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, NKJV

He Says I Am... A New Creation

We could live the rest of our days trying to understand the work done in us. Most of us would end up with more questions than answers. "Why do I still struggle?" "How come I feel like God doesn't love me like He does others?" "I have more problems now than before I was saved!" If you think about it, many of our questions come from an evaluation of ourselves instead of our understanding of who God is. He is THE Renewer, the One who created the universe FROM nothing, the One who returned our past and spiritual deadness back TO nothing. When we grasp the truth that God's power is ENOUGH to regenerate (re-genesis our lives, we can begin living from that point of view. Every day the power of God is working in you, equipping you with what you need to overcome the ways the world, the flesh and the devil hinder you. Empowered Renewed Woman, the old struggles and habits that linger and try to control you, will be dealt with by a brand new you! The devil has to fight a new foe when you are born again, perhaps that's why he brings up the past so often. Satan tries to persuade you to identify with your pre-salvation self. Now you are armed with truth and ready to overcome!

When Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "old things have passed away," he was describing with absolute surety, a person who is obsolete or has 'passed into the past permanently. The word he uses for 'old', refers to something that existed long ago, 'ancient history'. This old nature has been wiped out completely. As one theologian put it, "This old way of 'creation', dominated by its old way of thinking has passed out of existence." It-Does-Not-Exist! It makes sense that we should have a new way of thinking, a new way of looking at sin, a new way of loving others and ourselves and, most importantly, a new way of seeing God, not just as Renewer but as Father.

Paul concludes his thought with the declaration, "behold, all things have become new." Paul desired that we marvel over this truth. It is literally life changing. As believers, we still sin and struggle because our flesh fights the work of God in us. The devil doesn't give up his attacks and our world is fallen and corrupted. One writer put it this way, "Learning to live as a Christian is learning to live as a renewed human being, anticipating the eventual new creation in and with a world which is still longing and groaning for that final redemption"-Anonymous. The difference is Christ in us. God made provision for His new creation when we mess up.

We are living in Christ or in relationship with Jesus as our Savior. This relationship allows the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, continually changing us. We have a new solution to deal with an old 'condition-God's grace.

We came to Christ spiritually dead, guilty of sinning against Him. The price for our sin was death (iconic since we were dead to begin with). Jesus not only paid the price for our transgressions, but He also brought us into a right relationship with Him. In doing so, this allowed the power of God to do a creation miracle in our lives. Our spirit, which had never known life, was made alive in Christ. We were not remodeled, rebooted, or repaired. We were regenerated. We are new creations in a new relationship with our RENEWER. Our relationship, living in Christ, empowers us to overcome the sinful issues that linger around us. We are new fully equipped to live as a NEW CREATION despite the struggles and temptation we face. I AM A NEW CREATION IN CHRIST!

Further Reading: 1 John 2:1,2; Ephesians 1:3-13; Ephesians 2:1-10; Colossians 1:17-20

If you would like to be able to do a complete study of Chapter Four, order a copy of Enough by contacting Empowered Women's Ministry at empoweredwomen@pcg.org or 817.554.5900 ext. 371. Available also at pcg.org/resources or Amazon.