"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
WHAT IS IT to be in Christ Jesus? It is a very remarkable expression, and occurs very frequently in the Word of God. Paul speaks of Andronicus and Junia his kinsmen, "who also were in Christ before me" (Romans 16:7). He says, that he counted all things but dung, that he might "win Christ, and be found in him" (Philippians 3:9). And he speaks of dear departed believers, as those who "sleep in Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 4:14). The meaning of this blessed expression is, that those who have fled to Christ, are reckoned with by God as if they were a part of Christ. His crucifixion is reckoned theirs; His spotless obedience is reckoned theirs. God sees no iniquity in them. He looks upon them in the face of His Anointed. Just as Christ was in us when He stood in our place, and was covered over with our sins so completely that none of His holiness appeared, so we are in Christ when we submit to His precious righteousness, and are so covered, that none of our sins appear in God's pure sight. How plainly was this sweet truth taught to our first parents after the fall: "Unto Adam, and to his wife, did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them" (Genesis 3:21). How plainly did He teach them that they could not come naked and guilty into His presence, neither could their own rags of self-righteousness cover them, but the snowy clothing of a slain Lamb must be their raiment, neither have they strength to put it on themselves, but God must clothe them. Thus they were taught what it is to be in Christ Jesus.
When Jacob came to his father Isaac in the goodly sweet-smelling raiment of his elder brother, and he came-near to his father, and his father kissed him, and smelled his raiment, and blessed him, this was a dark shadow of the way in which a sinner comes to the Father, Genesis 27:18. Here only is the great difference: God is not deceived at all, but of His own free will, most truly, righteously, and by consent of our Elder Brother, clothes us in the sweet smelling raiment of Jesus, so that we can sing, "He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with jewels" (Isaiah 41: 10). In the parable of the vine (John 15) Jesus said to the disciples, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me". He teaches us the need of a vital and continued union to Himself It is not enough once to consent to be washed in my blood, and clothed with my righteousness, you must remain thus, even until death. And herein consisted all the peace and joy of the first believers; they constantly abode in Christ. This was their answer to all accusations, "Christ hath died", "I am crucified with Christ". Herein consisteth all my joy. Blessed be the day when first I was found in Christ. Whenever I am in myself before God, then comes darkness, accusations of conscience terrify me, the curses of the law threaten me, the smallest temptation is too strong for me, my soul is like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. But the moment I am again made willing to hide in the wounds of the great Mediator, to be covered with the bright shining folds of His "garment down to the foot", that moment the accusations of conscience are hushed, the thunders of Sinai die away, I sit like the maniac at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in my right mind, and a still small voice whispers within my breast, "Ye are become dead to the law by the body of Christ, that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God" (Romans 7:4).
What is the result of being in Christ Jesus? "If any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold! all things are become new". A divine change takes place upon that soul more wonderful than the creation of the world, a change brought about by Him who calleth the things that are not as though they were. Indeed this change is begun before the soul submits to Christ, for nothing less than Almighty power can melt the rocky heart, and bend the stubborn will to relish the gospel way of salvation. But it is after a man is brought to Christ that the change is manifested.
1. He becomes a new creature in understanding. No man dares to think until he is at peace with God. The mind of a natural man shrinks back from contemplating the realities of God and of the eternal world. The understanding is busied about things seen and temporal, or else about unseen things apart from God; but all that is divine and holy in the universe, or in other words, all that is truly worth knowing, is a field into which the unconverted soul dare not enter. "The natural man knoweth not the things of the Spirit of God." When a soul is made willing to take Jesus as his mediator, and comes into pardon and peace with God, then he begins to think. A new world is opened up to him, the ocean of divine truth stretches out before him, and the verdant hills of immortality rise up to view. The treasures of wisdom and knowledge hid in Christ, and the glories of the three-one Jehovah now fix the heart. The Holy Spirit renews the soul in knowledge after the image of Jesus. A new life ofthe understanding is begun in that soul. "I am unable to express the actings of my soul as I feel them (says Andrew Lindsay), yet I am helped to conceive a little of them by the springs which are in the way from my home; as those springs, though small, have some water in them, so I trust it is with my soul; the water in some of these springs is covered with grass and weeds, so is the sight of this life hid from me, at times, by the corruption of my heart; but as the water appears on a man's removing the weeds with his hands, so does this life by a new manifestation. And as the water continues in these springs, now in August when great pools are dried up, so I hope the life of God will continue in my soul, because the love of Christ is unchangeable." Happy soul! This is the experience of a new creature in Christ Jesus.
2. He becomes a new creature in his affections. No man truly loves till he come to Christ. "Love is of God, and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God, for God is love." Before Paul fled for refuge to lay hold on Christ, he was an old creature in his affections. "I verily thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth" (Acts 26:9). His heart was like a bow bent against Christ and His cause. He hated the humbling truths of the gospel. When God's faithful witnesses were put to death, he gave his voice against them. But when he came to Christ he was made a new creature. Never, perhaps, did such burning love to Christ ever glow in a human bosom as in Paul's: "What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." And now what tender compassion breathes through his soul toward the little flock of Christ: "Being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us." He is a new creature in love. He has got the same stream of love in his heart that springs eternally from the bosom of God. O sinner! this is what God will make thee if thou art willing to be found in Christ. Remember, none but new creatures will ever enjoy the new heavens and the new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.