that once they make a profession of Christ they are a new creature-all the old has passed away; now all things are of God. They may realize such a renewal has not occurred, and consequently become discouraged.

How much better would it be to tell people that when someone is living in Christ each day, praying, reading the Bible, fellowshiping with the saints, a new creation is being formed in him or her. There actually is a new creation being formed from the body and blood of Christ. They have not become totally new overnight, although some remarkable and very desirable changes have taken place. There is still much work to be done. A new building is being constructed.

Then people could appraise themselves honestly, and be pleased with the small gains they make each day.

Do not imagine for one moment that I am in any manner detracting from the marvel of the new creation. It is far more spectacular than any of us dream in the present hour. God is in the process of destroying the sinful nature from our personality. God is forming Christ in us in preparation for the day when the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit choose us as Their eternal dwelling place.

God has in mind to raise our flesh and bones from their place of interment and then to clothe them with a body from Heaven woven from incorruptible, resurrection life.

In that day it indeed can be said of us that we have become that new creation that at one time had been working in us. We and it now are one and the same.

Such total transformation and renewal depends entirely on our abiding in Christ at all times. Our task is to abide in Christ. God's task is to form us in His image as His sons.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: (2 Corinthians 5:17-18)