A New Creation In Christ

One must die to self in order to live!

A seed has to die in order to produce life and grow into whatever it has been created to be!

This process is called germination this is the process of creating a new life. The seed goes into the ground and it is watered and given sun light, but you don’t uncover the seed you have to leave it alone for the process to take place.

If you were to keep uncovering it, it would never die to create new life, it would just completely die. It would never be able to bring forth new life and bring forth a harvest!

To become a new creation in Christ one has to die to self and allow the germination of Christ to take place so that we may see the power and glory of God come to fruition.

John 12:24 ESV

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

“I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone [just one grain, never more]. But if it dies, it produces much grain and yields a harvest.” John‬ ‭12‬:‭24‬ ‭AMP‬‬

John, 1 John, 2 John, & 3 John Commentary

This agricultural image is very apt, centering as it does on the necessity of the grain dying before it can produce a harvest. When it does die, it produces “many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives.” The contrast is between remaining alone and “bearing much fruit” (a literal rendering of 12:24). If Jesus had not died on the cross, his life would have affected no one but himself—but his death has affected the whole world. As Whitacre points out (1999:310), this harvest is not only “the fruit of evangelism” but also means that “through his death fruit will be produced in the lives of his followers.”

Galatians 6:15 ESV

For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

“For neither is circumcision anything [of any importance], nor uncircumcision, but [only] a new creation [which is the result of a new birth—a spiritual transformation—a new nature in Christ Jesus].” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭15‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Spiritual Transformation is a process of profound change that occurs within a person’s spiritual life or journey. It is the shift from living purely guide by material desires and ego-driven ambitions to a life drive by a changing and aligning of ones heart to God’s will and desire.

Last year we talked about the shift, the process and changing gears, how many of you know how to drive a stick shift or even better yet a 3 in the tree (that is a manual shifter in the steering column. It wasn’t easy to learn how to drive let alone a stick shift! There is a learning curve in coming and growing in Christ and it is about shifting gears from one life to the next.

Colossians 3:3 ESV

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

“For you died [to this world], and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians & Philemon Commentary

The implication of their life being hidden with Christ is that they will also share that future “revelation”—that is, they will share the “glory” of Christ when his rule is revealed: “When Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory” (3:4). No matter what those around them think, these believers have a future that is as great and as sure as Christ’s

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians & Philemon Commentary

Identification with Christ means that one is dead to the world, to its principalities and powers, and to the various rules of piety, since they are all rooted in this age. But identification with Christ means that one is also resurrected with Christ—that is, one is identified with the only life that Christ has, which is his resurrected life

1 Corinthians & 2 Corinthians Notes

The new creation is the new order of existence brought about by Christ’s work of reconciliation. The term “new creation” is often thought of in exclusively personal terms, especially when the word ktisis [2937, 3232] is rendered “creature.” It is taken to refer to a person’s conversion to Christ when the old life is exchanged for a new relationship to the Lord. This is undoubtedly part of Paul’s meaning, but there is more. Recent scholars see here a cosmic setting; hence “new creation,” recalling the old created world marred by human sin

James 1:18 ESV

Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

“It was of His own will that He gave us birth [as His children] by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of His creatures [a prime example of what He created to be set apart to Himself—sanctified, made holy for His divine purposes].” James‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬ ‭AMP‬‬

James, 1 - 2 Peter, Jude & Revelation Commentary

When we choose God, we yield to his providential care and realize the truth that he “causes everything to work together for the good.” In the process we learn the truth that God gives only “good and perfect” gifts, proven especially in Luke 11:13, where God gives the greatest gift of all, the Holy Spirit, “to those who ask him.”

Luke 11:13 ESV

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Romans 8:23 ESV

And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

“And not only this, but we too, who have the first fruits of the Spirit [a joyful indication of the blessings to come], even we groan inwardly, as we wait eagerly for [the sign of] our adoption as sons—the redemption and transformation of our body [at the resurrection].” Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭23‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Romans & Galatians Notes

“Firstfruits” (aparchēn [536, 569]) is a technical term derived from the Jewish sacrificial system, designating the first crops of the harvest, which were to be offered to God in acknowledgment of his provision, thus invoking his blessing on the whole crop.

Ephesians 4:20–24 ESV

But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Keys to becoming a new creation are found in this verse and are a powerful statement of what needs to take place!

Throw Off: get rid of, cast off or away!

Lust, rage, deceit, self-centeredness and un-forgiveness and anything that will hinder or hamper that new life.

Galatians 5:19–21 ESV

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Be Renewed: it is to change, transform form into the new creation in Christ Jesus by the working of the Holy Spirit!

This is to allow the germination process to take place, where you learn to die to self. This allowing the metamorphosis of your heart, mind and soul to take place.This is where true transformation happens!

Put On: put on a new look, to wear, to cloth yourself in!

Putting on the fruit of the Spirit and allowing Christ and the Spirit to speak to you by listening and obeying the Spirits direction.

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

As a new creation it helps to know what to throw off, what to put on and then allow the new creation come about!

This doesn’t happen overnight it is a process and takes time like a Caterpillar going through the metamorphosis of becoming a Butterfly.

But the change is worth the time it takes, be patient with yourself and allow God to work in and through you by the working of the Holy Spirit.