Saturday, May 31, 2008

New Things

"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 KJV)

"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." (Galatians 6: 15 KJV)

The one who "believes in" and "receives" Jesus (John 1: 12, 13) is one who has been "born of God" (I John 5: 1), and has experienced a wonderful change, both of legal standing (state) before God and his law, and in his own heart, soul, and mind, or in his nature and inner being. This experience Jesus and John called "passing from death into life." (John 5: 24; I John 3: 14)

This inner change is radical, imparting to the heart, mind, and soul, what is called "eternal" or "spiritual life." In this state of new spiritual life, the heart, mind, and soul have become "new" and "old things" have "passed away" or died. In the same experience of coming to new life, one dies to the old life. Thus, Paul speaks of being "dead to sin" (Romans 6: 2, 11), and of being "dead to the world" (Galatians 6: 14) and to its "fundamental principles." (4:9)

What is meant by "all things become new"? Paul spoke of the newly born Christian as walking in "newness of life" (Romans 6: 4 KJV) and in "newness of spirit" (7:6). He also wrote of "a new and living way" (Hebrews 10: 20 KJV) opened up for the Christian by the sacrifice and priestly ministry of Christ, and into which he enters, in part, spiritually in his heart and mind, when he enters into communion and fellowship with the Lord through the word and Holy Spirit.

A blind man, when his eyes are opened, and seeing for the very first time, may appropriately be described as one to whom "all things become new." Things that he could not see, and of which he had no awareness, now become objects of visual delight and joyful contemplation. A man who is a "new creature" in Christ, or who has been "born of God," is one who has a new life, a new nature, a new way of thinking, having undergone a radical "paradigm shift" in his thinking about things; things regarding himself, and his purpose in this world, and regarding God and his obligations to him, and of his utter helplessness to save or excuse himself from his sins, and of his absolute need and trust in Christ and his death, shed blood, and perfect righteousness alone. His entire "worldview" is changed; his "perspective" is now quite different, being superior.

This "new creature," this new born spiritual child of God, the one who is now possessed of the "divine nature" (II Peter 1; 4), and who bears the image and resemblance of God in his new born soul, now hates the sin he once loved, and loves righteousness, God, and Christ, the things he once despised. His "ego" once ruled in his thoughts and in his inner being, but now Christ takes the place of the "I."

"No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved." (Matthew 9: 16, 17 KJV)

The "new and living way" into which the new believer in Jesus enters by faith is nothing other than the "new convenant" (testament) that Lord God had long ago promised to make with and on behalf of believers in Jesus. This "new and living way" is the religion of Christianity in its pure New Testament form, as delineated in those writings now called "The New Testament." The "new wine" is the gospel or good news that Christ (Messiah) has come and sacrificed himself on behalf of his people, and now extends saving mercy to every sinner who confesses his sins, turns from them, and believes in Christ. The "new wine" also speaks of the Holy Spirit or the new life of the believer in Jesus.

"Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." (Jeremiah 31: 31-34 KJV)

What great blessings come from this "new covenant" brought into force by the death of Christ! To "know God" and to walk with him, and to have communion and fellowship with him, and to be pardoned of sin, are all because Jesus shed his blood to inaugurate the New Covenant!

"And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 11: 19; 36: 26 KJV)

"For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Matthew 26: 28 KJV)

This "new heart" and "new spirit," or new "mind," is what is created and begotten when one is made a "new creature in Christ," and is "born again," and believes in Jesus.

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it...Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name." (Revelation 2: 17 & 3: 12 KJV)

Belonging to their new state as the "children" of God, as adopted "sons" of God, the believer in Jesus is promised new names and titles, glorious and significant titles that correspond to heavenly dignities and stations.

"Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them." (Isaiah 42: 9 KJV)

"Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." (II Peter 3: 13 KJV)

"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea." (Revelation 21: 1 KJV)

"And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." (Revelation 21: 2 KJV)

A new address! A new dwelling place! A resident of the new earth, renewed, regenerated, and recreated, and made superior to Eden's world. A world that will know nothing of the "old world," no more of its death, destruction, and it curses. A new capital city! City of gold! Gates of pearls! A spotless and perfect city that is truly a "Jerusalem" or "city of peace"! It will be peaceful beyond description. Oh how "new" will be this new earth and new capital with is new king and citizens!

"For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain." (Isaiah 65: 17, 22 KJV)

"The former things shall not be remembered." Could this be but another way of saying that "all things become new" for all of creation? What does it mean when the prophet says the former things will not be remembered? Does he mean this absolutely? Will we forget that we once lived on earth? Will have no memories any longer of what took place on earth in our short lives? Or, does he mean that it will not be a regular topic of discussion throughout eternity?

"Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace." (Ephesians 2: 15 KJV)



This "new man" is a term for the entire "body" of believers, or the mystical or invisible body of Christ. In this "new body" there is one head, but there are many members. In this "new body" there is both Jew and Gentile. All believers are "one in Christ Jesus."

"And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4: 24 KJV)

"And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." (Colossians 3: 10 KJV)



The term "new man" is also a term for the individual believer. He is a new creature, a newborn babe, one with a new heart and new spirit, and who has new life, and who dies to old things and is introduced into many new and glorious things. The "new man" is the man with the "new heart" and the "new spirit."

"And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful." (Revelation 21: 5 KJV)


Oh the new things that Lord God has in store for his children! So the record is - "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him..." (I Corinthians 2: 9 NIV)

Friend, would you like a new heart and a new spirit? Would you like a new life in Christ? Then, call upon him today, and believe on him.

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