2Corinthians 5:17-19 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” (NASB)
As we bring in the new year, 2011 it seemed appropriate to take a look at what is “New” for us as Christians. This passage from 2 Corinthians is a portion of a longer passage dealing with our life on earth, “In this tent” 2Corinthians 5:1 all the while knowing our permanent home is in heaven. A key verse in the passage is, “Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him”. 2 Corinthians 5:9
So, the overall theme is a reminder to the believer about who we are and how we should live as we remain in our earthly bodies; “In this tent”. But this reminder about right living is not a list of do’s and don’ts as was the Law. This reminder of who we are in Christ goes further. As believers we have something else to remember.
Today’s passage sums it up. “…If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature”. When we are saved by faith in Christ, something happens to us. “The old things passed away; behold, new things have come”. God regenerates us at the point of conversion, faith in Christ. We aren’t the same anymore; we’re, “New creature(s)” As new creatures, we are to live like it. The old ways have passed; we are free to live a new life in Christ.
This is possible only as a gift from God. “Now all these things are from God”. Specifically, “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself”. This does that through the shedding of his own blood on the cross of Calvary. That was his ministry to us, one of reconciliation. The word reconciliation is translated from the Greek word katallagē which holds the meaning of, change to a restoration of favor. So where we were previously in an unfavorable position, the ministry of reconciliation of Christ brings us back to a position of favor.
So, as favored ones, reconciled by Christ to Him we should live like it. As “New creature(s)” in this new year let’s set our minds to live for Christ. Paul concludes this section with the following, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2Corinthians 5:20-21 AMEN!
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