New Creations in Christ (October 13, 2023)

“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)

When new believers profess their faith in Jesus Christ, they are freed from the death penalty of sin, their salvation is sealed by the Holy Spirit, and they immediately receive God’s grace and His unmerited gift of everlasting life. This glorious moment in the life of the new convert is only the beginning of an ongoing process of spiritual regeneration that will continue until that saint (“holy one” who has been set apart for God’s special purposes) enters the gates of heaven. As Christians, we are all works in progress, each at a different stage of our spiritual growth and development. Hopefully, however, all of us are making progress in our divine transformation into the likeness of Christ, our LORD and Savior.

“…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…” (Philippians 1:6)

At the moment of our spiritual rebirth, we become new creatures and are divinely empowered to break the hold of sin over the flesh that is our human inheritance and to take on the hereditary nature of Christ. Once we are justified by faith in Christ, declared not guilty of our sins, and credited with Jesus’ righteousness, this process of sanctification begins. By surrendering ourselves and yielding our hearts, we facilitate the Holy Spirit’s efforts to gradually cultivate within us love, joy, peace, patience, humility, and other Christlike qualities. Our obedient cooperation with God’s Spirit in this “good work” allows Jesus to live through us. Ultimately, we will be glorified and, free of sin, become like our LORD, forever in His glorious presence!

“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:2)