"Can A Man Become A New Creature"

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Rev. Dr. Levi Howard Wright, Pastor & Founder

January 21, 2007

“Can A Man Become A New Creature?”

Text: 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.”

“Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new”. (Contemporary English Version)

Introduction

This a message about “Regeneration” and how a man can be made a “New Creature in Christ.”

The new birth or regeneration is an inner recreating of newness to fallen human nature by the Holy Spirit.

It changes the disposition of lawless, godless self-seeking into one of trust and love.

The new birth or regeneration is repentance for past rebelliousness and unbelief.

The new birth or regeneration enlightens the blinded mind to discern spiritual realities and liberates and energizes the enslaved will for free obedience to God.

The new birth describes and emphasizes two facts about a change.

The first is….. The regenerate man has forever ceased to be the man he was; his old life is over and a new life has begun; he is a new creature in Christ, Buried with him out of reach of condemnation and raised with him into a new life of righteousness.

The second fact emphasized is….. that regeneration is due to the free and mysterious exercise of divine power.

Infants do not induce or cooperate in their own procreation and birth; no more can those who are dead in trespasses and sins prompt the quickening operation of God’s Spirit within them.

If I had a car with the engine that was ready for the grave, I’d have a new engine put in. I’d take the car into a mechanic who would put it in for me. If when I got that car back, it ran just as poorly, I would begin to wonder if the old engine really had been replaced or just cleaned up. It is no different with our new lives in Christ.

1. Can A Man Become A New Creature?

What does it mean for a man to become a “new creature”? Very simply, it means just what the Scripture says: the man actually becomes a new creature—his whole being, nature, life, and behavior changes:

Whereas a man was dead to God....... as a new creature he becomes alive to God.

Whereas a man had no relationship with God........ as a new creature he is given a relationship with God.

Whereas a man was not sure about God....... as a new creature he is absolutely certain about God.

Whereas a man never fellowshipped and communed with God..... as a new creature he fellowships and communes with God all the time.

Whereas a man was living in sin and immorality...... as a new creature he lives in righteousness and holiness.

Whereas a man had to face death...... as a new creature he never has to die.

Whereas a man was doomed to judgment and eternal separation from God, as a new creature he is destined to live eternally in the presence of God.

2. How does a person become a new creature?

Note the words of this Scripture: “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.”

It is being “in Christ” that makes a person a new creature.

When a person truly believes in Christ, God places and positions him in Christ, in all that Christ is.

Christ lived and died and arose, so to be in Christ means that a person lives, dies, and arises in Christ.

The person who believes in Jesus Christ is identified with Christ: that is, he is counted and considered to be “in Christ,” accounted and credited as “in Christ.”

Spelled out in a little more detail, when a person believes in Christ, God places and positions the believer “in Christ”.

The believer’s faith actually causes God to identify the believer with Christ...with a “New Identity”.

• If you are “in Christ” the Lord counts you as being sinless and righteous because Christ was sinless and righteous.

• If you are “in Christ” the Lord counts you as having died in Christ. Therefore, you will never have to die in...... John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

• The penalty and condemnation of your sins are already paid for in the death of Christ.

• If you are “in Christ” the Lord counts you as having been raised in Christ. Therefore, you have received the “new life” of Christ. Just as Christ had a new life after His resurrection, even so the believer receives the “new life” of Christ when he believes in Christ.