15 Sep Born Again (Part 6): You Are a New Creation!
Born again people are new creations, changed from the deepest part of their being to the degree that the Scriptures refer to each as a “new creation.” Second Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
What this means practically is that change in our behavior must be preceded by a change in our nature if there is to be any true holiness. Sadly, few people understand this wonderful benefit of regeneration; instead, they try to change their outward behavior without realizing that change begins on the inside at our deepest levels and then works its way out into the daily affairs of our lives. On this point, Galatians 6:15 says, “For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision [both outward acts], but a new creation [an inward act].”
Paul’s big idea is that God desires us to be born again in Him and live a new life as a new person in relationship with Him rather than to seek to transform ourselves by our outward and religious efforts. Such religious efforts can help us exchange one sin for another, such as stopping gluttony and becoming proud of our successful weight loss, but are incapable of causing us to live a new life as a totally new person. To illustrate this, the Bible often renames people once they are regenerated so that, for example, Cephas becomes Peter, and Saul becomes Paul; they are transformed at the deepest levels!
In a world where people are seeking to change their life by self-help, the Bible reminds us that what we really need is an entirely new life made possible by God’s help.
How does knowing you are a new creation in Christ give you hope that bad patterns in your life can change?
