“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
-2 Corinthians 5:17
We should not define for ourselves what it means to “become new” in Christ, rather we should let the Bible define it for us. If I define “newness” apart from the scriptures I may make “newness” into the image I want it to be in. I might say, “well I no longer swear therefore I am new.” Even though I may gossip. I might say, “I no longer do drugs therefore I am new.” Even though I may never exercise or drink water. I might say “I no longer fornicate or commit adultery.” Even though I may have lust in my heart. Do you see why it is dangerous for us to define “newness” in Christ for ourselves? Simply because we are new in one area is not the “newness” that is spoken of in this text. To find the definition of newness in scripture all we have to do is look back at the two previous verses.
First from verse 15 we learn those who are new in Christ “no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” And from verse 16 we learn, those who are new in Christ, “from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.”
In other words verse 15 shows us we no longer define our lives by one area but rather every aspect of our lives is submitted to the will and direction of Jesus. So I would not longer look at just one place of growth and say “Okay I am new now that is good enough.” That is living for self, giving up just enough to appease my own conscience but not so much as to really have to give up the worldly things I love. And verse 16 I no longer regard Christ from a worldly perspective, is to no longer define Christ by my worldview but now I am defined by a Biblical worldview and this results in a new HIGHER view of Jesus. “Egocentricity gives way to Christocentricity.”
Let us seal the text in our minds and apply it’s message to our lives. May we all through the power of Jesus who transforms hearts and minds be truly NEW in Christ Jesus this week!
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
-2 Corinthians 5:17