New Creation

There is a beautiful promise made in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that "anyone who is in Christ has become a new creation."  This promise is held dear to millions who accept the grace of God through the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross.  Our old sinful self is buried with Christ in baptism and we are raised to a new life with him (note Rom 6:1ff).

However, it is extremely important to understand that the new creation is not just about being saved and sinless, it is also about being sent.  We have not become new creations just for the personal blessing - how different would that make us from our selfish self that needs saving and cleansing from sin?  The new creation is not just for our benefit but more importantly for God's glory.

As we read further down in the passage, we find that "We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us" (v. 20).  As new creations, we have a responsibility to represent God to others, to live in such a way as to draw others to him to hold out the possibility of becoming new creations to those living in bondage.  

As ambassadors, our words and our deeds must reflect the reconciling love of the Father, who calls to a lost world, "Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matt 11:28).   Do yours?  Jus' Askn.