Being a new creation

Through repentance, faith in Christ, and baptism a great miracle takes place in our lives. This miracle is so great that it is difficult to fully comprehend it. The word of God says that “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: old things have passed away; see, everything has become new!” (2.Cor.5:17). The old life has completely passed away, everything has become new! This miracle only takes place when we are in Christ. Through conversion or repentance we are turning away from sin and the world, turning to Christ asking for forgiveness. We believe the message of the gospel and by faith we accept Christ as our Saviour and Lord. In water baptism we are being united with him in his death and resurrection and are clothing ourselves with Christ. Out of the water a new creature is raised! A new man in Christ Jesus, a new citizen of the kingdom of God has come into being!

Jesus Christ told Nicodemus, a great religious leader of his day, this challenging truth:

"Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above (or born anew). (John 3:3)

"Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, `You must be born from above.' (or anew) (John 3:5-7)

And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. (John 3:14-15)

We all entered this world the same way: By being born! The regeneration or the new birth gives us a new life in a new world - the kingdom of God. Through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit we receive eternal life - a life of divine nature. This implies that we are given a totally new start in a new environment - the covenant community of God. We become new people in a new kingdom. From then on we live under a new government - the Lordship of Christ.

As human beings we may help one another to a fresh start in different areas of life. A criminal released from prison is given a so-called fresh start in life. Unfortunately for the majority of the released convicts, this start doesn’t imply anything other than a repetition of the old way of life. The reason for this is that the released person is the same person as before, he is simply older. Often he returns to his old friends, his old environment, and his old way of life. He does not return to society as a new person. He just returns to his community as a marked person, branded as a criminal for life. Ordinary and decent people will normally keep him at a distance for the sake of safety. He will be met with scepticism when he applies for a job, a flat, etc. Even when he has served a sentence, he is doomed to bear his sentence the rest of his life – unfortunately! It should not be like that, and I am sure there must be some exceptions to the rule, but the fact is that a term of imprisonment is a very bad starting point for a new life, humanly speaking.

When Jesus Christ gives us a new start in life he does it a totally different way. First he takes our punishment upon himself, then he makes us new people - we are born anew. We receive a totally new life from within. We receive a new heart, a new spirit, and a new nature. Then he puts us into a new environment, he accepts us into his covenant community, we are put together with other people he has made new creations. Our sins are totally wiped out. They don’t exist any longer. We have accepted the sentence of guilty and the death penalty because of our sins. By faith we have received forgiveness for our sins because of the atoning death of Jesus Christ himself. He took my punishment - I am free!

By my believing in Christ, God declares me to be righteous. That is, because of what Jesus did for me, I am justified. In the big court case against me, where the devil accuses me of all my evil deeds, I am acquitted, because Jesus took my place. The consequence is that no one, whether man or demon, has any right to accuse me any more. God has acquitted me. I am free, I am declared to be righteous!

Now I am able to look into the eyes of God and smile. I am without any feeling of condemnation. I don’t need to feel unworthy. Confidently I may smile. I am forgiven. The punishment has been carried out. My debt has been paid. I am acquitted. I am declared righteous. I stand before God as if I had never ever sinned! Jesus removed all my sin and all my guilt. I have been cleansed. I am without any feeling of guilt or shame. By the grace of God, I am able to stand before the Great Judge and before men without blushing. God has made me righteous in Christ. I have received a new life, a new start.

Now I may freely enter the throne room of heaven, and come into the very presence of God. Whenever I want I can come before him with everything that is on my heart. I can tell him about all of my problems, asking for help. I can share all my joys and sorrows with him. It doesn’t matter how I feel or what my situation is, whenever I come before him I will find sympathy and kindness and receive help to tackle my challenges.

Exercise:

Explain what happened to you through conversion, faith and baptism.

In what way has baptism made you a new person?

Continue to memorise the Great Commission and the previous

Bible verses we have given you in addition to this new one:

For all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. (Gal. 3:27)