2 Corinthians 5: 17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5: 21 "For our sake he made him to be sin, who knew no sin, os that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
What is this new creation that we are supposed to be? Is it really new or is it simply just something that is old but kind of sorta revamped or refurbished? Is it really a new creation that we are supposed to become and why would we become a new creation anyways?
Jesus loves me enough to meet me where I am at. The expression continues, however, that he loves me too much to leave me there. What good is it to believe in a God of creation when that creation doesn't change anything for me especially in the here and now where I must live?
There was a time in my life that I couldn't wait to be someone other than who I was. I went to church, participated in the service, attended meetings, went to Happening and even "studied" the bible (more like searched through it blindly for something of which I knew not what I was searching for). Each time I would attend a service, each time I would recite the corporate confession and receive the general absolution, it was not a renewing of who I was. It certainly never felt like I was being reborn. When I would hear of others talking about being born again, I have to confess, I considered how odd they were. To me, it was as if they were disconnecting with this life. There is a young woman, whose name I think is Melanie or Melody, whom I owe a big apology to. I recall mocking her to her face when she would talk about how much time she spent consulting with God on his will for her life. I was spending my time trying to dodge the cosmic hammer so as to avoid further earthy punishment for my sins in the hope that someday, there would be enough relief that I could relax. To that young woman, and others like her, I am quite sorry. The problem was not them. Nor was there an issue with the way in which they prayed or connected with God or anything of the sort. Quite the opposite. The real issue was with me. I was not renewed. I was not made new. In truth, the real issue was that I was merely white washed. Each time I attended church, I was not being made new. I was the same old sinner loaded with the same problems. The only thing that was happening was that I was seeking through my religion to be washed up a bit, having my sins painted a bright shiny white.
Have you ever tried painting with latex paint over latex paint and didn't use the primer? If you would like an experiment, I would recommend it. The results? Some of the new paint will stick. Some of the new paint will peel. Some of the new paint will stick to the old paint and both will peel. In the end, you will have a very colorful wall with chunks of paint missing and a mismatch of color where it seemingly bonds in a random fashion. This is the essence of religion without relationship. This is the issue that Jesus had with the pharisees. They were following the Law. They had Torah down to so complex a procedure that the early apostles even had to admit that there was no way for them to succeed at keeping it let alone the gentiles who were not raised anywhere near it. White wash. Covering up the old with a fresh coat of the sacrifice of the day hoping that it sticks well enough that you can make it to tomorrow's sacrifice.
Jesus calls us into relationship with him. Our religion, the practice or act of that relationship has to flow from Him through us and pour out again. It is this which is the exact nature of what 2 Corinthians 5:17 is composed of. If we are not born again, made new, then we are simply white washed individuals awaiting the next "rain storm" to find out what layers stuck and what layers didn't. In Ephesians, Paul references being tossed about by every wind and wave of doctrine as indicative of spiritual immaturity. White washing is just that; Spiritual Immaturity. It has a place in the beginning of your faith walk. In certain support groups they use slogans such as "fake it til you make it" for inspiration that looks the same. Basically, it is. You are exposing yourself to the right way to be until the body and mind follow the course set before them and you become that right way. The issue will continuously be, however, that to do so outside of the right relationship requires one to do so under their own power. This is not going to happen. It can't. Why? The pattern was laid out for us very early on. You must be born again of water and spirit. Those are not my own words. They are taken from the Gospel of John, third chapter. Jesus is having a conversation with Nicodemus. Jesus uses these words to describe what it is truly supposed to be like once a person comes into relationship with God through the Son and in the Spirit. We are born again....not necessarily physically (but don't discount this), yet at the least spiritually and subsequently emotionally and behaviorally.
Righteousness, true righteousness, requires far more than a white washing. Garbage is garbage now matter the color bow you put around it.
When we allow God to transform us from the inside out, truly making us new creations, it is through this that we explore and enter into his righteousness. This new creation looks similar to the old. Some may even mistake it for the old. The ones who have a close tie with the old, however, will themselves notice that things are what they used to be. Spiritually, they should not be able to avoid it. Your thoughts no longer correspond to the pattern of this world. As your heart is softened by the Spirit, it begins to knit itself to the will of God. Your hunger becomes for him. This is what it means to be a new creation. We are no longer simply moved to complain, we are moved to act. This is the new creation that reflects the righteousness of God.
Are you allowing this level of relationship to take place? Are you engaging in a dialogue with God and responding accordingly? How does this happen, you might ask? Simple, listen.........
A young man one night gave his life to Christ. He thought he was making a deal, but the deal was already set, it was more of an excuse to "give in" to what had been desired for a long time. Following that, within hours, there was an urge to engage in physical violence. This was a typical pattern of learned behavior that "felt normal". Until that night, that is. That night, as the urge welled up, the young man swears he nearly heard an audible voice telling him, "No, we don't do that any more. You are mine now and that is not what we do."
This is an example of "new creation". He wasn't just white washed, the change was internal. He was becoming that new man that scripture calls us to be.
Sustainability:
This is not possible without direct relational interaction between oneself and the body of believers as well as intimate time with God Himself. I have often heard it said by folks, "I don't need to go to church in order to believe in God." Truth is, no, you don't have to go to a church or belong to any organization in order to believe in God. If you faith, however, is going to have an impact on your life and thus on the lives of those around you, you best do something besides doing what you've been doing and at the same time spitting out "faith" from the sides of your mouth. Jesus prayed for us that His joy might be made complete in us. Yes, the only begotten Son wants us to know his joy fully in our lives. That is not a future wish for a time when the streets are all gold and the new heaven and earth appear. This joy is for now. For today.
Without being in relation with other believers, the weight of the world is likely to drag on back down after a time. Handling the world in your own strength gets tiring after a time. As we come into communion with God and each other, such as in sharing the Eucharist, we are filled and pouring out at the same time. This is what leads to sustainability. Too often we get caught up in the idea that we have to "pull ourselves up by the boot straps". This is absolutely the way of the world. It is not to be the way of us. We are called to not conform to this world any longer. We are called to be transformed by the renewal of our minds. Transformation into that new creation. The transformation will be sustained only when we are "plugged into the flow" of God's love, His mercy, and most especially His Holy Spirit. When we are operating and taking our spiritual sustenance from Him, He does the sustaining for us. This cannot take place in a vacuum. By vacuum, the reference is to isolation. Isolation of the self is a great method to find some peace so that you have the alone time with God, but, spend too much time there, and you quickly will find yourself out numbered by your history, by the "old self", by the temptations of the world, and feel free to add so many more things to this........
Are you a new creation? If not yet, then when will you allow that transformation to begin to take place.
Were you once a new creation but find that you aren't there any more? Then I will ask you this; what is your fellowship like? Do you spend more time with other practicing believers or with non believers/non practicing believers?
This is not an option. According to Jesus, unless this takes place within us, we will not see from heaven. (John 3)
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