New Creature
The Bible states in 2nd Corinthians 5:17, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
We see that, according to the Scriptures, when someone is saved they have a new birth. Jesus stated in John 3:6, That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Our Lord states in this verse that two births have occurred, for Christians. The first is a physical birth if you are alive then you were born, we could argue that some may have been hatched, just kidding. The second birth is a spiritual birth, or birth from above. This is what the Bible means when someone is born again.
Our first verse, as stated above, indicates that, if we are born again, then we are a new creation. Simply meaning that we are not what we used to be, we are something new, because of the new birth that has occurred. The Bible states that born again Believers are “Heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17). In John 1:12 it says, But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.
According to the Scriptures, if we are truly saved, and we are a new creature, and we are joint-heirs with Christ, and we are the sons of God then we should be expected to act a certain way. Not only are we to act a certain way, we should have a hard time feeling comfortable living the way we used to. Sinning should be uncomfortable for a Christian. When a Christian sins there should be conviction. This does not mean that we never sin again, we are human, and God understands that we are sinners. However, God does not excuse our behavior or take it lightly. God hates sin, His son died for it. If you gave your child as a price for sin and you witnessed others sinning wouldn’t it bother you? I in no way mean to put God on a human level because His ways are above our ways. It is important to never forget the price that sin has caused the world and mankind. If we start to view sin the way God does then a Christian should really struggle with their sin.
Traditionally, I don’t like to name specific sins because that is the work of the Holy Spirit to convict individuals of their sin. Also, I don’t ever want to give anybody the idea that quitting a certain sin will bring them closer to salvation, but sometimes you should bring to remembrance that the Bible speaks clearly about specific sins. There are some things that a Christian should not do, plain and simple. I understand that we still have the flesh and our sin nature, but we are not animals and we should be able to control ourselves. In fact the Bible tells us that we should be holy. That’s a good old fashioned Bible word, the Bible speaks very clearly that we should be holy.
I think we get the idea sometimes that we are to act a certain way in church and once we leave God doesn’t expect us to act the same way. For example, I used to work with a guy and he was as foul mouthed as you could imagine. He even spoke of attending church, so I asked him, at work, one day “Do you talk like that in Church? And he responded “We aren’t in church right now.” So I asked him “So is God deaf when you leave the church building?” This is just one of many examples that, I believe, we as Christians seem to forget or neglect, or perhaps just not care enough about. We ruin our testimonies and we give the unbelieving crowd another reason to not believe that a holy God can change lives. Consider what James says:
James 3:10, Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
The Bible says you can tell by an individual’s fruits. A man’s testimony should be very telling of him being a new creature. When Saul met the Lord on the road to Damascus his life was changed. The reformation was revealed by his testimony. Paul tells us in Galatians 1:13, For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it. However, we know that through the Scriptures, Paul was used greatly of God because he was a new creature and old things had passed away. Jesus said in Matthew 7:17, Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
So I would ask the fair question. Are you really saved? Are you really a new creation? Your fruits or testimony can answer that question. Allow the Holy Spirit to mold you and change you through Bible reading, and prayer, and faithful church attendance to a local Bible believing Bible preaching church. Listen to good preaching that it may increase your faith. The Lord is good, trust Him.
