Called to New Life…

For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. (2 Cor. 5:14-17).

Our God wants us to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). It is in His character to create and continually renew. The fact that He does this for us individually is so humbling.2 Corinthians 5:17 (…therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creatur..) We get so bogged down in trying to “be better”. We are overwhelmed by our mistakes and we keep trying to “get it right” but never can. But WE don’t have to get it right…Jesus already did that for us. Sin is a constant problem for Christians but we can’t let it be our focus…Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17).

If we do, we are not focusing on Jesus. What a revelation that was to me! I am a new creature. I can’t conquer sin – Jesus already did that. I am not the same person I once was, but God is not finished with me yet either. He continues to refine me. HE does that, not me.

You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine and you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart form me you can do nothing (John 15:3-5).

God is so good to us! He knows how easily we can get discouraged with ourselves, so He reminds us of how He will help us. But He also knows how easily we fall into the trap of thinking we can do it without Him; so He reminds us that we are not to take the credit.

Paul says, “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 (Gal. 6:14).  Only because of Jesus, you are “dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11). Only because of Jesus, you are “born again” by the Spirit (John 3:3).  Only because of Jesus, you are able to 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 truth (Eph. 4:22-24).

We are set aside now for His purposes rather than our own. We are meant to proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but you now are the people of God; you had not received mercy but now you have received mercy (1Peter 2:9-10). 

God calls us to a new life in Him; but He does not stop there; He draws us close and helps us to become the people He created us to be.