“IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATION: OLD THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY; BEHOLD, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW” (2 CORINTHIANS 5:17).
What is the Biblical definition of a Christian? Is it someone who has been baptized? Is it someone who has taken the Lord’s Supper? Is it someone who has their name written in a church membership role? The answer to these questions is emphatically NO! A Christian participates in all these things, but these are not the definition of a Christian. Undoubtedly, there will be numerous people in Hell who have done all these things. (Read the parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25) A Christian is a person who has been brought into a spiritual, saving union with Jesus Christ.; and because of this union there’s a change not only in the sinner’s status before God, but there’s also a change of the sinner’s nature. If any man be in Christ then an inward change has occurred, which necessarily produces new outward actions. The passing from old to new is in the perfect tense in the Greek, which means a past action with continuing results, and the action is God working in us. Philippians 2:13: “…for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Moment by moment, the Lord is conforming His redeemed people into the image of His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:29). In other words, this radical change is not temporary, but permanent, unchangeable, and progressive. The Gospel that was once foolishness is now seen as precious and beautiful. Our old focus and love was upon the ways of this world … the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life … but now those things are passed away and the Christian, as a new creature in Christ, has a new love for things that please the Lord. The new creature has a new mind (thinking), new will (desires), and new affections (emotions). He is now being transformed by the renewing of his mind by the Word and Spirit of God (Rom. 12:2).
2 Corinthians 5:15 says “…that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” The old that is passed away is that life centered in our sinful pride, which seeks to please ourselves. The new has come … we now live unto God and look out for the interests of others. And the old is continually passing away and the new is continually coming throughout this pilgrim’s journey. That’s the definition of a Christian. He’s a new creature in Christ, he believes God’s promises in God’s Word, and he bows his neck to the yoke of Jesus Christ. A Christian is one who trusts that Jesus is his forgiveness, righteousness, and reconciliation before God. Are you a Christian? Are you a new creation in Him? Do you trust Christ as your Priest? Do you trust that He has atoned for all your sins? Do you hear His Word as your Prophet? Is it manifest in the way you live? Do you obey Christ as your King? Do you think biblically? Do you love, serve, and forgive other believers? Do you confess and repent of your sins? Is your life different from the ways of this fallen, rebellious, God-hating world?
“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Is this a living and growing reality in your life? Are old ways of living, thinking, and speaking passing away, and all things becoming new? If so, then you are eternally blessed in Christ! The Holy Spirit has regenerated your soul, created faith in your heart, and has made you a new creation in Christ. Give God the praise and glorify Him by faithfully living the new life in Christ. But if this is not a reality in your life – if you still think, speak, and live like the ungodly culture then your only hope is to RUN to JESUS! Call upon Him! Flee to Him! Seek refuge in Him! “For there is salvation in none other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Look to Christ today and be saved from the wrath of God against your sins!