Awaken The Sleeper!

Becoming a new creation in Christ Jesus is one of the most transformative truths in Scripture.  2 Corinthians 5 :17 declares: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”  This is not language that speaks of being improved or being cleaned up and reformed.  It speaks of an old life crucified with Christ and a new life resurrected in Him.

Romans 6:6-7 speaks to this death language: “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin – because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.”  This same truth is echoed in Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” 

The link between being crucified with Christ into a new life in Christ is confirmed by Christ in John 5:24: “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”  Notice that the wording “has crossed over” implies this new life is already accomplished.  This covenant promise was prophesied in Ezekiel 36:26-27: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”

As noted in the above Ezekial passage, this new creation is the result of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 7:6 confirms the same: “But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.”  The Holy Spirit reshapes our desires to align with those of God.  Psalms 37:4 reveals: “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

As a new creation, your citizenship is now in heaven, with a different set of values, a different King and a different future.  “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.”  Ephesians 2:19-20   You “have the mind of Christ” as proclaimed in 1 Corinthians 2:16   You are instructed to “Set our minds on things above, not on earthly things.”  Colossians 3:2

As you now have the mind of Christ through the Holy Spirit, you are called to be fully transformed into the likeness of Christ.  2 Corinthians 3:18 describes this process that we call sanctification: “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”  Romans 8:29 establishes this goal: “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” 

This goal of transformation is assured in Philippians 1:6: “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”  As this process takes root, you are empowered to walk in obedience, living by the Spirit.  The result of this walk bears fruit for all to see: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” 

With your new mind in Christ, displaying the fruit of the Spirit, let the testimony of your “new creation” boldly proclaim the Gospel in word and deed.  You have a new role: “You are a chosen people … God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

Are you a new creation in Christ?

Are you inviting others to join you? 

Time is running out!

Someone’s eternity depends on it!

Awaken the sleeper!