He Is a New Creature

.

He Is a New Creature

Paul says  in 2 Corinthians 5:17-19,

Therefore  if  any man is  in Christ,  he is a new creature;  the old things passed away;  behold,  new things have come. 

Now all these things are  from God,  who reconciled us  to Himself  through Christ,  and gave us the ministry  of reconciliation,  namely,  that God was in Christ  reconciling the world  to Himself,  not counting their trespasses against them,  and He has committed  to us  the word  of reconciliation.

This is all about the greatest miracle.     It is the miracle  of reconciliation  between God and man.

The word reconcile means  to make friendly again — to settle a quarrel — to bring into harmony — to make content with one’s lot.    So God had a quarrel  with us,  because  we were in constant rebellion,  preferring to live  in sin — rather than living  like a friend  with our Creator and Sustainer.     We were the ones  who are guilty  of instigating  a lot of wrong.

The overwhelming evidence  of our sin condemns  to eternal damnation  because nothing sinful  is allowed  in heaven.     But, there are those  who arrogantly claim,  “Well,  I can get myself out  of this one.     I’ll just do a whole bunch  of good works  so God will have  to take me  into heaven.”

They don’t get it.    The pride  and arrogance  they show  with their “plan”  actually condemns them  even more.     There is nothing  anyone can do  to “earn”  even a minute  in heaven.

Paul said, “God was  in Christ  reconciling the world  to Himself,  not counting their trespasses  against them.”     Only God  has the power  to settle this quarrel  and put us  on friendly terms  with Him again.     He did that  by sending His only begotten Son,  Jesus,  true God  and true man,  to suffer and die  as the payment  for all our sins.     Now,  everyone who believes  in Jesus does not have any  of their sins  counted against them  —  not a one.

That’s a miracle,  the greatest miracle  for all mankind.     So,  what happens  when a person honestly believes  in the saving merits  of Jesus Christ?     That person becomes  a new creature.     All the old things  have passed away — all the former sinful lifestyles  —  all the hatreds  —  all the jealousies  —  all the coveting  —  all the adulteries  —  all the thievery  —  all the rebellions  against God’s ways.    We don’t want  to have anything to do  with that any more.

When a person realizes  the immense depth  of God’s love  in having Jesus take on  all the punishment  that was due to us,  we realize  how grossly evil  we have been.     Our evil natures  become repulsive  to us.     We can no longer stand  to be that way.

Our eyes are opened up  to the absolute beauty  of God’s love  and the total goodness  of everything there is  about our LORD and Creator.     That is what we now love.     That is what we now want.     With this love  of God  in our hearts,  we finally know peace,  rest,  joy,  and hope.     Now there is finally something good  to live for.

We want  to become good  —  just like God wants us  to be  —  because it is so right  and wonderful.    And so,  a new creature is “born”.     Our whole lives  are changed,  just because  we know for sure  we are truly loved  and saved  by the Lord God Almighty.     We don’t have  to fight Him  any more.     We don’t want  to fight Him  any more.

We won’t be perfect  in all our living  while on this earth,  but the difference  in our lives  will be very evident.     And this  is all from God.     None of this  can be done  through man’s measly efforts.     It is all  a gift from God,  through Jesus Christ.

As we think  about this grace  of God  in our lives,  we humbly say,  “Hallelujah!     Holy Savior,  thank You  for loving us  ever so faithfully,  even when we were  in rebellion.     Grant us  Your grace  to live the rest  of our lives  for You.”

Love,
Margaret

.

A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

.

.

.

.