All Things Made New!

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Cor 5:17 KJV)

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1 John 2:16 KJV)


What do we most pride ourseleves on? How do we attempt to establish our identity? What do we think is special about ourselves?

These areas can be more harmful than we realise.

If we think there is even one thing in us that justifies the favour of God on our lives, we are deceived.

In Christ we need to surrender our entire identity. There is nothing we are to treasure and hold on to in our life. Our identity must be fluid in God's hands.

Other people will probably laugh, but I want to be thought of as reliably consistent, sincere, genuine, real, truthful. Those things are good, for sure. However, if I think they are part of me outside of the transformation of God, then I am in trouble. The virtues may seem to be there, but they will be shallow, clumsy imitations of the beautiful real thing in Christ. Enough pressure of circumstance and they will evapourate.

Peter imagined himself to be unchangeably courageous. Jesus could see that he would have to be shown otherwise. This was for Peter a breaking of his natural self-belief. This is one thing that must happen if we are to realise the power of the cross in our lives.

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing:  (Rom 7:18a KJV)


The Corinthians verse tells us that we are new in all things. Not just the ones which we can see desperately need change.

If we see the need, the grace will be there to put on the new.