TRV
The New Creation
The Profound Reality of the New Creation in Christ Jesus
The concept of the "New Creation" stands as a foundational truth in Christian theology, articulating the radical transformation wrought in the life of one who believes in Jesus Christ. It is not merely a reformation of character or an adoption of new practices, but a profound, spiritual rebirth, a complete making-new by the power of God. The Apostle Paul succinctly declares this miraculous work in 2 Corinthians 5:17, stating, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." This declaration signifies a complete break from the old life dominated by sin and a fresh beginning in union with the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a work of divine grace, initiated by God and experienced by man, leading to a life lived in accordance with His will and for His glory. This newness is not superficial but penetrates to the very core of one's being, affecting desires, thoughts, actions, and ultimate purpose.
The Absolute Necessity of a New Creation
Why is such a radical transformation necessary? The Scriptures are clear concerning the fallen state of humanity apart from Christ. Man, by nature, is spiritually dead, alienated from God, and utterly incapable of pleasing Him in his own strength. The Lord Jesus Himself emphasized this necessity when He told Nicodemus, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). This "born again" is synonymous with being made a new creation. The natural man is described as being at enmity with God, unable to submit to His law, and therefore unable to please Him. As Romans 8:7-8 declares:
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Furthermore, Ephesians 2:1 paints a stark picture of our former state: "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." A dead man cannot respond to God; he requires life. This spiritual death necessitates a spiritual resurrection, a new birth, a divine re-creation. Without this inward transformation, there can be no true fellowship with a holy God, no understanding of spiritual truths, and no entrance into His eternal kingdom. The old creation, tainted by Adam's sin, is insufficient for God's purposes; only a new creation, born of God, can truly bear His image and likeness.
The Divine Agent of the New Creation
The work of making a new creation is not an act of human will or effort, but solely the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus further clarified to Nicodemus, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:5-6). It is the Spirit of God who regenerates the dead spirit of man, imparting divine life. This is often referred to as the "washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Titus 3:5). The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, draws to Christ, enables faith, and then indwells the believer, initiating and sustaining this new life. He is the active power that takes the old, fallen nature and transforms it into a new, spiritual nature, responsive to God. The Spirit acts like the wind, unseen yet powerful, bringing about this supernatural change:
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
This divine operation ensures that the new creation is truly God's work, not a human achievement, thus preserving His glory and the purity of the salvation message.
The Evidences and Characteristics of the New Creation
While the new creation is an inward, spiritual reality, it inevitably produces outward evidences in the life of the believer. The transformed individual is no longer characterized by the works of the flesh but begins to walk in the Spirit, bearing the fruit of righteousness. Some key characteristics include:
- Newness of Life: The believer is "raised with Christ" to "walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4). This signifies a departure from old sinful habits and a pursuit of Christ-like living.
- Putting Off the Old Man, Putting On the New: Ephesians 4:22-24 instructs us to "put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." This involves a conscious choice to reject sin and embrace holiness. Similarly, Colossians 3:9-10 speaks of having "put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."
- Bearing the Fruit of the Spirit: The indwelling Holy Spirit produces spiritual fruit, directly contrasting the works of the flesh. These include "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance" (Galatians 5:22-23). The presence of these virtues demonstrates the Spirit's transforming power within.
- Crucifixion of the Flesh: The new creation implies a spiritual warfare against the desires of the old nature. "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts" (Galatians 5:24). This is an ongoing process of mortifying sinful desires and yielding to the Spirit's leading.
- Love for God and Brethren: A genuine mark of the new birth is a fervent love for God and for fellow believers. "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren" (1 John 3:14).
These characteristics are not earned to become a new creation, but rather are the natural outflow and evidence that one is a new creation by God's grace.
The Future Hope and Consummation of the New Creation
While the new creation is a present reality for the believer, its full manifestation awaits the return of Christ and the establishment of the new heavens and new earth. The process of sanctification, where we are progressively conformed to the image of Christ, is ongoing, but the ultimate redemption of our bodies is yet to come. Romans 8:23 speaks of waiting for "the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body." At the rapture, believers will receive glorified bodies, perfectly suited for eternity, free from the corruption and weakness of the present flesh:
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
The new creation culminates not only in the transformation of individual believers but also in the grand cosmic renewal. Revelation 21:1 foretells, "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea." In this new creation, God will dwell with His people, and all traces of sin, sorrow, and death will be abolished. This is the glorious hope for all who are in Christ: to dwell eternally in a perfectly renewed creation, fully bearing the image of their Creator and Redeemer.
Conclusion: Living as a New Creation
The doctrine of the new creation is not a mere theological concept but a living reality for every true believer. It calls for a radical reorientation of life, away from self and sin, and towards Christ and His righteousness. To be a new creation means to be a participant in God's redemptive work, to have a new identity, new desires, and a new destiny. It is a call to live out the implications of our spiritual rebirth daily, striving to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called (Ephesians 4:1). May we continually remember the profound truth of Galatians 6:15: "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." Our standing before God, our hope, and our very essence are found in this glorious reality: we are made new in Him.
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