Tag: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Being born of water and the spirit points back to Ezekiel’s new covenant promise

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

When Jesus tells Nicodemus in John 3 that he must be born again, and that entry into God’s kingdom requires being born of water and the spirit, the meaning has been misunderstood in more than one way over the years. Some have suggested the water refers to physical birth, while others have connected it to baptism paired with an internal spiritual rebirth. Neither interpretation fits the context of the conversation, and Nicodemus would not have understood either meaning from the words Jesus used.

The correct background lies in Ezekiel 36, a passage familiar to a teacher of Israel like Nicodemus. That Old Testament prophecy describes God removing a heart of stone, replacing it with a heart of flesh, and placing his own spirit within his people as part of the new covenant. Jesus draws directly on this imagery, explaining spiritual rebirth in terms Nicodemus should have already recognized from his knowledge of scripture rather than introducing an entirely new concept.

 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

From caterpillar to something entirely new

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

A caterpillar is not an impressive creature. It inches along the ground, unremarkable in appearance, carrying no hint of the glory that lies dormant within it. And yet, after a season of waiting inside the chrysalis, something extraordinary occurs. The creature that emerges bears no resemblance to the one that entered. It has wings. It has colour. It has been, in the most literal sense, made into something new.

This is precisely the image the scripture uses for what happens when a person comes to Christ. The change is not cosmetic. It is not a resolution to try harder or behave better. It is a transformation at the level of the soul itself.

When that transformation takes place, it touches everything. The direction of a person’s life changes. The attitudes that once governed their thinking begin to shift. Love, which may have been foreign or forced before, begins to arise naturally and take up residence. The person who returns home after encountering Christ is genuinely different. The same is true in their community, in their workplace, in every sphere where they move.

The scripture puts it plainly in 2 Corinthians 5:17: if anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creation. The old has gone. The new has come. This is not a metaphor for improvement. It is a declaration of rebirth.

The same invitation that has transformed countless lives across the centuries stands open to you today.

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

Understanding sin in the Christian life

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JEFF TURNER

When Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth, he addressed problems of fighting and jealousy among them. He told them they were acting in a fleshly way. Some readers have taken this to mean there are two types of Christians. They think some believers are spiritual while others are carnal Christians who are saved but don’t grow spiritually. I think this understanding misses Paul’s actual message.

The word carnal simply means sinful. The root of the word is the same as flesh. It describes an action, not a permanent state. When someone says they are a carnal Christian, they are really saying they are a sinning Christian, as if this were an acceptable identity. This contradicts the basic meaning of Christianity itself. Jesus came to save people from their sins. This includes both the punishment that sin brings and the control that sin has over a person’s life.

When someone becomes a Christian, sin no longer has power over them. They have been set free from its grip. However, Christians still commit sinful acts because they live in bodies that are not yet fully redeemed. Believers have a new nature inside an old body. They are waiting for the day when Christ returns and their bodies are made new. Until then, Christians will sometimes think and act in sinful ways because of the old nature that remains.

The answer is not to accept sin as normal. Instead, Christians should recognize their sins, turn away from them, and receive the forgiveness God offers.

Everything Made New Again

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AMY TURNER

In the book of Revelation, we find a promise that God is bringing renewal to all things. Everything broken or worn out will one day be restored. This renewal is not only about the world around us but also about the lives we live and the relationships we hold. When we look closely, we can see many areas that need change, healing, or forgiveness.

The words from Scripture remind us that God is not creating a whole new world from nothing. Instead, He is taking what already exists and renewing it through His grace. I believe the goal is not to replace, but to restore; that is, to make things as they were meant to be.

Consider what this promise means for our personal lives. Each person can look inward and see where growth or renewal is needed. Through the love and mercy of God, these parts of life can be made new. The process may take time, but the promise is certain. One day, everything will be the way God first intended when He looked at creation and called it “very good.”

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 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