Whenever anyone is saved by the sovereign grace of God and regenerated by the Holy Spirit he becomes a new creation in Christ. This is not a mere moral improvement, nor a religious reformation, nor the adoption of a more wholesome lifestyle but a supernatural work of the Spirit, producing a new nature. Having experienced this miracle of salvation, this new man now has new views, new ambitions, new convictions, new desires, new notions, new hopes, new dreads, new pleasures, new aims, new principles, new affections, new joys, and new pursuits. Everything about him is changed. He does, as it were, live in a new world! He was once spiritually dead, enslaved to sin, governed by the flesh, blind to truth, and hostile to God!
Now, his affections are changed he loves what he once hated and hates what he once loved! Now, his mind is renewed he no longer sees life through the lens of popular culture, but through the lens of Scripture. Now, his will is liberated he longs to do the will of God, though not without struggle. Though sin still remains in his flesh, it no longer reigns in his life. The believer is brought into a new realm: from darkness to light; from death to life; from the kingdom of Satan to the kingdom of God. He is adopted as God's child, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and sealed for the day of redemption. In Christ, every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms is now his!
His past is forgiven, his present is transformed, and his future is secured. But the glory of this new creation lies not in the man himself, but in the One who made him new. Just as the original creation displayed the majesty of God, so this new creation displays the greatness of His sovereignty, mercy, and grace. Christian, never forget who you are--you are not what you once were. And though you are not yet what you will be--you are already made new in Christ. Let this truth humble you, encourage you, and move you to walk in newness of life, to the glory of God!
[Charles H. Spurgeon]
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Ephesians 1:3 ... Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Colossians 1:13–14 ... Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
2 Corinthians 5:17 ... Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. ❤
