A New Creation
“Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” – 1 Corinthians 5:17
What does it mean to be a “new creation”? Does God just snap His Almighty fingers and suddenly our lives are completely changed? Do we go from a life consumed by sin to a life engulfed in righteousness in the twinkling of an eye? Honestly, no. The apostle Paul likened the Christian life to a growth process starting with a spiritual re-birth and growth to maturity. But what is this process? What are the steps or phases of this growth? Surely there must be markers along the way to show us how far we have come on this new road. Like a growth chart in crayon on the door frame of life, God has indeed given us a picture of where our life has been and where it will eventually be. We have but to look no further than the first chapter of the Bible itself to find the steps that God takes us through in the act of re-creating our lives.
Day 1: Illumination – “And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. The God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good.” (Genesis 1:2-4a) Before we come to faith in Christ, our sinful lives are in darkness. We wander aimlessly through life not seeing the truth of where we are or where we are going. “For God who said ‘Light shall shine out of darkness’ is the One who has shone in our hearts the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6)
Day 2: Separation – “…God separated the light from the darkness…God separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse.” (Genesis 1:4b, 7b) Once we see the light of the truth of salvation in Him, we are called to a new life, separated from the life that we once knew. We are called to a life of obedience to God’s Word, rather than obedience to the world’s point of view. "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.” (John 15:19)
Day 3: Foundation – “…let the dry land appear…” (Genesis 1:9b) One can’t be expected to “walk on water” from the moment of salvation. It just doesn’t work that way. You must have a firm foundation to build your spiritual house upon. Otherwise it will sink under the long haul of life. That foundation is the life of obedience to His Word, the Bible. “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the wind blew, and burst against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock.” (Matthew 7:24-25)
Day 3 – Day 5: Vegetation for the Population – “Let the earth sprout vegetation [day 3]…let there be lights in heavens…for signs…and seasons [day 4]…le the waters teem with swarms of living creatures…birds fly above the earth…[day 5]” (Genesis 1:11a,14, 20) We must have food in order to survive in the physical world. We also need direction to know which way to go. Both of these hold spiritual connotations as well and both are found in the local body of believers. “Do not forsake our own assembling together as is the habit of some…In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.” (Hebrews 10:25a, 1 Timothy 4:6)
Day 6: Sanctification – “and God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27) Created in the likeness of God. Born in the likeness of Adam – fallen in sin. Recreated in the likeness of the new Adam – Christ. “So also it is written, ‘The first man, Adam, became a living soul.’ The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual…put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” (1Corinthians 15:45-46, Ephesians 4:24)
Day 7: Eternal Relaxation – “and God saw all that he had made and behold it was very good…and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which he had done.” (Genesis 1:31a, 2:2b) The ultimate reward for a hard week of work is a day of rest. The ultimate gift following a life of devotion to Christ…eternal rest instead of torment. “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places…for I go to prepare a place for you…I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:2-3)
The process of re-creation is found in the original process of creation. God’s plan never changed from the beginning. He is always in the work of re-creating to make you into his likeness. “But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make…Like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are your in My hand, O house of Israel.” (Jeremiah 18:4, 6b)
What does it mean to be a “new creation”? Does God just snap His Almighty fingers and suddenly our lives are completely changed? Do we go from a life consumed by sin to a life engulfed in righteousness in the twinkling of an eye? Honestly, no. The apostle Paul likened the Christian life to a growth process starting with a spiritual re-birth and growth to maturity. But what is this process? What are the steps or phases of this growth? Surely there must be markers along the way to show us how far we have come on this new road. Like a growth chart in crayon on the door frame of life, God has indeed given us a picture of where our life has been and where it will eventually be. We have but to look no further than the first chapter of the Bible itself to find the steps that God takes us through in the act of re-creating our lives.
Day 1: Illumination – “And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. The God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good.” (Genesis 1:2-4a) Before we come to faith in Christ, our sinful lives are in darkness. We wander aimlessly through life not seeing the truth of where we are or where we are going. “For God who said ‘Light shall shine out of darkness’ is the One who has shone in our hearts the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6)
Day 2: Separation – “…God separated the light from the darkness…God separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse.” (Genesis 1:4b, 7b) Once we see the light of the truth of salvation in Him, we are called to a new life, separated from the life that we once knew. We are called to a life of obedience to God’s Word, rather than obedience to the world’s point of view. "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.” (John 15:19)
Day 3: Foundation – “…let the dry land appear…” (Genesis 1:9b) One can’t be expected to “walk on water” from the moment of salvation. It just doesn’t work that way. You must have a firm foundation to build your spiritual house upon. Otherwise it will sink under the long haul of life. That foundation is the life of obedience to His Word, the Bible. “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the wind blew, and burst against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock.” (Matthew 7:24-25)
Day 3 – Day 5: Vegetation for the Population – “Let the earth sprout vegetation [day 3]…let there be lights in heavens…for signs…and seasons [day 4]…le the waters teem with swarms of living creatures…birds fly above the earth…[day 5]” (Genesis 1:11a,14, 20) We must have food in order to survive in the physical world. We also need direction to know which way to go. Both of these hold spiritual connotations as well and both are found in the local body of believers. “Do not forsake our own assembling together as is the habit of some…In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.” (Hebrews 10:25a, 1 Timothy 4:6)
Day 6: Sanctification – “and God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27) Created in the likeness of God. Born in the likeness of Adam – fallen in sin. Recreated in the likeness of the new Adam – Christ. “So also it is written, ‘The first man, Adam, became a living soul.’ The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual…put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” (1Corinthians 15:45-46, Ephesians 4:24)
Day 7: Eternal Relaxation – “and God saw all that he had made and behold it was very good…and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which he had done.” (Genesis 1:31a, 2:2b) The ultimate reward for a hard week of work is a day of rest. The ultimate gift following a life of devotion to Christ…eternal rest instead of torment. “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places…for I go to prepare a place for you…I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:2-3)
The process of re-creation is found in the original process of creation. God’s plan never changed from the beginning. He is always in the work of re-creating to make you into his likeness. “But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make…Like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are your in My hand, O house of Israel.” (Jeremiah 18:4, 6b)
posted by David Noland | 6:48 PM
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