Newness of Life
“If anyone be in Christ he or she is a new creation old things are past away behold all things have become new.” - 2 Corinthians 5:17
Perhaps Paul emphasized forgiveness in 2 Corinthians because he knew believers would struggle with letting go of the past and moving on from the hurt and trauma that haunts their lives. He anticipated that they would struggle living and walking in the newness of life. To be a Christian means to be a new creation, right?
Fundamentally that's what it means to be a new creation in Christ. The verse above says just that. ‘As a new creation, old things pass away, and behold the new things to come’. If that is true, we have been redeemed by Christ’s blood and saved by the grace of God. Why then does the bitterness, resentment, and downright indignation continue to invade the recesses of our minds and make it so difficult to let it go?
If we are new creation in Christ, why does the pain feel as if it just happened yesterday, and why are we still holding on to the moments and memories of who violated us and what they did wrong? There’s no question about it; forgiveness is difficult. The great social reformer, Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
If you are follower of Christ, He has made you anew. Therefore, you have been given the newness of life. This is a gift that allows you to let go of anything and everything bad that has happened to you. You can choose forgiveness and, in so doing, choose God’s way. If you do so, and remain obedient to God, He will heal you; and not only will you feel peace about the situation, but Christ will wipe your slate clean. He says in 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Forgiveness as an act of obedience comes with many blessings. You can expect peace and you can expect forgiveness for your shortcomings as well.
Perhaps Paul emphasized forgiveness in 2 Corinthians because he knew believers would struggle with letting go of the past and moving on from the hurt and trauma that haunts their lives. He anticipated that they would struggle living and walking in the newness of life. To be a Christian means to be a new creation, right?
Fundamentally that's what it means to be a new creation in Christ. The verse above says just that. ‘As a new creation, old things pass away, and behold the new things to come’. If that is true, we have been redeemed by Christ’s blood and saved by the grace of God. Why then does the bitterness, resentment, and downright indignation continue to invade the recesses of our minds and make it so difficult to let it go?
If we are new creation in Christ, why does the pain feel as if it just happened yesterday, and why are we still holding on to the moments and memories of who violated us and what they did wrong? There’s no question about it; forgiveness is difficult. The great social reformer, Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
If you are follower of Christ, He has made you anew. Therefore, you have been given the newness of life. This is a gift that allows you to let go of anything and everything bad that has happened to you. You can choose forgiveness and, in so doing, choose God’s way. If you do so, and remain obedient to God, He will heal you; and not only will you feel peace about the situation, but Christ will wipe your slate clean. He says in 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Forgiveness as an act of obedience comes with many blessings. You can expect peace and you can expect forgiveness for your shortcomings as well.
Subscribe Now for Free Daily Devotions
Recent
Archive
2025
January
Plenty of RoomThankful for Your SeatWho God Invites to the TableThat’s the PointWe Do Not Have a Monopoly on GodStop Talking So LoudLet God Handle the Guest ListA Long-Awaited ReunionSeeing Jesus for YourselfIn Possession of a Personal PromiseGet in the Right PositionReady to ReceiveAligning Your Life for God's PromiseWaiting with ExpectancyGrounded in PrayerStrength in PrayerPatience Through PrayerStay Focused Through PrayerGod's Conditional PromisesGod’s PriorityGrounded in FaithTrusting God's TimingThe Assurance of God's PromisesIs It Well With Your Soul?Health vs. HealingStewarding Your BodyA Holistic View of SpiritualityGod Cares About Your BodyWhat You Put in MattersNourishing Your SoulThe Power of Prevention
February
The Power of a ComebackHealing from the PastStop Blaming and Start TrustingBury the Past to Claim the FutureFacing Trauma with TruthCelebrate That You SurvivedRepair What is BrokenNothing God Can’t FixDon’t Swing at Bad PitchesStick to God’s PlanDon’t Let Desperation Drive YouShift Your WeightWho Knows Best?A Good Idea Isn’t Always a God IdeaPeace in God’s PlanFinding Purpose in God’s PlanProsperity in God’s PlanTrusting God’s Plan, Pace, and ProcessKnowing When to PivotGod Hasn’t Given Up on YouNext-Level Faith Requires PerseveranceA New Revelation of GodIt’s Not All About YouNext-Level ConnectionsNext-Level CommitmentA Prayer That Moves GodPrayers That Carry a BurdenPray With Boldness
March
A Solid FoundationPositioned for BlessingMarked by LoveTrust God's JudgmentRest in God's DeliveranceLet Go of ControlWhat You Want MostWhy Church Still MattersFaith in the Midst of DisappointmentJoy for the JourneyA Place of SafetyStrength in CommunityPeace in the ChaosThe Purpose of the ValleySeasons ChangeUnshaken in the StormHold OnThe Power of ResilienceNever AloneGod Is Closer Than You ThinkLet Go of WorryLet Go of WorryBelieve Before You SeeResilient FaithHow to Be a Success God's WayTrue Success Starts with the SoulSuccess Through SurrenderCharacter That Speaks for ItselfThe Power of Being RealKeep GrowingSuccess in the Face of Opposition
No Comments