A New Creation

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away, behold all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ"(2 Cor. 5:17-18).

This is the promise of God the Father to all who come to believe in His Son Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. He will turn your life around, "old things will pass away, behold, all things will become new." This is not only a wonderful promise of God, but He wills it to happen when one comes to Him by faith. "For without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is"(Heb. 11:6). "But as many as received Him (Jesus), to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name"(John 1:12).  

But the question to you is do you desire a new life? O, people may claim because of something drastic that happened to them, they made a mid-course change in their life. But this is not the new life that God promises. The new creation that God promises is His creation, His doing, His work, and completed only under His power, when one comes by faith, trusting in the only One who took your place, my place upon that cross of affliction.

The Bible says that Jesus Christ is the Creator God. Col. 1:16, 17, "For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth." "All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things and in Him all things consist."

But the question is this, why would the Creator God make Himself flesh, "coming in the likeness of men" but to die upon a cross, the most horrible method of execution ever devised. It is all because of our sin, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"(Rom. 3:23). We broke His laws, simple as that. We all are lawbreakers. When someone breaks the law there is a penalty to pay if they get caught. But with God there is no escape, we cannot hide our sin from Him.  

How many lies have you told? How many times did you take something that did not belong to you? How many times have you taken too long a break at your workplace? The Bible calls this stealing.

The Bible says we are all guilty of adultery, without doing the very act. Jesus said, "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." It is the same for a woman with lust in her heart for a man.

Have you ever had hatred for another, enough to wish that person harm? You broke the 6th commandment, "Thou shall not murder"(Ex. 20-:13). But you say I never killed anyone. But Jesus said in Matt. 5:22, whoever is angry with another is in danger of judgment. Our very thoughts make us guilty.

How many times did you disobey your parents as a child? How many times have you used God's name in cursing something or another? "For all have sinned."

We all broke God's laws, all of the ten commandments. But how does one make payment to erase the penalty which we owe God. What does God require as payment? Is being a good person sufficient? God says, "There is none who does good, no not one"(Rom. 3:12). Our own works of righteousness are as filthy rags (Isa. 65:5). "Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to His mercy He saves us"(Titus 3:4,5).  

What does God require as payment for sin? He requires the shedding of blood, not our blood, nor the blood of animals, but the blood of the Son Of God, the Creator who made Himself in the likeness of men, "humbled Himself, and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross"(Phil. 2:8). For God required a sinless sacrifice, and the only One qualified was His Son. "For all have sinned." "For God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might became the righteousness of God in Him"(2 Cor. 5:21). "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life"(John 3:16).

So what can we offer God, nothing but our sins, our sin filled life, seeking His forgiveness. It is a choice you must make, the most important decision one can ever make because it determines one's destiny, heaven forever to be with the Lord, or hell, total separation from God.

Rom. 10:9-10, "If you confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth and believe that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."  And one is not only delivered from the penalty of sin, but the power of sin, and someday the very presence of sin.

God calls us to righteousness, but we cannot walk in His way in our own power, we cannot be delivered from the power that sin had over our life in our own flesh. But here is the wonderful grace and mercy of God, when you come to believe in Him, He seals you with the Holy Spirit of promise (Eph. 1:13). Where is the kingdom of God today, but in the hearts of believers.

For when you commit your life to Christ, God fulfills the promise He gives, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away, behold all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ" The Bible warns us that today is the day of salvation. Death is just around the corner. Your call, confess Him, turn your life over to Him, it will be a new day in glory.