Tag: 2 Corinthians 5:17

The Change That Comes With Faith

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AMY TURNER

When a person puts their trust in Christ, something real takes place within them. The outside may look the same, but the inside has been made new. The Bible teaches that in Christ, the old self is left behind and a new life begins. This does not mean that temptations disappear or that old struggles instantly vanish. It means that a different kind of life now exists, one that is guided by the Spirit instead of by darkness.

Through Christ, believers gain new strength and new desires that influence the way they think, speak, and act. What was once impossible, things such as growing in faith and maturity, are now possible because of His presence.

This change is not yet complete. There will come a time when the work of renewal is seen fully. Scripture reminds us that when Christ returns, His people will finally be like Him, free from the brokenness of the past and complete in His likeness. Until then, Christians live in the assurance that they are already made new, even while they continue to grow.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

2 Corinthians 5:17

The Need for a New Heart

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AMY TURNER

In the book of Ezekiel, God promises to replace a heart of stone with a heart of flesh. This picture shows the need for deep change INSIDE every person.

In 1967, Dr. Christian Barnard carried out the first human heart transplant. At the time, it was considered an extraordinary step in medicine. Today such operations are more common, but they still remind us that some conditions cannot be treated with medicine, diet, or lifestyle alone. When the heart is too damaged, the only option is replacement.

The Bible explains that all people are born with hearts that are not spiritually healthy. At first, the signs may not be obvious, but with time the evidence shows. Human effort cannot cure this condition. Only God can provide the new heart that is needed for real life.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Becoming a New Creation in Christ

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FLOYD ROGERS

Paul spoke of being “crucified with Christ,” meaning his old life was gone, and he now lived a new one through Jesus. He explained that when a person follows Christ, they become a new creation, no longer controlled by their past ways. The Spirit of God now lives within them, offering strength to resist sin.

Paul believed that as long as he stayed firmly rooted in faith, depending on what Jesus did on the cross, sin might still attempt to tempt him, but it would not win. His victory came not from personal strength, but from trusting in the power of the cross each day.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Transforming Lives: The Impact of Faith in Christ

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FLOYD ROGERS

The apostle Paul spoke of a powerful change that happened in his life when he met Jesus Christ. He explained it by saying that he had been “crucified with Christ.” I understand this to mean that when Christ entered his heart, Paul left behind his old way of living. His past life was gone, and he began a new journey.

In the book of Romans, Paul wrote that just as Christ was buried and rose again, he too rose to live a new life. Though his physical body stayed the same, everything inside him was made new — a new spirit, a new purpose, and a new relationship with God.

What truly changed was that Christ now lived within him. When a person allows Christ to work within them, it transforms every part of life. It affects how we think, how we feel, and how we understand right and wrong. Even our sense of God’s presence grows stronger. This inward change can even touch our physical well-being, showing how deeply connected we are in body, mind, and spirit.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

2 Corinthians 5:17