“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Cor 5:17)
This scripture has been part of my staple diet for the last 31 years! I have used this scripture to close the door on yesterday and motivate me to a better tomorrow. When I was full of fear of stuttering, hiding in alcohol and struggling in marriage I quoted this scripture over and over to renew my mind to the fact that I was changed. ”Old things have past away” to me meant the old me had ‘passed away’ as in died. Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ” (Gal 2:20) so a dead man no longer struggles with fear or alcohol. “All things have become new” meant there was already a new me and I needed to discover this new identity.
Jesus said everything hidden will be revealed. I chose to believe that He meant the Holy Spirit would reveal to me the new creation that I am in Christ… it was hidden because it wasn’t readily apparent to me. My life since then has been a journey of discovering who I am, what I can do and what I have in Christ… an amazing journey that gets more exciting as I walk with Him.
How has this scripture changed your life? Please take a moment and add your comment to the blog.
In His grip,
John
This scripture to me has changed the way I see myself. If God now see’s me “in Christ” and He see’s Christ as sinless then I now need to see myself that way. No longer having a “sinful” nature but being made completely new. I am not renewing my mind to no longer be sinful or to do sinful things but renewing my mind to see myself as sinless, righteous, successful, prosperous, healed, whole in my relationships, as a new creation. My focus is on where I want to go not where I don’t want to go or where I’ve been in the past.
I accepted Christ August 1977 at the age of 23. I have never, ever, regretted it! It took some time to grasp this verse and really believe in it because i was so abused as a child, i.e. verbal abuse. As i grew in Christ and worked on my hurt and pain, this scripture is true and deep inside of me. I totally believe, “i am a new creature in Christ Jesus, behold old things have passed away”! AMEN! “JESUS IS THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIGHT”
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Cor 5:17)
Even though I accepted Christ and reconnected with Christ, I had a very difficult time of letting the old things passed away. I would replay it over and over again. When I lost my daughter (stillborn) and continue to have trouble getting pregnant.. I would look at the pass wishing I could go back in time. It took years for me to understand, God doesn’t want me to keep looking back. If I am looking back, how can I look forward? I learn to let go the pain and really believe God cared about my feelings and focus on the future. Now I am pregnant again and my goal is to conintue to look at all the things that are of new. I am excited about my future today because I let go of the pain of yesterdays.
Hi all. Glad you’re checking out this blog, and hopefully posting your own comments…
Quick & simple: when I begin to give myself the ’short end of the stick’ in my thinking (yes, present tense!), I can choose to stop old lying messages by rebooting and aligning my thoughts with the word of God. I recite what GOD in His word says about me. This was very important when I was first saved, AND it’s very important now, for today.
Thanks Pastor John!
[...] I’m a NEW creation! [...]