It's All New
Today's Verse:
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. ~2 Corinthians 5:17
Have you ever walked through a home that has gone through a complete renovation? That house in every way has become new! You might say it was a complete home conversion more than a renovation. That’s the idea we are considering this morning. Paul speaks about the complete change that occurs when a person is truly born again and saved: old things are passed away, and all things are become new.
There is a new beginning.
When a person accepts Jesus Christ as Savior, he has a completely new beginning. Paul says, “Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Our sins are forgiven forever. We are sons of God forever. The Holy Spirit dwells within us. We have a desire for the things of God. When a person gets saved, he has a fresh and new start in life. The “grave clothes of our sinful past” are removed and we are given robes of righteousness. We have the privilege of a new beginning.
There is a new behavior.
“And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” Our old life lived for a selfish, personal agenda. A saved life lives in the power of a resurrected life. Now that we are saved, our goal is to live for Jesus. We live for Him Who died for us. Living for Jesus results in a change in our behavior. We don’t do the sinful things that we did before. We don’t go to the sinful places that we went to before. We don’t associate with people who are worldly and lustful in behavior. Our attitude and speech has changed. There is a complete makeover of our behavior.
There is a new business.
“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.” As a new creature in Christ, we desire to tell other people about the Lord. Paul describes our new business as ambassadors for Christ. We represent Him to a lost and dying world. What a privilege that we represent the King and kingdom of Heaven. We get the privilege to testify of His saving grace in our life. In a few days, I will be with several pastors and Christian businessmen who all share the same passion: the winning of the lost to Christ. Each man lives out their passion in telling others of the saving gospel of Christ. Yes, being in Christ results in a new business.
There is a prospect of a new body.
“For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” Paul was describing the glorified bodies we will have after the Rapture occurs. It is when this mortal becomes immortal and when this corruptible becomes incorruptible. It will be a body in eternity just like the glorified body of our Lord.
What a wonderful thing that a person in Christ is a new creature. Everything about us is new. Let us examine our lives to be sure we are in submission to the Lord and the great changes he wants to make in us every day. Live for Jesus!
Have a transforming God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: 2 Chronicles 5-8