Tag: new creation
Ambassadors for Christ
Scripture reading for August 4: 2 Corinthians 5
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, Who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake He made Him to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Paul explained to the transformation that takes place when believers place their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. The believer is born again and becomes a new creation. The old man has passed away, crucified with Christ. The new man, created in Christ Jesus in righteousness is a gift from God through the Holy Spirit dwelling within. Because of righteousness, believers are now able to be reconciled to God. They are no longer objects of His wrath because of sin. This was God’s plan of salvation in action, to reconcile the world to Himself through the message of reconciliation found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
This transformation was instantaneous at our repentance and conversion. But this transformation is also ongoing in that now we become available to be Christ’s ambassadors. As ambassadors, we represent Christ and His Gospel appeal to others. We can implore others to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. This is possible because God made His Son, Jesus Christ, to be sin although He was without sin Himself. He bore our sins on the cross and died on our behalf that we might through Him receive the Gift of righteousness from God our Father. As we mature as believers, we joyfully ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit to empower us to be ambassadors, appealing to all to enjoy reconciliation to their Father.
Have you had a believer who shared their faith in Jesus Christ with you? Can you declare today that you are a new creation in Jesus Christ? Has your spiritual transformation progressed to where you consider yourself an ambassador for Christ Jesus?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your amazing plan to reach all people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank You for sending ambassadors to me on several occasions, including my mother, my Sunday School teachers, and youth leaders. Fill me with the Holy Spirit again today and send me as Your ambassador. Amen.
New creation realities!
Scripture reading for November 26: 2nd Corinthians 1-5
Many Christians don’t realize who they really are in Christ. They struggle with low self-esteem and feelings of inferiority. They try to be different and keep the rules or commandments but always fail or fall short. “Try harder!” some well-meaning saints encourage! But the harder they try, the more frustrated they become. The secret is found in knowing who we are in Christ.
When we are truly ‘born again’, we are transformed inside by the Holy Spirit into new creations. (John 3:3-8) (2nd Corinthians 5:17) As God blew breath into Adam and he became a living being, so the breath of God comes into us by the Holy Spirit and we become alive to God! We haven’t just added a set of rules to live by. We don’t just learn a creed of ethics that makes us different from other religions. We don’t just go to church and sing songs and learn traditions. Our life is brand new at it’s core, in our heart and spirit! We now have an eternal relationship with Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, Who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made Him Who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2nd Corinthians 5:17-21
We have a new identity! The new creation that is formed in us by the Holy Spirit is reconciled to God. We are no longer cut off from Him by sin. God did this work of reconciliation at the cross by putting our sins on His Son. We are adopted into God’s family and given the task of appealing to others on Christ’s behalf. Our position is “ambassador” of Christ. We are to implore men and women to be reconciled to God. We have a divine purpose and our identity is with Christ.
What a blessing to be forgiven! What freedom to know eternal life and a relationship with our heavenly Father! These new creation realities must be appropriated by faith and lived out daily. Our God is for us and now we are for Him! Appropriate your “ambassador” status today and implore someone you know to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ! It’s who you really are and your divine purpose until Jesus comes and we have complete transformation!
The blessings of new creation!
Scripture reading for February 1st: Exodus 4-6, Galatians 6
Galatians 6:14-18 “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God..”
God had given the Israelites the covenant sign of circumcision. All male babies were to be circumcised (Genesis 17:11-17) as a sign of the covenant God made with Abraham to bless all nations through his offspring. The Jews boasted of this covenant, and gloried in their status as a people marked by God. But Paul, a circumcised Jew, understood that God had made a ‘new covenant’ with His people, through the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross of Calvary. Paul’s boast was not in the old covenant of circumcision, but now in the new creation birthed in each believer through repentance and faith in Christ alone, marked through the gift of the Holy Spirit! The blessing of this ‘new creation’ is peace with God and enjoyment of His mercy and forgiveness of sins and adoption into His family, the true ‘Israel of God.’ As God promised deliverance from slavery to His people through Moses, the great “I Am” has done what He promised through ‘new creation’ in all who believe.
Exodus 6:6-7 “Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I Am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be My people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, Who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.”
