Wednesday: A New Creation
Having emphasized the centrality of the Cross of Christ to the Christian life, Paul now emphasizes the second fundamental tenet of his gospel message: justification by faith.
As we have seen all quarter, Paul has basically pitted circumcision against the gospel. Yet, he’s not against the practice itself.
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Paul has made several strong statements against circumcision (see Gal. 5:2-4) , but he does not want the Galatians to conclude that being uncircumcised is more pleasing to God than being circumcised. That is not his point, because one can be just as legalistic about what one does as about what one doesn’t do. Spiritually speaking, the issue of circumcision by itself is irrelevant. True religion is rooted less in external behavior and more in the condition of the human heart. As Jesus Himself said, a person can look wonderful on the outside but be spiritually rotten on the inside (Matt. 23:27) .
What does it mean to be a new creation? Gal. 6:15, 2 Cor. 5:17. How have you yourself experienced what this means?
Ktisis is the Greek word translated “creation.” It either can refer to an individual “creature” (Heb. 4:13) or to all of the “created” order itself (Rom. 8:22) . In either case, the word implies the action of a Creator. That is Paul’s point. Becoming a “new creature” is not something that can be brought about by any human effort — whether circumcision or anything else. Jesus refers to this process as the “new birth” (John 3:5-8) . It is the divine act in which God takes a person who is spiritually dead and breathes spiritual life into him. This is yet another metaphor to describe the saving act that Paul typically describes as justification by faith.
Paul refers to this new creation experience in greater detail in 2 Corinthians 5:17. In this verse, Paul explains that becoming a new creation means far more than just a change in our status in the books of heaven; it brings about a change in our lives today. As Timothy George notes, it “involves the whole process of conversion: the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit leading to repentance and faith, the daily process of mortification and vivification, continual growth in holiness leading to eventual conformity to the image of Christ.” — Galatians, p. 438.
Becoming a new creature, however, is not what justifies us. This radical change is, instead, the unmistakable manifestation of what it means to be justified.
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There is an invisible church that we may not be paying attention to! Jesus has His people spread all over! Yes, the Law is simple and clear, but we are saved by grace! While we are worried about a named and organized religion (which there is nothing wrong with), Jesus is worried about the heart! Jesus is coming soon! Am I prepared?
I am not changing To Be Changed. I am changing Because I am Changed. As a new creation(creature) we are not waiting to receive Victory, we have it already through Christ, because He has already overcome the world. Our life isn't a struggle of Attaining , but a struggle of Remaining[in Christ].
True to Paul's words the only boasting we have is what Christ has done for us. The infinite value of knowing that He took our penalty on Himself is our motivation to glory. We have become a new creation. A new creation implies the work of the Creator rather than self. It is working of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will renew the mind and heart to reflect His holiness. True holiness is wholeness in the service of God. It is reformation in words, in spirit, and in character."Behold, I make all things new” declares the Creator. Christ gives man every assurance and encouragement to understand that He alone will change the character [heart].
It is not within our own strength to transform our characters. We are called to receive and believe Him. As John 1:12 points out "as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name". He in turn gives divine providence needed to meet the measure of His righteousness. It is His power that gives new motives, new thinking and new tendencies which will be manifested in behavior. Our whole being but not part is made compatible with His character. Our minds and bodies must become subordinated to Him and our natural habits are too subordinated to the needs of the soul.
In analysing Christ's perfect human life in Hebrews 5:8-9, Ellen White writes : "As a man He supplicated the throne of God, till His humanity was charged with a heavenly current that connected humanity with divinity. Receiving life from God, He imparted life to men." {Ed 80}. For those of us who have received adoption of His sons, and have become partakes of His divine nature ,we receive a constant nourishment of His Spirit. Our habits and practices are a manifestation of this life changing relationship with Christ. Therefore our works must give evidence to the truth that we have this living connection with Him because "if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation".
In conclusion Ellen White writes "When men who claim to be Christians retain all their natural defects of character and disposition, in what does their position differ from that of the worldling? They do not appreciate the truth as a sanctifier, a refiner. They have not been born again (The Review and Herald, April 12, 1892). 6BC 1101.1
Today's lesson, heals me, simply put
Becoming a new creation is a work outside of ourselves. We sometimes tend to believe we can do certain things without the help of God. Yes,We can do all bad by ourselves (even without the help of Satan) but we cannot do anything good without Christ. This is the foundation of the principle of being created anew. The prime concern isn't in an eventful one- time episode of new creation. We sometimes believe that. Its wrong though. I think Paul was emphasizing on daily creation. Allowing ourselves to be transformed by the Spirit each day. In all,God only needs our willpower and He will do the rest. Amen!
The words of King David in Psalm 40:6-12 are so relevant to us SDA Christians today. From verses 6 through 10 are messianic verses of scripture. Then verse 11 King David prays that this very truth and loving kindness of God "Continually preserve him," because then in the very next verse 12 he says why he needs this very continual preservation of God and this is our condition as SDA Christians today----"Numerous evils and our iniquities more than the hairs of our heads." this is our only hope: to be continually preserved by God's loving kindness and truth of salvation in Jesus his son via his Holy Spirit and precious promises of his word in "The Bible."