Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Just what is a new creature anyway? Is it one who has turned over a new lease in life? Is it that person that always has joy joy joy down in their heart? Is it that person that walks around all of the time with a smile on their face, glorious and victorious in Christ? No that’s not a new creature, that’s just a happy person for the moment at best or one who has been effectually deceived by the opiate and visad of religious experiences .
Now don’t get me wrong, anyone who has been made to know their election in Christ, "Knowing, brethren beloved, your election by God." 1 Thessalonians 1:4, who has been made to know that GOD has reconciled them through the blood of Christ, "And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things to himself; by him, [I say], whether [they are] things on earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were once alienated and enemies in [your] mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled" Colossians 1:21-22, who have been justified freely by grace "That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." Titus 3:3-7, who has been vitally united to Jesus Christ by the quickening work of GOD the Spirit, "Even when we were dead in sins, hath made us alive together with Christ, by grace ye are saved;" Ephesians 2:5, have every reason to smile, claim and proclaim the victorious life. Even when they don’t see or feel that life! The just shall live by faith. Which is the chief evidence of the new creature.
"For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth
any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love." Galatians
5:6.
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing,
nor uncircumcision, but a new creation." Galatians 6:15.
(1) First of all the new creature is a positional term. It refers to that man or woman who was placed in Christ Jesus in the covenant of Grace before the world was. Because Jesus Christ is the federal head of the new creation, and the first born of many brethren, and the last Adam, those that are in Him are perceived by the redemptive eye of GOD as completely new, by the judicious eye of GOD as completely righteous, and by the omniscient eye of GOD as completely perfect in person and conduct, because their sufficiency was altogether of Christ, "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who from God is made to us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:30-31.
(2) They are new creatures because the incorruptible seed of the gospel (Christ ) was imparted to them, and placed in them supernaturally at regeneration. "Whoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." 1John 3:9.
This seed is the hope of every believer. This seed is the new man which one day the whole world will see. This seed is the body of Christ! The New creature!
Pastor Jesse Gistand
Grace Bible Church
San Leandro, CA 94572
510-799-7934