Examining 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 (Part Five)

From the desk of Dr. R. L. Taylor, Th.D., Bible Expositor & Teacher. We read, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Whenever you come across the word, “Therefore” always find out what it’s there for! It means, “for that reason.” In the previous verse, Paul has taught that Christ’s death for sin has changed the way he regards people. Instead of looking at each person as a mere human being, “for that reason” he must view those who are in Christ as something entirely different! Paul uses the term, “in Christ” to speak of a believer’s spiritual relationship to Christ. Those who are “in Christ” are those who have faith in Him, are credited with His righteous life, and their sin forgiven by His death in their place. Such people are new creatures! Those “in Christ” have become something they were not before. Their identity has changed from being the fallen version of themselves, to being associated with the righteousness of God in Christ. That's who they are now. In fact, the old version of a Christian, who they were before they were “in Christ,” is not recoverable. The old things passed away, (is gone), Paul writes. The new has come. All the old life of slavery to sin has passed away! It has been replaced by Christ’s ideas, agendas and purposes in an entirely new creature called “Christian!” This new creation is brought about by the Holy Spirit, the agent of regeneration (Titus 3:5) and the giver of divine birth (John 3:3, 6-8). Being “in Christ” makes it possible for men and women to be made new once and for all, and for eternity, with no possibility of returning to the old. It just doesn’t get any better than that! Be encouraged!