Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.(2 Corinthians 5:17 – ESV)
The KJV renders the end of this verse as, “all things are become new.” However, this “all things” means specific things, and this doesn’t mean all things are now perfected. We need to distinguish between justification and sanctification, between the judicial and the incremental, between the positional and the practical. George Muller said, “Just as a little child is a perfect human being, but still is far from perfect in all his development as man, so the true child of God is also perfect in all parts, although not yet perfect in all the stages of his development in faith.” You have no biblical warrant to just take this verse and make it say whatever you want about something being new. You still have to try; it isn’t like turning on some switch, it is a new way, a road to be travelled, with process and progress, not a place we climb up on or fall down from.
A better way of understanding it is to say that old things have passed away and new things have come, specifically, our way of looking at ourselves and relating to Jesus Christ, our old ways of thinking have been introduced to a new and living way. These new things are things from God (vs.18). We are a part of a new body, with new “clothes” to put on (Colossians 3:1-14). The new man in Christ is new because in Christ he has been declared righteous, and he has been given a new nature, but this new man must still put off the ideas and ideals of the old man (Romans 12:1-2 / Galatians 5:16ff / Ephesians 4:22-24 / Colossians 3:5).
“All things are new” doesn’t mean we have all in its fullness (Romans 8:23 / Ephesians 1:13-14). Upon being born again we are given a new disposition, but we still must struggle with the old proclivities still ingrained in our minds, which are against the new way (Galatians 5:17 / Romans 7:15-20). This is why the believer has to fight against the desires of the flesh, the old way, which wars against the soul (1 Peter 2:11). Whereas the unbeliever has only one direction, and one disposition, toward sin and away from God, the believer has been given a change in direction, toward God and holiness. Behold, all things are new, in the sense that we are now on a new road with a new outlook. Look around you; which way are you headed?
10 comments:
Excellent teaching JD.
I love the Mueller quote.
When one is born again, he or she becomes new, and is becoming new.
I remember as a new convert I didn't really love Jesus as I do now. I stopped using His name with cuss words, and I showed kindness to others, and I was less selfish, but I had a long way to go, and stil do. In some ways I'm less passionate for the Gospel, though I'm more mature in doctrine and theology. I'm believeing I'm gong to keep growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for He has promised to never leave us, nor let us fall completely. Jesus may let us fall and hit the dirt hard, but He loves us too much to leave us there, and He will pick us up, dust us off, and send us forth, a little wiser and even stronger for the hard times ahead.
Exactly, Don...
The Muller quote is an excellent example.
the believer has been given a change in direction, toward God and holiness.
Hallelujah!
Sanctification is a process of struggling and fighting against the desires of the flesh which isn't enjoyable but the fact that holiness is inevitable in the end is something to shout about!
HALLELUJAH!
Can I get a witness from the Amen corner?!
When heaven is your destination, holiness is your destiny...
I tell the truth...you travel the road to get where you are going, the question is, which road are you on?
"Can I get a witness from the Amen corner?!"
Amen! And from the balcony: Glory be to the Lord!
Amen!
Amen! Glory be to God!
Great post. This was an excellent explanation and word picture of how we must grow up. It also helps to understand why you can be a new creation but still fall down sometimes...we all must learn to walk.
Thanks and indeed, T...
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