New Creation

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV If you are already a Christian, you have probably heard this Bible verse a thousand times or more! But do you believe it? Have you also heard other Christians lamenting that they are just an old sinner saved by grace and that they keep sinning all the time? Does that line up with 2 Corinthians 5:17?

It seems so humble to see all our mistakes and missteps and see that as falling short of God’s grace and God’s glory. To see ourselves as a mess. To see ourselves as someone who just continually doesn’t measure up. It not only seems humble, but it is what many others expect us to see. But it is not how God sees us. Once you get born again, the old sin nature brought in the world by Adam passed away from you. The old you died on the cross with Jesus. Now you are in Him and because you are in Christ Jesus, you are fresh and new!

Do we still mess up at times? Sure. But hopefully you are seeking God on what went wrong and how to fix it. If we buy into the lie that we are just an old sinner saved by grace, we won’t actively seek to change. We’ll just accept our slip ups as natural, to be expected, and there's nothing we can do about them. I am not suggesting you torture yourself on every little mistake. I have learned that I have to take my mistakes to Him and ask, how do I change this for the future? Did I believe something wrong and that caused this? Am I just being lazy? What does your Word say about this? We have to measure ourselves according to what God says about us, not what anyone else in our past or present has said or is saying.

If you heard all your life that you always mess up, guess what? You’re going to mess up! But if you change that narrative and say, "No, God has made me a new creation. I follow God’s way. I choose to change how I respond to that situation or circumstance." Then you will see that new nature coming out more and more.

You are a new creation. You were made to walk in love with those around you. You were made to be victorious over every situation. You were made to bring God’s light and God’s love to a dark and hurting generation. If that is not happening in your life, open up to God and let Him teach you. It begins with believing that you truly are a new creation. One translation says a new species of being. You don’t have to react in the same old way. You can act just like Jesus did when He was here on Earth.

Say this about yourself: I am a new creation. I am a new species of being. I was made to love others. I was made to shine God’s light in my generation. Help me today, Lord, to become more like You. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit who leads and guides me into all Truth today!