2 Corinthians 5:17

A NEW CREATION

‘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

Had you asked St. Paul to define a Christian he would have answered, ‘a man in Christ.’ Had you further asked what he meant by being ‘in Christ’ I think he would have said, united to Christ. Christ’s own mystic words to His disciples in the upper room, ‘I am the Vine, ye are the branches.’

I. A new life.—‘He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life’ (John 3:36). Therefore if any man be in union with Christ, he is a new creature.

II. A new hope.—The believer has a living hope because his hope is fixed on a Living Saviour and rests on the Living Promise of the Living God. He has a hope of experiencing God’s goodness and help and strength in this world, and a hope of a fuller, richer, better, higher life with Christ and like Christ beyond the gates of death.

III. A new work.—‘Work out your own salvation,’ says St. Paul. Not, work for it, but, from it. In other words, work out the new life Christ has given you. You cannot work out a salvation you have not received. Especially note Titus 3:8. It seems a new discovery to many people that religion should be linked to business. Yet it is the common teaching of the New Testament. ‘Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works.’ So you will be able to say, ‘I do this, I give this, for Christ’s sake.’ If you ask Him, God will show you what things you ought to do, and give you grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same.

Rev. F. Harper.

Illustrations

(1) ‘Sir Monier Williams, a great authority on all Oriental religions, has said that the doctrine of Life in Christ is the one thing which distinguishes Christianity from every other historic religion in the world. No one can realise the uniqueness of Christianity till he has grasped the truth of the believer’s living union with Christ.’

(2) ‘George Fox, the founder of the Society of Friends, records his vivid experiences when he first found the way of life. “I had now come up in spirit,” he said, “past the naming sword, into the paradise of God. All things are now new to me, even the outward world is more beautiful since love for Christ and His truth have been kindled in my heart. Even the sun shines more brightly, the air is more soft, the flowers more fragrant, the mountains more majestic, the sea more sublime.” ’