There is a Bible text which I have remembered well since my teens in Schweizer-Reneke. It is: 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 King James version). At my confirmation of faith in 1959, our beloved reverend, Rev. Pieter gave the text to me.
The word “creature” is also translated as “creation” (English Strandard Version), or “being” (Good News Bible). Paul himself could testify that this text became true in his life. He changed from a persecutor of Jesus to a persecuted of Jesus. What Paul writes here confirms what Jesus said: “No one can see the Kingdom of God without being born again … no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit (John 3:3 – 5). Jesus speaks here of the “birth” of a whole new person through the Spirit of God, someone who will bear the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self-control (Gal. 5:22 – 23)..
Paul writes to the believers: For since we have become one with him in dying as he did, in the same way we shall be one with him by being raised to life as he was. And we know that our old being has been put to death with Christ on his cross, in order that the power of the sinful self might be destroyed, so that we should no longer be the slaves of sin. For when we die, we are set free from the power of sin. Since we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him (Rom. 6:5-8). Also: You have died with Christ (Col. 2:20). On the cross, Paul teaches us here, Jesus has already paid for all our sins, as completely as if all of us were at the cross ourselves, were crucified ourselves, paid for all our sins ourselves, and rose with Him. Paul also writes: you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator (Col 3:9 and10).
Everyone who wants to receive the Kingdom of God must be “born” again, become a new person. We must start all over as people who know that we receive everything from the hand of the Father, just as a child depends for everything on its father and mother or other caregivers. When we accept Jesus as our Saviour, He comes to live in us through the Holy Spirit to make us new and lead us into the new life in Christ. People will then see that you are a Christian in everything you do every day, such as how you treat people, what you say to them and about them, how you testify to the love of God in your own life, etc.
I have already written about Chris and Riaan who belonged to a gang and were in prison for murder and rape and now testify to their salvation on a bus and train. Also about David Berkowitz who committed six murders and after his conversion testifies and preaches to people in prison. There are many, many examples of people in whose lives the words of 2 Cor. 5:17 have become true dramatically. It is important that we ask ourselves: Am I a new creature, a new person in Christ?
Our Heavenly Father, thank you for your children who testify how you have changed their lives. Amen.
