Last time we chatted about "New", we covered 3 things
- There is nothing new under the sun. New meant "fresh".
- God is not under the sun, but on His throne
- And He is making ALL things new.
Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold new things have come.
2 Corinthians 5:17
There are a couple of things to realize in this verse that we may easily overlooked because of its familiarity.
1. Read over those words again. Who does this verse apply to?
Any person who is in Christ. Any. Not some. Not the girl who you think has this Jesus thing down better than you. Not just Mother Theresa.
If you are in Christ, it applies to YOU.
2. Now that we know who it applies to, do you see the word when anywhere in this verse?
No. It's not there. But the word IS is there!
Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he IS a new creature.
Not he will be. He IS.
We've believed a lie for far too long that we aren't any different because we don't feel different, or we don't see anything different about ourselves once we are in Christ. This is an example of the biblical concept of walking by faith and not by sight. Are we going to believe what we feel? Are we going to believe what someone else tells us?
Or are we going to believe what God says?
He says you are new. Feelings come and go, but truth never changes and this is a truth that you can cling to forever!
Remember that NEW in Ecclesiastes meant fresh? That's what it means here too. It means fresh, unused, unworn. If you are in Christ you are a fresh, unused, unworn creature. You may feel worn and you may feel like this world has used you, but God sees the brand new in you, sweet sister.
You are already new.
The old things are gone.
Now let's get practical for a minute. Let's just say that I got all health conscious and lost 40 pounds. The clothes I have don't fit me properly anymore, so my friend and I go shopping and we buy me a whole new wardrobe. Now, we'll also suppose Todd is real generous with the budget for this little trip, and we get some things that rock the preacher wife working mommy fashion world. Would I bring my new clothes home and hang them in my closet but keep wearing the ones that don't fit? Would I keep wearing the things that make me look I'm wearing a frumpy (my mom's word) potato sack? No, I wouldn't. I have a new me, but if I keep wearing my fat clothes, no one will ever see the new me would they?
Why would I not wear what fits me now? We just have to be who this verse says we already are.
New creatures.
Whether we feel it or not.
You are already new. You are unworn. You are unused. You are fresh. We can be new because this newness comes from Christ, Who isn't under the sun.
Part 3 coming soon - stay tuned my NEWBIE friends ;-)
1. Read over those words again. Who does this verse apply to?
Any person who is in Christ. Any. Not some. Not the girl who you think has this Jesus thing down better than you. Not just Mother Theresa.
If you are in Christ, it applies to YOU.
2. Now that we know who it applies to, do you see the word when anywhere in this verse?
No. It's not there. But the word IS is there!
Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he IS a new creature.
Not he will be. He IS.
We've believed a lie for far too long that we aren't any different because we don't feel different, or we don't see anything different about ourselves once we are in Christ. This is an example of the biblical concept of walking by faith and not by sight. Are we going to believe what we feel? Are we going to believe what someone else tells us?
Or are we going to believe what God says?
He says you are new. Feelings come and go, but truth never changes and this is a truth that you can cling to forever!
Remember that NEW in Ecclesiastes meant fresh? That's what it means here too. It means fresh, unused, unworn. If you are in Christ you are a fresh, unused, unworn creature. You may feel worn and you may feel like this world has used you, but God sees the brand new in you, sweet sister.
You are already new.
The old things are gone.
Now let's get practical for a minute. Let's just say that I got all health conscious and lost 40 pounds. The clothes I have don't fit me properly anymore, so my friend and I go shopping and we buy me a whole new wardrobe. Now, we'll also suppose Todd is real generous with the budget for this little trip, and we get some things that rock the preacher wife working mommy fashion world. Would I bring my new clothes home and hang them in my closet but keep wearing the ones that don't fit? Would I keep wearing the things that make me look I'm wearing a frumpy (my mom's word) potato sack? No, I wouldn't. I have a new me, but if I keep wearing my fat clothes, no one will ever see the new me would they?
Why would I not wear what fits me now? We just have to be who this verse says we already are.
New creatures.
Whether we feel it or not.
You are already new. You are unworn. You are unused. You are fresh. We can be new because this newness comes from Christ, Who isn't under the sun.
Part 3 coming soon - stay tuned my NEWBIE friends ;-)
