Date: Monday, 30th October, 2023
Text: 2 Corinthians 5:17
Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan
Exhortation:
Today’s text says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
The “therefore” in the above scripture suggests that some statements have been made before coming to that conclusion. Verse 15 of 2 Corinthians 5 said, “And that he (Jesus) died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”
The death of Christ meant the death of sin and the nature of it; and his resurrection also means the spiritual rebirth of a new man, completely free from the stronghold of sin. Based on this understanding, anyone who is grafted in or joined to Christ by faith in him as Savior is a new creature.
When a sinner realizes his damnable situation, repents, renounces his sins and confesses Jesus as Saviour, he immediately experiences a rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. The previous moral and sinful spiritual condition (old things) has passed away.
He is translated from darkness to light and so he shuns the unfruitful works of darkness.
It is therefore our responsibilities as new creatures to ensure that sin no longer reigns in our mortal bodies so that we obey its lusts and passions. We are to intentionally make sure we do not go on offering members our bodies to sin as instruments of wickedness; but as instruments of righteousness yielded to God.
As new creatures in Christ, we view the world with a new spiritual understanding and mindset, ensuring that we no longer live for ourselves, but unto him which died for us and rose again.
Action Nugget: As a new creature, reckon yourself to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.