Lesson Description
In this lesson, we will discover what it means to become a new creation in Christ. We will learn that receiving eternal life is not simply about changing our outward behaviour; it is about receiving new life through our union with Jesus Christ. We will explore what the Bible says about our new identity and how this truth helps us understand who we are in Him.
1. What Is a New Creation?
The Bible teaches that when a person is in Christ, that person becomes a new creation. This means that through Jesus Christ, we receive new life and a new spiritual identity.
Being a new creation does not mean that our physical appearance changes or that we immediately become perfect in our behaviour. Rather, God has given us new life in Christ. We are no longer defined only by our past, our mistakes, or our former way of living.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
This verse teaches us that our identity in Christ is a new reality. We must learn to understand ourselves according to what God has accomplished through Jesus rather than allowing our past to determine how we see ourselves.
2. How Do We Become a New Creation?
We become a new creation through Jesus Christ, not through our own efforts to make ourselves acceptable to God.
Our good works, religious activities, and personal achievements cannot give us eternal life. Eternal life is God’s gift, received through faith in Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:8–9 (KJV)
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
We do not earn our new life by trying harder. We receive it by God’s grace through faith. As we grow in our understanding of this new life, we learn to live in a way that reflects what God has already done for us in Christ.
3. Does Becoming a New Creation Mean We Never Make Mistakes?
No. Becoming a new creation does not mean that a Christian will never make a mistake or struggle with wrong habits.
Our new identity in Christ and our growth in understanding and conduct are not the same thing. We have received new life, but we still need to learn, grow, renew our minds, and allow God’s Word to shape our thinking.
Romans 12:2 (KJV)
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Notice that Paul instructs believers to be transformed by the renewing of their minds. This shows the importance of learning God’s Word and allowing it to change how we think and live.
We should not confuse spiritual growth with earning a new identity. We grow because we have received life in Christ; we do not grow in order to persuade God to give us that life.
4. A Practical Example
Imagine someone who previously lived with guilt and believed that their past mistakes made them unworthy of God’s love. After believing the gospel, the person learns from Scripture that they have received new life in Christ.
They may still need to change certain habits and learn to think differently. However, instead of continually identifying themselves as a hopeless failure, they begin to understand their identity according to God’s Word.
They take responsibility for their actions, receive correction from Scripture, and continue growing in faith. Their past may be part of their story, but it does not have to define their identity in Christ.
This is one way the understanding of the new creation can influence everyday life.
5. How Should We Respond to This Truth?
We should believe what God says about our new life in Christ. We should stop treating our former identity as though nothing has changed, and we should learn to see ourselves through the truth of the gospel.
We should also remember that our identity is not an excuse to ignore wrongdoing. Instead, it gives us a new foundation from which to grow, learn, and live according to God’s Word.
As we study Scripture, we learn more about what God has done for us, who we are in Christ, and how this new life should be expressed in our daily conduct.
Remember
A new creation is a person who has received new life in Christ. This new identity is a gift of God’s grace, not a reward for good behaviour. We grow in our understanding and conduct as we learn God’s Word, but our new life is rooted in what God has accomplished through Jesus Christ.