The New Creation

Yesterday, during my church's breaking of bread service, the concept of being made in the image of God came up. Certainly this is true of the first creation from Genesis 1 and 2. In Genesis 1:26-27, we read that man was created in the image of God. Every human, then, saved or not, is made in God's very own image. That makes us special and unique; set apart from the rest of creation. But there's a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that anyone who is in Christ - that is, whoever places their trust in Jesus Christ and is saved from their sins - is a new creation. This new creation reflects the old. The Genesis creation was the old, which Paul says in 1 Corinthians is passed away, now this new creation has come. Of course, you look outside and you still see the physical creation of old, you look at yourself and still see the flesh you had before you trusted in Christ. But this old creation will one day pass away. Revelation 21 says that the old heaven and the old earth passed away and a new heaven and a new earth was created. This new (or second) creation in Revelation 21 is the fulfillment of what happens in us when Christ saves us. He makes all things new. The old creation was marred and twisted by the curse of sin. This is where the new creation comes in for us. When we receive Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, our old nature of sin is replaced with a new man, one born from the light of Christ, His own workmanship, created for good works. This, of course, reflects the old creation. We were created as God's workmanship for good works. We had a purpose to glorify the Lord and reflect His image. Because of sin, we had fallen short. But when we trust Christ to save us from our sin, His Spirit begins to work in our lives. We we still struggle with sin, but if we focus on the new man by nurturing it through time spent with God in His Word and in prayer, then the sinless, holy creation will strengthen and the old body of sin will weaken.

Just as in the old creation, we were made in the image of God, anyone born in Christ that has the new creation and that renewed life bears the image of their Savior. And what that means is we ought to reflect or proclaim the glory of the Lord and the praises of Him who set us free. We beheld the image of the invisible God, and His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Now we are to reflect that glory and Christ's character for others to see. If we sin, we show the world that Christ isn't holy. If we judge or make fun of other believers, or non believers, that shows the world that all of us are worthless to Christ. If we despise each other, we show that Christ doesn't love His people. If we fill our lives with the things of this world instead of Christ, we show the world that Christ isn't worth following and that He doesn't fully satisfy. But if we display Christ's love, it shows the world that Christ loves them. If we are righteous, it shows the world that Christ is righteous and holy. If we dedicate our lives to Christ, it shows the world that Christ fulfills our lives. 

So live in light of your renewed life - you are the new creation. Let your life reflect the image of God. And remember, we were made for Him, He wasn't made for us. All the glory and our whole lives should glorify Him and point to Him, not ourselves, and our Christian lives shouldn't being glory to us because we are so godly. Rather, our lives should point to Christ and glorify His Name. Our lives should help others see Christ and desire that renewed life we have in Him. 

Written by Daniel Swaim