 | Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! |
 | Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. |
 | Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. |
| 2 Corinthians 5:17 |
Commentary
in Christ: Paul is presenting the results of Christ's death for the believer and the believer's death with Him (v. 14). Because believers are united with Jesus both in His death and resurrection, they participate in the new creation. That is, they receive the benefits of being restored by Christ to what God had originally created them to be (Gen. 1:26; 1 Cor. 15:45-49).
All thingshave become new: A believer's life should change, because he or she is being transformed into the likeness of Christ (3:18). Instead of living for oneself, a believer lives for Christ (v. 15). Instead of evaluating others with the values of the world, a believer looks at this world through the eyes of faith (v. 16).
Did you know?
Moral reform is a frustrating and ultimately impossible task.Moralism aims at an unattainable goal: the improvement of society without any transformation of people's souls. The leopard cannot change his spots. Sinners cannot reform themselves. And therefore society as a whole cannot be truly reformed unless people are made new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
All thingshave become new: A believer's life should change, because he or she is being transformed into the likeness of Christ (3:18). Instead of living for oneself, a believer lives for Christ (v. 15). Instead of evaluating others with the values of the world, a believer looks at this world through the eyes of faith (v. 16).
Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (2 Co 5:17). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.
Did you know?
Moral reform is a frustrating and ultimately impossible task.Moralism aims at an unattainable goal: the improvement of society without any transformation of people's souls. The leopard cannot change his spots. Sinners cannot reform themselves. And therefore society as a whole cannot be truly reformed unless people are made new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
MacArthur, J. (2002). Can God bless America? : The Biblical pathway to blessing (87). Nashville: W Pub. Group.