Christ Makes Men New

MEMORY VERSE: “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” —II Corinthians 5:17

JOHN 1:9, 13

THE title of our lesson could indicate that Christ’s mission in the earth is to make all men new, but this is not what the Bible teaches. The only ones made new within the sense of the scriptures cited are those who come into Christ through a death baptism, and these become “new creatures,” as our memory verse states. However, this high honor is not offered to all men, but only to those who respond to the Gospel message and yield themselves in obedience to it.

The first section of our lesson informs us that Christ “was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (vs. 9) This might seem to be in contradiction to the thought that the privilege of becoming new creatures in Christ Jesus is limited to comparatively few, “a little flock,” as Jesus describes them, to whom it is the Father’s good pleasure to make joint-heirs with Jesus in the promised messianic kingdom.

Jesus will eventually enlighten every man that cometh into the world. It is those who receive the light during the present Gospel era who become new creatures; but in the age to come, when all mankind is enlightened, those who believe and obey, instead of becoming new creatures, will be restored to the original perfection of the human nature, whereas the new creatures of the present age will be exalted to spirit nature in the resurrection, and will live and reign with Christ as divine beings.—I John 3:1-3

These are the “sons of God” referred to in John 1:11-13, which reads, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born [begotten] not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

This promise actually began to be fulfilled at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon the waiting disciples, who had accepted Jesus. These were begotten to a new life through God’s Spirit, and this became true of all consecrated believers from then on, both Jews and Gentiles. During his ministry not many of the Israelites—Jesus’ own people—believed on him, but quite a few did at Pentecost, and what high honor came to these!

EPHESIANS 2:1-10

Verse 1 of this section of the lesson reads, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” Instead of the word “quickened,” the Revised Standard Version reads “made alive.” As new creatures in Christ Jesus we are made alive on the basis of faith, and if faithful unto death in following in the footsteps of Jesus we will receive actual life—“glory, and honor, and immortality”—in the resurrection.

Upon the basis of faith we are also now raised up “together” “in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” If we are faithful in sacrifice this also will be translated into reality in the resurrection. One of the purposes of this is “that in the ages to come he [God] might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”—vss. 6,7

To this Paul adds, “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” We are saved through our faith in God’s grace; that wondrous grace that was manifested in the gift of his dear Son to be our Redeemer and Savior.—vss. 8,9

“Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.” (vss. 9,10) Here we are reminded that the true followers of Jesus are a new creation. “created … unto good works” To these, all things have become new, and these “all things,” Paul explains, are of God, “who hath reconciled us unto himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.”—II Cor. 5:18

The Lord wants us to be faithful to this “ministry of reconciliation” This is another way of bidding us to be faithful in the work of the Gospel.

QUESTIONS

Is it the plan of God to make new creatures of the whole world of mankind?

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