Here is the verse:
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).
As always, we understand a verse better after we read the passages before and after it. In the previous chapter, Paul talks about his great hardships in preaching the gospel. For instance, he is cast down, but not destroyed, because of the power of God in him, and because of his faith in the resurrection. In chapter five he continues his theme of suffering, expressing confidence that when he dies he will get a new body. So a running theme is his willingness to experience suffering for the gospel work. And this theme continues from the beginning of chapter 2:17 in which Paul distances himself from those who are “peddling the gospel.” In other words, the sufferings Paul experiences is proof that he is sincere in his calling while the others are not; they are doing it, perhaps, merely for money.
He works hard because he and those who heard him will stand before the judgment seat of God (5:9). If he seems to be out of his mind for taking this road of suffering for the gospel (5:13), know that he does it for the love of God (5:14); and he reasons that because he died with Christ he should live only for Him (5:15). So he no longer sees people the way he used to (5:16) but sees them as people who are lost and who need to get ready for the judgment seat. He concludes that those who are in Christ, who are a new creation, have this same outlook as his does (5:17, a new creation in Christ) – the old way of looking at people has completely changed and we gladly sacrifice for them.
Because of his “new creation” status, Paul is an ambassador for Christ, and tells the Corinthian church to be reconciled to Christ (5:18-20). He is enthusiastically following in Christ’s own footsteps, whose work is reconciling all people to God (5:19).
According this context, the “new creation” person does not see others the way he used to, but sees himself and others as those who need to get ready for Christ’s return. The “things” that have passed away and “things” that have become new are the same “things”: our outlook toward people. For instance, we may have been lonely and kept company with others because they made us happy. That perspective has passed away and now we see the same people in a new light; God has transformed us to see a higher plan for our lives, as ambassadors for Christ, to help them prepare for judgment day.
What do you think?
a. If you read the “new creation” in Christ verse (5:17) by itself, would you still have come up with the meaning in the article? Why or why not?
b. Does your perspective of others match Paul’s? Why or why not? If not, how do you get there?
c. Paul proved he was a new creation in Christ because he accepted is suffering for others as normal and necessary to win them to Christ. What is your view on this type of suffering?
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