A NEW CREATURE by John Nevins Andrews

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 14, 1881

A NEW CREATURE.

By John Nevins Andrews

[From Les Signes Des Temps.]

“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.

These words furnish a true test of every man’s character. From them we can learn whether we are Christians or not. They are not spoken of a particular class, but of all who are in Christ. If any man, whether Jew or Gentile, bond or free, rich or poor, noble or peasant, old or young, learned or ignorant, pastor or hearer of the word, if he says, any man be in Christ he is a new creature. And if he be not a new creature he is not in Christ.

What then is signified by the term new creature? This is sufficiently explained by the words which follow: “Old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.” What are the old things which have passed away, and what are the new things that have taken their place? The answer is not difficult. These persons who have become new creatures have put off the old man and put on the new man. Col. 3 : 9, 10. This is a great change. The old man with his deeds represents the evil passions of the natural heart. Col. 3 : 5–9. The new man represents Christ formed in us the hope of glory. Col. 3 : 10–14.

Let us consider the old man and his deeds. He is in rebellion against God. His will is not in submission to God, for he does not love the will of God. He loves his own way and is determined to follow it. The old man is selfish. He seeks his own advantage at the expense of others. He studies to promote his own interest without regard to the interest of his fellow-men. He tries to elevate himself by pulling them down.

He is neither honest nor truthful. Perhaps he would scorn to steal, or to tell a falsehood in a direct manner. But if he can take advantage of others in his business he is not slow to do it. If he can sell inferior articles as good ones he is glad to do it. When he works for others he is not always careful to fill up his time nor always attentive that all his work should be well done. He does not love his neighbor as himself.

In many things he does not govern his appetites and passions. The carnal mind that is enmity against God rules in his life. Rom. 8 : 6–8. His spirit is proud. He glories in his independence. He is envious. This is the disposition which makes a person unhappy when he sees others prosper. He is jealous. He imagines that he receives a thousand slights; and he thinks that the honors which are justly his due are withheld from him and given to others. He will not take reproof. He thinks it an insult to be told of his faults, and instead of laying reproof to heart he is very angry with the one who has reproved him. He does not love God nor his cause. He will not sacrifice for God, for his own worldly interests are dearer to him than is the cause of Christ. He will not confess his faults for that is beneath his dignity. So he dares to justify his evil acts though his excuses are really so many falsehoods.

The old man can never enter the kingdom of God. He must be put off with his deeds. The heart in which dwells this carnal mind must be circumcised. The new man must be put on. Our fallen nature must be renewed by the grace of God. We must be born again.

Let us examine the character of the new man. His will is lost in the will of God. He has given his heart to God. He seeks not to please himself but to do that which God approves. He says to God continually, “Thy will be done.” He no longer seeks his own interest but that of others. He will not advantage himself at their expense. If he sells any articles he gives good measure, and that which is at the bottom is as good as that at the top. If he sells sugar he puts no sand in it. If he sells milk it has no water in it. In all his business transactions he acts as though the eye of God was upon him, and thus he does to others as he would have them do to him.

He never seeks to rise by pulling down others. He delights in their prosperity, and finds no pleasure in taking from others to advantage himself. From real humility of heart he esteems others better than himself. He is not an eye servant. He knows that Christ is his master and that if he is guilty of any negligence as a servant Christ regards it as done to himself.

If he has others in his employ he pays them just wages, and never takes advantage of their poverty to oppress them. He well knows that no injustice, nor oppression, nor dishonesty, nor falsehood can have place in the kingdom of God.

He governs his passions. He keeps under his body and brings it into subjection. He has crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. He knows that he is always in danger of self-deception. He therefore regards reproof as salutary for his soul. He does not become angry with the reprover, but seeks to know the real condition of his soul. He is not made unhappy by the prosperity of others even though he does not himself prosper.

He has that charity that thinks no evil, and he therefore is not troubled with jealousy as though he was slighted and others honored in his place. He loves God with all his heart and he loves his neighbor as himself. Grace reigns within his heart. The spirit of God writes the tables of the law upon the fleshy tables of his heart. His body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Christ is his pattern. He gives proof that he is in Christ because old things in his case have passed away and all things become new. Impatience, fretfulness, evil speaking, anger, and strife have passed away. Love now reigns in this man’s breast so that he would lay down his life for others. The great work of conversion or of the new birth begins when we first come to Christ for pardon. It is a progressive work carried forward through all the period of Christian experience till we stand perfect in all the will of God. Does the reader profess to be in Christ? If so, have old things passed away and have all things become new? Those who have named the name of Christ must depart from all iniquity. And now if this great work is but partially accomplished is it actually progressing in the reader’s heart? We may profess to believe in Christ, but we are not in him unless this great change has made visible progress in us. Let us not be deceived, for the day of judgment will show that this error is fatal. Matt. 7 : 21–23.

J. N. A.

Southampton, England.