Prayer: Father, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit, Who brings Your life and presence to live in my mortal body and makes me a ‘new creation’ in Christ Jesus our Lord! Thank You for initiating my salvation and bringing it to pass. Help me to boast only in Your cross and to live a life crucified to the world and alive to You. Give me opportunity to share this Good News with those needing peace and mercy.
2nd Corinthians 5:17-18 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, Who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. . .”
Boasting in the Cross!
Scripture reading for May 21st: Galatians 6
Key Scriptures: Galatians 6:1-5 “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.”
Paul encouraged the church leaders to be gentle in their correction of those in the church fellowship who had been caught up in the false teaching of those promoting circumcision as an addition to faith in Jesus. They must be watchful of their own hearts because these false doctrines have a way of trapping people. Church leaders are to bear one another’s burdens to fulfil the law of Christ, which is truly showing ‘love your neighbor.’ This requires humility and faith, not conceit in our works, thinking we have merit with God through them. The only boasting we can do is in our Lord Jesus Who gives us grace and strength to serve. It is through the cross and Jesus Who alone bore our burden of sins and provided the ‘new creation’ that we will overcome! (Galatians 2:20)
Galatians 6:13 “For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, I find my only boast in You and Your amazing grace in making me a new creation. I am not saved by any work of my flesh but only by Your sacrifice on Calvary. All glory and honor and praise to You now and forever! Amen!
Galatians 6:14-15 “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.”
Imploring people to be reconciled to God
Scripture reading for August 4th: 2nd Corinthians 5, Psalm 4, Proverbs 31
Key Scriptures: 2nd Corinthians 5:17-20 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”
Paul explained what happens when anyone believes in Jesus Christ. That person becomes a new creation through God’s work inside of them. In Christ, God made it possible for all men to have their sins forgiven and be made right with Him. Paul and all believers are given this message of reconciliation through Christ to share with others as an ambassador, even imploring them to accept Christ’s open offer of forgiveness.
Faith Confession: Lord, thank You for making me a new creation in Christ and for calling me to be Your ambassador to call others to reconciliation on Your behalf. (Action Step: look for an opportunity to implore someone to be reconciled to Christ today.)
Proverbs 31:8-9 “Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
Boasting in the Cross of Christ!
Scripture reading for August 24th: Galatians 6
“Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1-2) Paul ended his letter dealing with false teaching by encouraging the church members to gently and humbly help those caught in a trap of sin. That sin might have been one of the acts of the sinful nature described by Paul, or it might have been the sin of trying to keep the law rather than walk by faith in the grace of Christ. Paul warned them to be careful in restoration, that they not also be tempted. Christ’s law is the law of love–love our neighbor as ourselves.
“Don’t be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7-8) When we continue to live in known sin and yet claim to know Christ, we actually are mocking God. We can’t mock God without consequences! How we live is like sowing seed. We do reap what we sow!
“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision or uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.” (Galatians 6:14-15) Paul’s faith rested in the finished work of his Lord Jesus Christ! He was a new creation in Christ. This truth must be the foundation of all believers! What is your boast today?
Out with the old, in with the new!
Scripture reading for November 27th: 2nd Corinthians 1-5
Many Christians don’t realize who they really are in Christ. They struggle with low self-esteem and feelings of inferiority. They try to be different and keep the rules or commandments but always fail or fall short. “Try harder!” some well-meaning saints encourage! But the harder they try, the more frustrated they become. The secret is in knowing who we are in Christ.
When we are truly ‘born again’, we are transformed inside by the Holy Spirit into ‘new creations’. (John 3:3-8) (2nd Corinthians 5:17) As God blew breath into Adam and he became a living being, so God’s breath comes into us by the Holy Spirit! We haven’t added a new set of rules to live by. Our life is brand new at it’s core, in our heart and spirit! We now have an eternal relationship with Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2nd Corinthians 5:17-21
We have a new identity! The new creation that is formed in us by the Holy Spirit is reconciled to God. We are no longer cut off from Him by sin. God did this work of reconciliation at the cross. He put our sins on His Son and He paid the penalty. We are adopted into God’s family and given the task of appealing to others on Christ’s behalf. Our position is “ambassador” of Christ. We are to implore men and women to be reconciled to God. We have a divine purpose and our identity is found in Christ.
A dwelling for God!
