New means New...

2 Corinthians 5:17 is a very popular verse. I'm amazed at how many people read it, quote it, and consider it a life verse without really understanding it. "...if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." I don't know any other way to put this, but new means new.

There is a teaching that has been around for a long time that basically says that we have dueling natures. Those who teach this typically use Paul's writings to the church at Rome as a foundation. You know...the "good that I will to do, I do not do it." The problem is that this was not Paul's intention. In fact, he's teaching something totally different. He was talking about his struggle under the law and the necessity of grace to overcome.

Here's a question for you: Since there are a lot of people that consider the reason we sin is because we are still battling an old sinful nature, does that mean you can only sin when you possess a sinful nature? Think about it before you answer. Adam & Eve didn't have a sinful nature and they blew it. How is that possible? I believe that the only thing you need to sin is free will and the ability to believe a lie.

God's Word tells us that we are baptized into Jesus' death, our old man was crucified with Christ so the body of sin might be done away with, and that we have been clothed with Christ [Romans 6:3,6; Galatians 3:27]. Take it a step further. Paul also told the early church that through baptism we were buried with him and raised to walk in the newness of life. New means New!!!

People will ask: then why do we need to confess sin? If we don't have a sinful nature then why do we still sin? Simple: we live in a sinful world. We still face temptation, we still have an enemy who seeks to steal - kill - and destroy, and we still have a free will. The reason why confession is important is because it keeps us in agreement with God. Listen to what John is saying to the church, "My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous." (1 John 2:1). Our confession of sin has nothing to do with the penalty (God has already taken care of that) but everything to do with living in righteousness. Would John have written that we would not sin if it were not possible? You have got to understand the power of GRACE.

Don't get caught fighting the wrong battle. We do not war against the flesh. Too many people are beating up on a dead man (the old man that was crucified) instead of fighting the enemy. We have been given victory, we simply have to learn to walk in it. We have been given power, but we need to learn how to be powerful. That is why what you believe is so important. If you believe that you have a sinful nature then you will sin. However, when you understand that you have a new nature (the nature of Christ) then you will see that it is outside of your nature to sin.

God wants you to walk in the newness of life that is found in Christ. We were redeemed to live in everything that Jesus made possible. We are promised abundant life, freedom, and the power to destroy the works of the enemy. My friends, if you have been made new in Christ then you are new in Him. New means New!!!