New
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: The old has gone, the new has come!”
2 Corinthians 5:17
New is powerful word, especially when we are talking about an identity.
NEW | adjective | not existing before; made, discovered for the first time| latest, original
Wait a second…not existing before and discovered for the first time? So, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” Before we go any further, let’s first look at the meaning of “in Christ”.
IN | preposition | expressing the situation of something that is enclosed or surrounded by something else | inside, within, the middle of
We are enclosed and surrounded by Christ. Let’s read Galatians 3:26-28:
“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
To put on Christ, to be in Christ, to be enclosed by Christ…these are such comforting thoughts. We don’t have to walk in fear, or feel alone or exposed, we are in Christ. Our 2 Corinthians 5:17 verse goes onto say, we are a new creation.
CREATION | noun | the bringing into existence of the universe, especially when regarded as an act of God | life, formation
We just learned the definition of new is “not existing before” and now, learning creation is “the bringing into existence of the universe…let’s put those 2 definitions together:
NEW CREATION is bringing into existence of the universe something which didn’t exist before now.
Hold on, can we meditate on this thought for just a second?
Can you wrap your head around this one? Me neither. Let’s read Colossians 3:3:
“For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
We died? We are new creations? I’m not big on “religious” terms, but I really like the term of being reborn. Our identity is IN Christ…our new creation. To walk around carrying the burden of our old self, is like carrying around a zombie on our backs. It’s dead weight. Heavy. Old. and Stinky.
Lord, you are simply amazing. Thank you for your son who died on the cross, so that we may become new creations. Please help me let go of the “old self” and walk in confidence of my new identity in Christ. Thank you for my identity has being surrounded by Christ…within Him and not alone. May I surrender to the Holy Spirit, and walk side by side with you, versus trying to do everything myself. I don’t want dead weight. I don’t want to carry burdens, old and stinky. I want to have the aroma of Christ, and desire to be a delight to you. Thank you for your unconditional love and patience, as we try to capture our identity in Christ and not as defeated, weathered and exhausted human beings here on Earth. Love you with all of my heart. In Christ! Amen.
