Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

Being a new creation in Christ means more than turning away from our old life of sin and following the Lord. We must note that this verse starts with “therefore.”

This verse is the heart of 2 Corinthians 5. Paul establishes in the first 10 verses that while we live in our current bodies, we are away from the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:1-10). Yet, because we are saved, we yearn to be with the Lord. Thus, Paul establishes that we shouldn’t feel too comfortable in our earthly bodies and that our desire to leave the Earth and be with the Lord is part of being saved. In this new state of salvation, we desire to please the Lord because we are all judged for what we’ve done on Earth.

Versus 11 through 16 tell us what we should do and how we should live as the new creation Paul refers to in verse 17.

We should:

  • Try to persuade others to turn away from sin and follow the Lord (v. 11).
  • Remember that Jesus died for all (everyone’s sin), so we too should die to our old sinful lives for the sake of those who have not yet been saved (v. 14).
  • We no longer see people through the old worldly lenses we had before we were saved (v. 16).

Now we encounter verse 17 with “therefore.”

Paul continues his discourse on who we are now that we are saved and why.

  • We are part of God’s Ministry of Reconciliation (v. 18-19). This is the chief and most important ministry. All other ministries should point to this ministry and support it.
  • We are ambassadors of Christ because we are new creations (v. 20).
  • As Christ’s ambassadors, we must be reconciled to God (turning away from our old ways and living in a new way).
  • Then, when we turn away and live for Christ as new creatures, we become the righteousness of God (through the ministry of reconciliation where we are both participants receiving it and ministers of it extending it to others).

Therefore, being a new creation means more than just turning away from our old lives. It means fully embracing life for, by, and with Christ.

Do you know God? God knows you, and he loves you. He sees you as significant because you are. No one is insignificant to Him. He’s with you today, and he wants you to know him. Jesus died for your sins and mine so we could be free of guilt, freed from death, and live eternally with him. Eternal salvation is just a prayer away.

Pray this prayer with me to accept the gift of salvation:

Lord Jesus, forgive me for all my sins. I repent from my ways. Wash me in your blood and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I believe you died on the cross and were buried, and God the Father raised you from the dead on the third day. Right now, Lord Jesus, I open the door to my heart and receive you into my heart as my Lord and personal Savior. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, then congratulations! You are on the first step of a brand new life. Allow me to be the first to welcome you to my family, the family of God. There are abundant resources available online for new Christians. You can visit here for more information on what to do next. You can also leave me a comment, and I’ll do my best to help you on the next step of this incredible journey.