Message 6 - By
Jerry D. Green
A New Creation
Introduction
Those who are truly born again of God are indeed new creations. As
far as sin is concerned, they’re not
evolving, progressing, getting better, doing better, or any such thing, but
have “…put on the new man, which after God is created in
righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians
4:24). They are truly new creations
who are born again, “…not of blood, nor of the will of the
flesh, nor of the will of man, BUT OF GOD” (John 1:13). My
prayer is that this message will bring the reader to that understanding. JDG
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A New Creation
Many Christians today have taken up arms against the theory of
evolution. They declare the earth did not just evolve, that life on the earth
did not just evolve, and that man in particular did not just evolve. They
insist the Word of God teaches creation
rather than evolution and they take advantage of all their constitutional
rights to oppose and resist this teaching.
Well I must admit, I agree with their doctrine on this matter (though
not their methods), for the Word of God says, “Through faith we
understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which
are seen were not made of things which do appear” (Hebrews 11:3). The scriptures also say
that, “In the beginning God created…” (Genesis chapters 1 and 2). “…God said, Let there be… and there was….” He simply spoke
things into existence. The eternal, creative Word of God made all things, “…and without Him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). This creation is very
important, for without it, none of us would be here. This was the first creation,
and what a wonderful creation it was! Every need of man was provided for and man
had perfect fellowship with God until the day that sin entered into it (Romans
5:12). Sin was the downfall of the whole creation which God had made, for
this thing called sin was in the
heart of every man thereafter. Every man thereafter was born in sin “…and there was
NONE to help…” (Psalm 51:5; Isaiah 63:5). That first creation
seemed beyond saving, so what was a just and loving God to do? He could destroy the first and create anew? But would that be just? After all, it's not our fault we were born in sin. Could the wisdom of God come up with a just solution? The answer is an emphatic YES, and that is exactly
what He did. The intent of this message is to look into this thing called The New Creation.
Let me begin by pointing out that in many instances in the
scriptures, the Greek word for creation (Strong’s
#2937) was also translated creature. In most cases the words creature and creation could
be interchanged. Please check this out
in your “Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance” or other means of Greek research you
may have.
The first specifics God gives concerning the new creation is Isaiah
65:17-18. “For, behold, I create NEW heavens and
a NEW earth: and the former things shall not be remembered, nor come to
mind. But be ye glad and rejoice forever
in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing and her
people a joy.” Praise God for such wonderful promises, but when will they
be fulfilled? What is this Jerusalem, and who are her people? Can man ever
expect to experience this wonderful new
creation? The answers are all heartening. Concerning whom, “…And whosoever will…” (Revelation
22:17). Concerning when, “…all… (is now) …ready…” (prepared; Matthew 22:4). “…Now is the day of salvation” (II Corinthians 6:2). Today is the day of salvation for everyone who
has not yet heard and believed the true
gospel of Jesus Christ which “…is the power of God unto salvation
to EVERYONE that…” believes IT (Romans 1:16). You can be saved today and become a part of that new
creation, the true church and body of Jesus Christ, which is the new Jerusalem (Revelation 3:12, 21:2; Hebrews 12:22-25). Individually we are
her people (citizens). But collectively we are the city, “…the (new,) heavenly Jerusalem…,” the “…CHURCH of the FIRSTborn…,” “which is His body…” (Hebrews
12:22-23; Ephesians 1:22-23).
Jesus Christ Himself was,
and is, “…the beginning of
the (NEW) creation of God (Revelation 1:5, 3:14), …the FIRSTborn among MANY brethren” (Romans 8:29). He was and is the eternal, living, creative
“…Word… (of God, by whom the old creation was) …made…; He
was the creator of it. He is
without beginning and without end (John
1:10; Revelation 1:8; Psalm 90:2). And “…if any man (anyone; any person) be (IN Him,) IN Christ (Jesus), he (that man, that
one, that person) IS a NEW creature (creation): OLD… ([*] has) …passed away; (and) BEHOLD, all… ([*] true believers
HAVE)
…become NEW” (creatures [or creations] in Christ; II
Corinthians 5:17; Revelation 21:5).
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* Things in the New
Testament is always a translator added word. In some cases, as with other added
words, it can be beneficial. In others, as in this case, added words can
detract from, distort, and/or completely conceal what is actually being said.
Please keep this in mind when reading the New Testament.
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Being created anew (being born
again) is the single most important thing that can ever happen to a person, “For IN Christ Jesus neither circumcision… (religious works) …nor uncircumcision (the absence of religious works) …availeth anything… (with God), …but (ONLY) a new creature” (a new creation; Galatians 6:15). Being born
again IS being created anew, and
creation is not a long drawn out
affair: it is an instantaneous happening. When God says, let there be a new
heart in this man, or woman, or boy, or girl, that is exactly what you get.
There will be “…repentance toward God (for our sins), and faith toward
our Lord Jesus Christ” (and His gospel; Acts
20:21; Luke 18:13) before God
speaks. But when He speaks, you get it
right then and it is absolutely perfect.
God’s creations are always
perfect and they cannot be improved upon. Too bad that most of those same well
meaning people who fight so hard against the theory of evolution concerning the old creation will fight just as
hard for evolution concerning the new
creation. They say about it, “we’re not there yet, but we’re getting there.
