Lesson ▪ 1999
Tags: Salvation; Christian life; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:14-15
Related Resources: Newness in the New Testament ▪ Preaching: A Ministry of Newness ▪ Progressive Sanctification

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Texts

2 Corinthians 5.17

17   Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Galatians 6.14-15

14   But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

15   For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

Truths

I.    New Creation: Defined

A.    Key Phrases

1.    “if any man be in Christ Jesus” (2 Cor 5.17)

2.    “For in Christ Jesus” (Gal 6.15)

B.    Key Concepts

1.    New creation takes place when our lives are situated in Christ (2 Cor 5.17; cf. Col 3.3).

2.    New creation is a gift of God’s grace and a work of the Holy Spirit (Tit 3.4-5).

3.    New creation is offered to all people regardless of their background (Gal 6.15; cf. Col 3.11; Gal 3.27-28).

II.  New Creation: Contrasted

A.    Key Phrase

“old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor 5.17)

B.    Key Concepts

1.    Reference to a new creation implies a contrast with an old creation.

2.    In the original creation, man was made for fellowship with God. However, Adam’s sin kept us from fulfilling our God-given purpose (Rom 5.12, 19).

3.    In order for us to enjoy friendship with God, he had to offer a new beginning. This is exactly what he did through the death and resurrection of Christ. The new creation is God’s way of giving us a chance to start over on a blank slate. His work in our lives is a part of his total plan to redeem all of creation, including the physical realm (Rom 8.20-22).

III. New Creation: Applied

A.    Key Phrase

“put on the new man, which . . . is created in righteousness” (Eph 4.24)

B.    Key Concepts

1.    New creation demands a new lifestyle. Through faith in Christ our inner being is made new. Yet God’s plan for new creation does not end in regeneration. Rather, it must be lived out every day. We are created in Christ for the purpose of doing good works (Eph 2.10).

2.    New creation requires us to forsake old habits (Col 3.9) and adopt new ones (Col 3.12-14).

3.    It is to be expected that new creation will affect our whole way of life (Rom 6.4).

Thoughts

• In order for God’s plan for our lives to be fulfilled, we must experience new creation. The significance of earthly achievements pales in comparison to that of new creation.
• If we profess to have experienced new creation, our lives should reflect a change. We should no longer be as we were before salvation.
• We cannot be satisfied with the fact that we have been re-created in the image of God. We must live out this reality by consciously clothing our lives with righteous behavior.
• We should understand that each circumstance in our lives helps us to be conformed to the image of Christ (Rom 8.28-29). Each day, as God shapes us to be the people he wants us to be, the miracle of new creation becomes more obvious.
  
  

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