Have you ever hoped that you could have a new life? Whether it is the reality of your right now circumstances, the skeletons of your past, or the doubt about your future. Sometimes we yearn to wake up in the morning to a brand new life - today’s problems gone and a future filled with hope and promise. The good news is that you can have a brand new life.
Too good to be true? The truth is that Jesus died on the cross, taking our sin and shame upon Himself and He rose from the dead. He proved that He had power over death and power to give life. If that wasn’t enough, He promised to send His Spirit to live within those who professed Him Lord and Savior. “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.” John 14:16. When the Spirit comes to live inside believers, they are made into “new creations” – made clean spiritually from their sin and shame.
The gospel of John says that we need to be born again which occurs when we place our faith in Jesus. It is like the beginning of creation. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1. God took nothing and breathed something into the darkness, full of light and life. It is the same for us! Through Christ, God doesn’t only clean us up – He creates our lives brand new. Our old sins are gone forever, forgotten by the God who alone can destroy evil. “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.
The things of the world that filled our lives – pride, sin, lusts, gossip, and habits, – are gone and replaced with the new person in Christ. As a new creation, we live our lives for God rather than ourselves. The old things have died and are now nailed to the cross along with our sin nature. The apostle Paul says, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20. This is what our new creation life looks like.
Paul reminds these young believers in Corinth of their standing as a new creation. While the world around them is sin-cursed, broken and dark, they could have confidence and courage knowing that before God they stood clean and pure. God no longer sees our sin, but rather the sacrifice of His Son that covers all our sins and makes us new.
How will you live your life differently as a new creation? When you recognize your standing as a new creation, your future is filled with a hope that comes only from being in Christ.
(All references NKJV unless otherwise noted)