We just need to try a little harder. We need a few more laws, a few more
principles, a few more ordinances, and a little more instruction, then we’ll be
what God wants us to be.” Just “…as the serpent beguiled Eve
through his subtilty… (his subtlety, even) …, so…” (are our) “…minds…corrupted
from the SIMPLICITY that is IN Christ” (II Corinthians 11:3). Anytime man adds anything to the perfect creation of God, it is
corrupted. For IN Christ Jesus, nothing avails anything with God but a new creature (a new creation). Neither religious works nor the absence of religious
works. He honors nothing but the new creature (the new creation). All of our many doctrines, ordinances, programs,
and/or other religious works (which we think are absolutely essential to
salvation) avail NOTHING with HIM. That is what Calvary was about. The OLD was hung on the cross “IN the body of His flesh…” (IN His physical body; Colossians 1:22). It was crucified and
buried with Him, and we who truly believe the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, were and are raised again “…in NEWness of LIFE” IN Him (Romans 6:4-7). We’re NEW creatures, NEW creations; and together we constitute THE NEW CREATION.
Revelation
chapters 21 and 22 are an allegory of this
new creation; and what a beautiful creation
it is. Please notice some of the things which are said concerning this new creation.
21:2 This city has
its beginnings in heaven, prepared (adorned, clothed, dressed) as the bride of Jesus Christ (the Lamb of God): Created of Him, by Him, for Him, and in Him (Ephesians 2:10).
21:3 God dwells with
His people (actually in them, Ephesians 2:22; John 14:20).
21:5 Behold He makes “…all… (all true believers [*]) …new” (* Things was added by the translators; Revelation 21:5; II Corinthians 5:17).
21:11 The glory of God
is upon her (Ephesians 5:27).
21:12 She has a great
wall: Her “…strength…” is in the believing of the true “…gospel of (Jesus, the) Christ… : which is both (“…the grace…”) and the “…power of God…” (Romans 1:16, 5:6; II Corinthians 12:9-10; Psalm
91).
21:14 Her wall has 12
foundations, the 12 apostles of the Lamb; the first or foundation preachers of the gospel (Ephesians 2:20).
21:19 Her foundations
are garnished with all manner of precious stones (I Corinthians 3:12-13).
21:23 The Lamb is the
light of this city (John 1:4; Matthew 5:14-16).
21:27 And anything
that defiles can never enter into
this city (I Corinthians 6:9-11).
Many would have us believe that God loves us so much we may enter
this city in spite of our sin(s). But Revelation 22:14 and 15 say that all sinners are “…without…” (outside) of this city (I
Corinthians 6:9-11). And I
Corinthians 6:18 says, “…every sin that a man…” (a person) does “…is without (outside) the body… (of Christ),”
outside, “…the heavenly Jerusalem…”, outside, the “…church of (Jesus) the FIRSTborn…” (Hebrews 12:22-23). “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that
shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap
corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life
everlasting” (Galatians 6:7-8). “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal,
The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth
the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (II Timothy 2:19). Only those whose robes have been “…made… white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14; Hebrews 13:12) may enter through the gates of this city; and those
who would enter any “…other way…” are thieves and robbers (John 10:1).
Revelation 4:11 finds all heaven
worshiping and praising God as the creator of the old creation, but Revelation
5:9 says, “…they sung a new song…” unto the Lamb: a
song of redemption. And thanks be to God, that redemption includes a new creation.
Would you, a sinner, be
a part of this beautiful city we have discussed? If so, come to Jesus today and
believe the glorious gospel of God’s
redeeming Lamb. Yes you are worthy of death, and the sentence of death is upon
you and all sinners. But if you can
only believe it, that sentence of
death was carried out in Him (Colossians 1:21-22). The old creation (your old man of sin, the sin nature) was and “…IS crucified (in union) with Him…” (Romans 6:6; Galatians 2:20; Colossians
1:22) and you “…ARE BURIED (in union) WITH Him by baptism (immersion) into (His) death (NOT water
baptism): that like as Christ was raised…from the dead by the
glory of the Father, …we also… (would) …walk in NEWness of life” (IN Him; Romans 6:4). We are raised in spiritual perfection, NEW CREATIONS IN Him, “…CREATED after God IN righteousness
and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:24).
We’re MADE free from sin, having been “…born again…” of God (Revelation 1:5; I Peter 1:3-23) and “…by the (sacrificed) body of (Jesus) Christ… (we are also) …become dead to the law… (of Moses and of all men’s religious law[s]) that we may “…be married…” (joined) to Jesus
(Romans 7:4); even to Him who has
wiped away “…the… (written) …ordinances… (of laws, which were and are) …against us, which… (were and are) …contrary to us, and took… (them) …out of the way, nailing… (them) …to His cross” (Colossians 2:14), “…that we… bring forth fruit unto God” and that we “…SERVE Him… all the days of our life” on this earth
and forever (Luke 1:74-75; Romans 7:4). So please, call on Jesus
today in Godly sorrow for your sin
and believe the glorious gospel of Him. His
will is to save you if your will
is to be saved.
Message 6 - A New Creation
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The True Gospel
Why do we emphasize the
true gospel so?
1. Because the true gospel
is the only means by which man can
be reinstated to fellowship with God.
2. Because IT is the account of the sufferings, the death, the
burial, the resurrection, and the ascension of the Rock and Captain of our
salvation (Jesus), and how by faith,
IT was and is accomplished for and in us (Mark
8:31; Acts 1:11, 26:22-23; II Samuel 22:47; Hebrews 2:10; Ephesians 1:19-20, 2:5-6).
3. Because IT is the foundation upon which all other Biblical
teaching must be based (I Corinthians
3:10-15).
4. Because “…IT is the POWER OF GOD unto
SALVATION to…” all who will BELIEVE IT
(Romans 1:16).
5. Because “…He (Jesus) said unto them (and to all true
believers), ‘Go ye into all the world, and preach THE GOSPEL to every
creature’ (Mark 16:15).”
JDG
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Message 6 - A New Creation
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