If anyone is in Christ — a brand new creation.
Paul doesn't say 'a better version.' He says new creation. Old is gone. New has come.
The episode in a glance.
- 01'In Christ' is Paul's shorthand for united with Jesus by faith.
- 02'New creation' uses the same word as Genesis 1 — a fresh act of God.
- 03'The old has passed away' — your old identity is no longer the defining one.
- 04This is news to receive, not a goal to achieve.
Read along.
'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.'
Paul doesn't say 'a renovated version.' He says new creation. Same Greek word used when God made the heavens and the earth. A fresh creative act.
The qualifier is 'in Christ' — Paul's favorite phrase. It means united with Jesus by faith, so that what's true of him becomes true of you.
And 'the old has passed away' is in the past tense for a reason. The version of you that was defined by your worst day, your shame, your past — that person no longer gets to set your identity.
If you've spent years trying to upgrade yourself and getting nowhere, hear this verse for what it is. You don't need to improve the old. You've been given something new.