Key Verse
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
– 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
Basic Biblical Understanding
What does it mean to be “a new creation”? There are two main parts to the answer: regeneration and re-creation.
Regeneration (the new birth) is the act of God by which He imparts eternal life to those who are “dead in…trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1; 1 Peter 1:3, 23; 1 John 2:29), making them alive together in Christ (Ephesians 2:5; Colossians 2:13). Jesus called it being “born again” (John 3:3). Regeneration is necessary for everyone entering the kingdom of God (John 3:3, 5–7).
When a person is regenerated (born again), they are also spiritually re-created (made new by God) to adapt and function well within His kingdom. God doesn’t polish up the old; He makes us new.
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God gives us a new heart and a new spirit. Ezekiel 36:26
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God gives us a new nature. 2 Peter 1:4
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God gives us a new mind. 1 Corinthians 2:16
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God gives us new eyes to see the world from His perspective. Luke 4:18; John 3:3
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God gives us new ears to hear spiritual truth. Isaiah 6:8–10; Matthew 13:10–15
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God gives us a new focus “on the things above”. Colossians 3:2
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God gives us a new song in our mouth; even praise to our God. Psalm 40:3
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God gives us new power to enable us, new love to motivate us, and new self-control to enable us to walk in righteousness. 2 Timothy 1:7; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Colossians 1:11
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God gives us new hope to encourage us. Psalm 39:7; Romans 15:13
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God gives us a new self which “has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth”. Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10
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Is it any wonder that Revelation 21:5 says, “He makes all things new”?
To be a new creation in Christ means you have been regenerated by God (born again) and re-created by God to flourish within His kingdom. As a believer, there is hope and joy about the future because God has made you a new creation in the present.
Verses (ask God to to show you how they apply to your life)
“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God’.”
– John 3:3
“…you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”
– Ephesians 4:22b–24
Helpful Questions and Application
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Part of living as a new creation is understanding your new life in Christ. What struggles are you going through today that could be helped if you were living according to your new life in Christ?
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Our actions follow the mental pathways our mind has already taken. Outbursts of anger are preceded by internal rage. Sexual sins are preceded by lustful thoughts. Actions follow mindset. What you set your mind on is crucial. Read Philippians 4:6–8 and ask God to show you where it applies to your life.
Additional Resources
Scripture references: Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:9–10; Ephesians 2:10
