2024 is here! And what better way to start the new year, than with a post about how God makes us new!
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence.”
I think it’s important to study the ways in which we are made new in Christ! Let’s look at the first part of this verse:
“Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation.”
From this, we can see that by our belief in Christ, we are then qualified for this new purpose in life–this new version of ourselves, and–this overall new order and way of life for humanity.
And now the second part of this verse:
“The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence.”
This newness is only possible if you have Christ though. So, if a person is not a believer in Christ, they are not seeing the world from the Holy Spirit’s heart. They are still in what the Bible calls the “flesh” or that person’s old creation.
This also reminds me of some verses from Ephesians, Chapter 4:
Ephesians 4:22-24
“22 You were taught to change the way you were living. The person you used to be will ruin you through desires that deceive you. 23 However, you were taught to have a new attitude. 24 You were also taught to become a new person created to be like God, with a life that truly has God’s approval and is holy.”
Being new is not just something that God does in us, but it is also something that God teaches us. As we are growing in our faith in Christ, our heart (intentions and actions) have to catch up with our faith. When God makes us “new,” there can still be things that our flesh finds appealing and hard to let go of, which is why the same God Who saves us, is the same God Who also has to sanctify us.
**Sanctify: to set apart as or declare holy; consecrate
→ So, sanctification is the process of God making us Holy.
He does this with the Holy Spirit’s help, Who lives on the inside of us.
Because we believe in Christ, and have the Holy Spirit, the Spirit inside of us makes us new from the inside– out. That is why it takes time to embrace this newness of Christ. We must fully rely on the Holy Spirit daily, to be able to submit to and obey the way of Christ–our new way of living.
Here are some more scriptures concerning God making us new:
Ephesians 2:10 GW “God has made us what we are. He has created us in Christ Jesus to live lives filled with good works that he has prepared for us to do.”
→ In Christ, we are able to experience life the way God intends–in communion with Him.
Romans 12:2 GW “Don’t become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants—what is good, pleasing, and perfect.”
→ In Christ, we have the opportunity to change the way we respond to our surroundings and desires that are ungodly. We can choose Christ instead!
I pray that you are encouraged in knowing that just like with a new year, God desires to make you new!
God bless you and Happy New Year!!🌟
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