The New Creation
by Brian E. Trenhaile, MTh on 12 October 2010
This nugget of truth describes new nature that is created in a believer by God when Christ is accepted as Lord and Savior. Some verses describing the new creation follow.
My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20, NLT).
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (II Corinthians 5:17).
In these verses note the use of past and present tense regarding the creation of a new nature in a believer. A new nature is now resident in the believer.
Baptism plays a role in representing the reality of this new nature. Mark 16:16 state, “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved.” The Greek word for “saved” in this verse is “sozo.” Sozo means to be kept safe and sound from destruction, health, to be delivered from the penalty of sin.
Baptism demonstrates that the old nature is dead and that we are now alive in Christ with a new nature. Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead (Colossians 2:12).
The powerful effects on us of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection are emphasized through baptism. These effects are a completed work on God's part. The Apostle Paul states, "and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority" (Colossians 2:10, NASB). Paul also states, "Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in inheritance of the saints in Light" (Colossians 1:12, NASB).
In the next two verses note carefully where we are right now, even while walking on this earth. These were verses were directed at and apply to believers who were walking on the earth.
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory (Colossians 3:1-4, NLT).
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world (I John 4:17).
Combining these two verses we can understand that we are as he is right now, resurrected and seated next to the Father. We exist in Christ, with the resurrected Christ inside of us, not in Christ as He was when He walked on the earth, but we are as He is now seated next to the Father. This is just one of the many wonderful benefits of the new life. A study of the in Him, through Him, by Him and Him in us scriptures will show the tremendous depth of the new reality that is associated with our new lives in Christ.
See the nugget on the death of the old nature to see the first part of this process.
References:
a) Richards, Dr. James, Foundations of Faith, Huntsville, AL, USA, Impact Ministries, 1998.
b) Richards, Dr. James, Grace the Power to Change, New Kensington, PA, USA, Whitaker House, 2001.
c) Wade, Dr. Peter, I’m Excited About Colossians, Seaford, SA, Australia, Positive Word Ministries, 2010.
Unless otherwise indicated, all scriptural quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.
Scripture references marked NLT are taken from the NEW LIVING TRANSLATION ®. NLT ®. Copyright © 1996, 2004 by the Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
Scripture references marked NASB are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
