11/29/20 THE ULTIMATE “EXTREME MAKEOVER” — 2 Corinthians 5:17 (CSB) ^“Therefore, if anyone is IN CHRIST, he is A NEW CREATION; THE OLD HAS PASSED AWAY, and see, THE NEW HAS COME!”

IN CHRIST: These two words comprise a BRIEF BUT MOST PROFOUND STATEMENT of the INEXHAUSTIBLE SIGNIFICANCE of the BELIEVER'S REDEMPTION, which includes the following: 1) the believer's SECURITY IN CHRIST, who bore in His body God's judgment against sin; 2) the BELIEVER'S ACCEPTANCE in Him with whom God alone is well pleased; 3) the BELIEVER'S FUTURE ASSURANCE in Him who is the resurrection to eternal life and the sole guarantor of the believer's inheritance in heaven; and 4) the BELIEVER'S PARTICIPATION IN THE DIVINE NATURE OF CHRIST, the Everlasting Word (cf. 2Pe 1:4).

A NEW CREATION: This describes something that is CREATED at a qualitatively NEW LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE. It refers to REGENERATION or THE NEW BIRTH (cf. Jn 3:3; Eph 2:1-3; Titus 3:5; 1Pe 1:23; 1Jn 2:29; 3:9; 5:4). This expression encompasses the Christian's forgiveness of sins paid for in Christ's substitutionary death (cf. Gal 6:15; Eph 4:24).

THE OLD HAS PASSED AWAY: AFTER a person is REGENERATE, OLD VALUE SYSTEMS, PRIORITIES, BELIEFS, LOVES, AND PLANS ARE GONE. EVIL AND SIN ARE STILL PRESENT, but the believer sees them in a new perspective (see v. 16), and they NO LONGER CONTROL him.

THE NEW HAS COME: The Gr. grammar indicates that this NEWNESS is a CONTINUING CONDITION OF FACT. The BELIEVER'S NEW SPIRITUAL PERCEPTION of everything is a constant reality for him, and he NOW LIVES FOR ETERNITY, NOT TEMPORAL THINGS. James identifies this transformation as the FAITH THAT PRODUCES WORKS (see Eph 2:10; Jas 2:14-25). (adapted from The MacArthur Study Bible)

In days to come we’ll look at some of the NEW THINGS which God creates or provides with our salvation!