Part 3

The New Creature

 

The term “new creature” is uniquely a Pauline one and stands as the counterpart of the “old creation.” Corporately it is the “one new man” of the “Body of Christ” that includes Jew and Gentile, wherein there is “neither Jew nor Gentile” because in this day of grace “all are one in Christ” (Gal 3:28).

“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For he is our peace, who HATH MADE BOTH ONE, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; ¹⁵ Having ABOLISHED in his flesh the enmity, even THE LAW OF COMMANDMENTS CONTAINED IN ORDINANCES; for to MAKE IN HIMSELF OF TWAIN ONE NEW MAN, so making peace” (Eph 2:13-15)

But this corporate dispensational aspect has its corresponding impact upon the individual believer. The context of 2 Cor 5:17 is clearly dispensational; our commission is as “Ambassadors for Christ.” Thus, Paul’s emphasis on our individual participation in this grand task is all the more important: “If any (individual) man be IN CHRIST, he is a NEW CREATURE.”

In the old creation we were identified with Adam – his life, his way of thinking and acting, his independent attitudes; Adam was all and in all. When we come into the new creation, “Christ is all and in all” ( Col 3:11). Christ is now “our life” ( Col 3:4). We now “have the mind of Christ” within us (Philipp 2:5). Our walk is “in Him” (Eph 5:2). It is Christ who is now being formed in us (Gal 4:19). We have “put on Christ” (Gal 3:27) – we have His actions, attitudes, and ways of thinking. We have a whole new way of life “in Christ.”

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I LIVE; YET NOT I, BUT CHRIST LIVETH IN ME: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

In place of Adam’s condemnation we have Christ’s righteousness (2Ccor 5:21). In place of Adam’s death we have Christ’s life (Rom 6:23). In exchange for Adam’s slavery we have “the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Rom 8:21).

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? ⁴ Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE.” Romans 6:3-4

In Christ we are now empowered to “walk in newness of life.” The “old things” – condemnation of the Law, death, slavery to Sin, have “passed away” and now we have the righteousness, life and freedom “in Christ.”

It is absolutely essential that we recognize our new identify “in Christ,” that we understand who God has made us “in Christ.” It is only as we recognize this glorious fact that our behavior can be changed.

We can never hope to “live the Christian life” by our self-effort. It is an impossible task Only Jesus Christ can live it! Hence Paul’s emphasis is on “Christ in you” ( Col 1:27). The literal life of the resurrected Christ has been placed in us so that He can live through us. We did not simply need a change in our behavior; we needed a totally new identity. And this is exactly what we have “in Christ.”

As we learn to look at ourselves and our circumstances from God’s perspective, we find the secret of Romans 12:2.

“be not conformed to this world: but BE YE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Rom 12:2)

The key to transformed behavior is the “renewing of your mind” – developing totally new mind-set, a new perspective. Our behavior changes as we replace the old, inferior, worthless way of thinking with the new was of thinking – thinking like God thinks! “Let this same attitude (mindset) and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus:” Philippians 2:5. Jesus’ was always set upon doing “the will” of the Father who sent Him (Matt 4:34).

This is the key to living as a new creature, to having the power of the living God working inside of us.