In Christ, a New Creation

Day By Day By Grace

Bob Hoekstra

March 31, 2010

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails
anything, but a new creation. (Galatians 6:15)

In the relationship we have with the Lord through the new covenant of
grace, there is intimacy, fullness of life, spiritual victory, and so
much more. These blessings (not available to those who are related to
Adam) are aspects of the new life that comes to new creatures "in
Christ."

"In Christ," everything is so different from how it was "in Adam." The
family of man, having only natural life from Adam, puts great
significance in human heritage or personal inclinations. Whether a
person is a Jew or a Gentile can be of enormous consequence to many
among the unredeemed community. Whether a person is religiously
inclined or secularly motivated avails much with many unsaved people.
On the other hand, those who have been brought into union with Christ
can learn that God's perspective on such matters is vastly different.
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails
anything."

In the kingdom of heaven, these distinctives among the sons of Adam
mean nothing. Human differences do not cause the work of God or the
will of God to be advanced or prevented. They avail nothing. What
matters for all who are "in Christ Jesus" is not a "human category,"
"but a new creation."

When we come to know Christ by grace through faith, He gives us new
birth. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again" (1 Peter 1:3).
We are created anew. We become a new spiritual being before the Lord.
We have "put on the new man" (Colossians 3:10). In this heavenly
kingdom of new men and women, "there is neither Greek nor Jew,
circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but
Christ is all and in all" (Colossians 3:11). All that ultimately
matters is that the Lord Jesus Christ dwells in all of His people, and
He wants to be all that they will ever need. All that matters is that
the Spirit of Christ is the living water that we have begun to partake
of and that He makes us one. "For by one Spirit we were all baptized
into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have
all been made to drink into one Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:13). Any
person in any human category who will cry out to the Lord in faith can
experience this richness. "For there is no distinction between Jew and
Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him"
(Romans 10:12).

Dear Lord, giver of new life, my heart celebrates the wondrous fact
that I am a new creation in Christ. I am delighted that my old human
categories could not prevent Your work of grace toward me. I praise You
for the richness of Your grace, Amen.