New Beginnings
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Key Verse: “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Selected Scripture: |
REASONING UPON THE beautiful doctrine of the ransom, should draw all of us to a greater appreciation and love of God, and a desire to show our gratitude to him by serving him to the best of our ability each day of our lives. Our lesson today lays emphasis to this matter. The Apostle Paul correctly reasoned that if indeed one (Jesus) “died for all” as a ransom, then it must have been true that all were counted as “dead.” Recognizing this fact, those who now have gained life as a result of that redemptive work should live with the purpose of serving him who “died for them.” (II Cor. 5:14,15) Our lesson continues with the further thought that since all of fallen man has been purchased with the blood of Jesus, we should view them, as well as Jesus, from a new perspective. First, we should see man now as a product of God’s grace, and that all will gain the full benefits of the ransom “in due time.” (I Tim. 2:6) Second, we should view Jesus no longer as a man, but as the glorified Christ, exalted to the right hand of God. Citing Paul’s words to this effect, “Henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.”—II Cor. 5:16
Paul, in the Key Verse, especially addresses those of mankind purchased by Jesus who, in advance of the world in general, specially recognize what has been done on their behalf. They have a desire to be ‘in Christ.’ That is, they desire to develop a character likeness to his, realizing that such a character is pleasing and acceptable to God. They desire to think, speak, and act in as full accord as possible with the example set by Jesus, and want to do the will of God in every circumstance of life, just as Jesus did. Prophetically it was spoken of Jesus’ desire, “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” (Ps. 40:8) One who strives to emulate these sentiments of Jesus, Paul says in the Key Verse, ‘is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.’ We are New Creatures in the sense that all our goals, aims, and ambitions are now centered in doing the will of God and developing the character of Christ. The former desires of worldly gain, earthly ambition, and all the other generally fallen tendencies of the flesh are reckoned as dead by God, and are to be constantly kept under control of the new mind, the new will, the New Creature.
Those, who have thus consecrated themselves to God and are New Creatures in Christ Jesus, have the wonderful privilege of being ministers of reconciliation—messengers of a future hope—to the rest of the world. “God … hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; … and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” (II Cor. 5:18,19) This current work of ‘reconciliation’ that Christ’s footstep followers are engaged in, is preparatory to the greater work of reconciliation in the kingdom, when all mankind will be given the opportunity to attain perfect life here upon the earth. Christ and his church, those faithful New Creatures, will be the heavenly rulers of that kingdom, the promised seed which will bless “all the families of the earth.”—Gen. 28:14