Scripture reading for September 23rd: Ephesians 2:1-22
God does everything with a purpose in mind. God knew His plans for us before creation. (Ephesians 1:4) God knew how these plans would be accomplished and is still active in bringing them to completion. One of His stated desires was to dwell intimately with His people and be their God. (Jeremiah 31:33-34) He chose to accomplish this through sending His Son, Jesus Christ to provide redemption and forgiveness of sins. His further plan was to send the Holy Spirit, the gift of the Father, to dwell within each believer. (Ephesians 1:13-14) The Holy Spirit is a guarantee of our full redemption when God’s plan is fully completed to bring all things in heaven and earth under Christ. (Ephesians 1:9-10)
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:8-10) God’s grace is at work through the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. He has made us into a new creation. He is the Master Craftsman working on us from within to work in us God’s grace. He leads us into the things of God and reveals Christ to us. He prepares us for the good works God wants us to do and shows us what they are. We must chose to walk in them.
God is taking both Jew and Gentile into this plan through the blood of Christ. The two are no longer separate, but by faith in Christ they are now one! Both have access to God by the Spirit and both have become children in God’s house. This house included the apostles and Old Testament prophets with Jesus Christ Himself the chief cornerstone! (Ephesians 2:20) “In Him the building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him, you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:21-22)
God’s plan included all nations, not just the Jews. God’s plan was outlined in former times before Christ by the prophets and now is being preached by the apostles. We who know Christ are joined with those of faith to become a dwelling place for God–the new temple!
What counts?
Scripture reading for September 21st: Galatians 6:1-18
Even spiritual people get caught in sins. Spiritual people can still make wrong choices and become deceived. Pride is usually the culprit and we fall into the devil’s trap. Paul encouraged the Galatians to carry each others burdens and love others enough to seek to help them be restored. We must stay in the Spirit and not become conceited or prideful ourselves because we can fall into sin ourselves. We must be honestly checking out our own hearts for wrong attitudes and prideful judgments of those who are trapped. (Galatians 6:1-5)
Paul briefly speaks to the Galatians about their giving. They are encouraged to share their resources with those who teach them the word of God. Generosity and blessing God’s workers is the heart of the Spirit too!
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, will from that nature reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7-8) Sowing is always a choice of our free will. We are not victims or creatures caught in our circumstances. We make choices each day to either follow the Spirit or our sinful nature. The easy path naturally is the way of the sinful nature. However, it is in truth the hard path because it always leads to destruction and death. When we choose the way of the Spirit, the trials come and the enemy opposes us. However, this path always leads to eternal life and blessing!
The false teachers were trying to get the Galatians to follow the law. In that way they could boast in their flesh and avoid persecution from the religious Jews. Paul’s word to them was, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.” Our good works, however religious they may be, can never produce righteousness in us before God. Our only hope is faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross. This faith brings the Holy Spirit into our life to make us a new creation of God. “Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation.” (2nd Corinthians 5:17)
New creation realities!
Scripture reading for November 27th: 2nd Corinthians 1-5
Many Christians don’t realize who they really are in Christ. They struggle with low self-esteem and feelings of inferiority. They try to be different and keep the rules or commandments but always fail or fall short. “Try harder!”, some well-meaning saints encourage! But the harder they try, the more frustrated they become. The secret is in knowing who we are in Christ.
When we are truly ‘born again’, we are transformed inside by the Holy Spirit into new creations. (John 3:3-8) (2nd Corinthians 5:17) As God blew breath into Adam and he became a living being, so the breath of God comes into us by the Holy Spirit and we become alive to God! Our life is brand new at it’s core, in our heart and spirit! We now have an eternal relationship with Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2nd Corinthians 5:17-21
The new creation that is formed in us by the Holy Spirit is reconciled to God. God did this work of reconciliation at the cross when He put our sins on His Son . We are adopted into God’s family and given the task of appealing to others on Christ’s behalf. Our new position is “ambassador” of Christ, imploring men to be reconciled to God. We have a divine purpose and our identity is with Christ.
What a blessing to be forgiven! What freedom to know eternal life and a relationship with our heavenly Father! These new creation realities are appropriated by faith and lived out daily. Our God is for us and we are for Him! Appropriate your “ambassador” status today and invite someone you know to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ!