A NEW CREATURE by Alonzo T. Jones

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Feb 3, 1914

"A NEW CREATURE"

By Alonzo T. Jones

"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.

A NEW creature! Such is every one who is in Christ. And such must every one become in order to enter the kingdom of God. Praise God for this, the greatest and most precious of all the possibilities within the reach of man.

The only way that man can become a new creature is, to be made new. The only power that can make him new is the creative power of Jesus Christ. And the only process revealed to man by which Christ will make him new is by death, burial, and re-creation.

THE DEATH

It is necessary to die in order that we may live. Jesus said, "Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." John 12:24. Said Paul, "When the commandment came, sin revived, and I died." Rom. 7:9. At another time he said, "I die daily." 1 Cor. 15:31.

This death is death to sin. Man is "carnal, sold under sin." Rom. 7:14. "The carnal mind is enmity against God." "It is not subject to the law of God," and it can not be. Rom. 8:7. The only remedy—the only means of deliverance from this bondage of sin—is death. "He that is dead is freed from sin." Rom. 6:7. To die to sin is to repent of sin. It is to abhor that which is evil. It is to crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts. Gal. 5:24.

THE BURIAL

When the old man of sin is dead, he must be buried. Therefore we are buried with Christ "by baptism into death." Rom. 6:4. This is truly a significant figure. Death and burial mark a radical change of condition and circumstances—a complete separation from the world.

The death and burial does more than to destroy our old man of sin. It unites us to Christ. "As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." Gal. 3:27. The act that buries the old man, and separates from the old life, resurrects the new man, and gives a new life. Says Paul, "We are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." Rom. 6:4.

THE RE-CREATION

"If any man is in Christ, there is a new creation." 2 Cor. 5:17, R.V., margin. He who is dead and buried with Christ is created anew in Christ. He is separated from that which is evil. He is blind and deaf to the allurements of the world. Though he is in the world, he is not of the world. That which he once hated has become his joy, and that which he once loved now gives him pain. He is dead to sin, and has put off the old man with his deeds. "Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Thus we die that we may live. We are buried that we may be raised to newness of life. We put off "the old man, which is corrupt," that we may "put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Eph. 4:22, 24. We are emptied of self, that we may be "filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God." Phil. 1:11. O, wondrous transformation!

This new creation is wrought by the creative power of Christ for the welfare of men and the honor of God. Paul says, "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them." Eph. 2:10, R.V. The good works that we are to perform are the works of righteousness—the fruits of the Spirit. These are said to be "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." Gal. 5:22, 23.

Reader, do you profess to be a new creature? Be of good cheer. Victory is yours. "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." Phil. 2:13.

A. G. D.