A New Creation

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Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 (ESV)

16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Devotion:

            We consider today how we become new creations in Christ. It is important to our daily walk with Christ that we get this right. A mistake here can lead to deadly eternal consequences. So, we must pay careful attention to what Paul is saying here in 2 Corinthians.

            Paul is describing here how we are to view our fellow Christians now that we have been washed in the blood of Jesus saving power. We must no longer view fellow believers as fleshly creatures, but as new creations empowered by the Holy Spirit, Just as we regard Jesus himself no longer as flesh and blood. Even though Jesus and our fellow believers still appear to be flesh and blood a change has occurred. They have a new nature, a heavenly one that they will have for all eternity.

            We must be careful to note that us mere mortals that have been transformed into new creations are still plagued by our old sin nature. Although we seek to satisfy the lusts of the flesh less and less. We are still prone to follow the power of sin that lives withing us. Although as Paul says elsewhere, we do not do the good we want but the evil we do not want to do it is this we do. What wretched people we are. It is only by the great grace of God we are saved from our natural bodies and delivered into Christ’s kingdom of light. We are truly on our way to a kingdom of our God and of his Christ, Praise be to God!

            Seeking to imitate Christ must be our number one goal in life. The scripture says that we regarded Christ to be a human like one of us as he traveled the world. But no longer. We have seen him glorified in his resurrection. We, therefore, can no longer see Jesus as a mere mortal. Jesus has been revealed as God himself. Although we are unworthy of such a sight as Jesus raised in glory, Jesus has appeared to us in his glorified body. He taught, ate, and performed many signs while he was among us. And we all saw him ascend into heaven in his resurrected body.

            By Christs resurrection and ascension, we are transformed into new creations. We must tell others about what we have seen and heard from this savior. Until Jesus comes again, we must be found faithful to him. Telling the wonderful, good news of who Jesus is and what he has done for us. Let us pray for boldness to speak out about our wonderful salvation.

Prayer:

            Lord God who raised Jesus from the dead never to die again. Embolden us with the power to live and love as Jesus did. May we be servants as Jesus was. Help us to be known as Christ’s hands and feet spreading good news and healing wherever we go. We pray that God will strengthen us each day to live as Jesus did bringing love and peace to every situation. Amen

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