RENEWED

"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!" - 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17

The apostle Paul loved to talk about being in Christ. He addressed this idea more than 160 times in his letters, which have been preserved as books in the New Testament. The theme of unity with Christ is so prevalent and the reality is so transformative that it would be reasonable to say it sums up the Christian life.

Nothing is more important than your relationship with God through faith in Christ. It changes everything. More precisely, He changes everything. In a vision of our future home given to John the disciple, Jesus announced from His eternal throne:

Look, I am making everything new. - REVELATION 21:5

This pronouncement shouldn’t surprise us. John’s Gospel tells us:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. - JOHN 1:1-3

Notice that John didn’t say Jesus will make all new things. He said Jesus will make all things new. Jesus is renewing His creation. Paul described the renewal of your identity as being conformed to the image of Christ (see Rom. 8:29). God created all things through Jesus in the beginning. Jesus will make all things new again in the end.

Read John 3:16-18. How do you become a new creation and receive eternal life in Christ?

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Jesus provides renewal at the cross. The night before He was crucified, He gathered John and the other disciples to celebrate Passover. During the Passover meal Jews (the people of Israel) remembered God’s act of salvation from their slavery in Egypt.

[Jesus] took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” - 1 CORINTHIANS 11:25

Telling His disciples to remember Him meant that He was God and was about to deliver His people from a greater slavery than Egypt, with more precious blood than a Passover lamb. When you’re saved by believing in Jesus, you enter the new covenant.

Read Jeremiah 31:31-34. Describe five benefits of the new covenant in Christ.

1. It won’t be __________ (v. 32).

2. The Lord will put __________ and write it __________ (v. 33).

3. The Lord will be __________ and we will be __________ (v. 33).

4. We will __________ (v. 34).

5. He will __________ and never __________ (v. 34).

Conclude today’s study by remembering that who you are is defined by whose you are. When you’re in Christ, you’re part of the new covenant. You have a new spirit that replaces what was broken by sin and leads you to love and serve the Lord. Thank God now for your new heart, new spirit, and new identity in Christ. Use the following Scripture as a guide.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. - EZEKIEL 36:26