What does it mean to be "In Christ?" Pt. 11 Old things vanish and new things appear when we are in Christ!
Good morning to all, this day after Christmas. We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas day with members of our church family because our own family gathering will be on the 30th.
Today we continue on in our study of what it means for us to be in Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:1-8 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
In 2 Corinthians 5:1-8 Paul speaks of what it is like when we pass on from this life. He tells us that when our earthly house is dissolved at death, we have a new house built by God awaiting us in heaven. This is something that we "know." It is a fixed and sure outcome for the death of the born again child of God. It is eternally secured by Jesus Christ.
Because this is true, Paul says we are groaning in spirit to receive that new body from God that has no sin nature. The apostle communicates this great truth that while we are living life on earth in our "earthly house" we are absent from the Lord. This is the life of faith. We hope for, long for those things we cannot yet see believing the promises of God.
Then Paul's thoughts soar heavenward and he exclaimed that when death comes to the believer, we are then absent from our earthly body but present with Christ.
These truths served as the motivation for Paul to faithfully work for Christ until he too, was absent from his body and present with his Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:9-16)
Now we come to the next 3 places where our phrase "in Christ" is found and it is intertwined with powerful truth of being born again.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
The Christian is a new creature in Christ
The word "new" means of a new kind, fresh, unworn and recently made. The word creation takes us right back to Genesis 1 and "In the beginning God created..." Just as God made all things brand new at the dawn of time, space and matter, so He recreates each one of us when we turn away from our sins and turn to Jesus Christ with repentant hearts.
No sinner is truly happy to remain held in the shackles of sin that leads to wrong thinking, wrong speech and wrong actions. Jesus Christ saves us from ourselves and when we are born again we are a brand new creation in Christ.
The result is a totally transformed life in each new believer in Christ. Old things passed away. The power of sin to enslave us to the dominion of the devil has passed away. The old habits and old desires have been shattered by the new birth.
I do not know what this looks like in your life but in my own life, I used to have a terrible problem with cursing. God took all that away when He saved me. What did He do for you when old things passed away from your life? Oh how we need to express our thanks to God for not leaving us like we used to be!
Nature abhors a void and God fills the void of old things that passed away with all things becoming new. The word "become" is from a Greek word that is frequently connected with the miraculous power of God. It is the unleashing of His creative power in us to give us His Spirit, a new heart and to make us a new man in Christ.
I think there are some common traits that all born again Christians share with respect to all things becoming new. First, we are given a brand new thirst for the Word of God. We want to hear it when our pastor preaches and we want to learn and apply its truths. Second, there is a brand new passion for all the things of God and of Jesus Christ in particular. Third, there is a brand new hunger to gather with the people of God to praise the Lord of glory.
I want to gently remind our readers that if you claim to be born again, these things will strongly resonate with your new man in Christ. If you do not have new things evident in your own life like I described then I urge you to carefully consider whether you have truly been born again. The Bible is very clear. Our life is forever changed if we are truly born again.
Points to Ponder....
This year is rapidly drawing to a close. I pray that each one of us are "in Christ" and are rejoicing greatly over the heavenly blessings that He grants to all believers. May we actively praise our Great God for doing mighty things in our lives. May we express our gratitude to Him for taking away the old sinful things and for putting new hearts into us because of salvation.
Bob
Today we continue on in our study of what it means for us to be in Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:1-8 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
In 2 Corinthians 5:1-8 Paul speaks of what it is like when we pass on from this life. He tells us that when our earthly house is dissolved at death, we have a new house built by God awaiting us in heaven. This is something that we "know." It is a fixed and sure outcome for the death of the born again child of God. It is eternally secured by Jesus Christ.
Because this is true, Paul says we are groaning in spirit to receive that new body from God that has no sin nature. The apostle communicates this great truth that while we are living life on earth in our "earthly house" we are absent from the Lord. This is the life of faith. We hope for, long for those things we cannot yet see believing the promises of God.
Then Paul's thoughts soar heavenward and he exclaimed that when death comes to the believer, we are then absent from our earthly body but present with Christ.
These truths served as the motivation for Paul to faithfully work for Christ until he too, was absent from his body and present with his Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:9-16)
Now we come to the next 3 places where our phrase "in Christ" is found and it is intertwined with powerful truth of being born again.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
The Christian is a new creature in Christ
The word "new" means of a new kind, fresh, unworn and recently made. The word creation takes us right back to Genesis 1 and "In the beginning God created..." Just as God made all things brand new at the dawn of time, space and matter, so He recreates each one of us when we turn away from our sins and turn to Jesus Christ with repentant hearts.
No sinner is truly happy to remain held in the shackles of sin that leads to wrong thinking, wrong speech and wrong actions. Jesus Christ saves us from ourselves and when we are born again we are a brand new creation in Christ.
The result is a totally transformed life in each new believer in Christ. Old things passed away. The power of sin to enslave us to the dominion of the devil has passed away. The old habits and old desires have been shattered by the new birth.
I do not know what this looks like in your life but in my own life, I used to have a terrible problem with cursing. God took all that away when He saved me. What did He do for you when old things passed away from your life? Oh how we need to express our thanks to God for not leaving us like we used to be!
Nature abhors a void and God fills the void of old things that passed away with all things becoming new. The word "become" is from a Greek word that is frequently connected with the miraculous power of God. It is the unleashing of His creative power in us to give us His Spirit, a new heart and to make us a new man in Christ.
I think there are some common traits that all born again Christians share with respect to all things becoming new. First, we are given a brand new thirst for the Word of God. We want to hear it when our pastor preaches and we want to learn and apply its truths. Second, there is a brand new passion for all the things of God and of Jesus Christ in particular. Third, there is a brand new hunger to gather with the people of God to praise the Lord of glory.
I want to gently remind our readers that if you claim to be born again, these things will strongly resonate with your new man in Christ. If you do not have new things evident in your own life like I described then I urge you to carefully consider whether you have truly been born again. The Bible is very clear. Our life is forever changed if we are truly born again.
Points to Ponder....
- While we live on the earth the believer does inwardly groan desiring that new body God will give us when we die.
- We are confident to be absent from our body through death so that we might be in the Lord's presence.
- When we are born again, God does a marvelous work in us.
- Old things (habits, desires, lusts and passions) pass away.
- New things come flooding into our lives when we are converted to Christ.
This year is rapidly drawing to a close. I pray that each one of us are "in Christ" and are rejoicing greatly over the heavenly blessings that He grants to all believers. May we actively praise our Great God for doing mighty things in our lives. May we express our gratitude to Him for taking away the old sinful things and for putting new hearts into us because of salvation.
Bob
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