We all died in Christ. Now, the only thing left to do is be born again! Sin is dead; now we get to be dead to sin.

9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?
4 Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids.
23 For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and correction [repentance] and instruction [in the way of the Lord] are the way to life.

We continue this morning with our look at 2 Corinthians 5:11-21, specifically verses 16-17.

Allegorically, we are in a dungeon because of Adam’s sin. Chains are around our wrists and ankles, but the door is now standing wide open because Jesus opened all the doors to our cells when He died on the cross as He our Representative, the New Adam (Romans 5:15). Everyone is “dead” to the sentence that holds us in the cell. Since everyone on earth is dead concerning sin because of Christ’s death, we all need now is a resurrection. Fortunately, Christ has also provided that for us, too. Paul tells us in Romans 6:4,

⁴ We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Jesus said, “You must be born again. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit” John 3:3, 6. We all must come to Jesus for life. He offers it to us freely if we will just respond to Him. He does the rest:

1. He picks us up from our position outside of the Father and places us beside Him;
2. He breathes new life into us by placing His Spirit in us;
3. He restores us spiritually, mentally/emotionally, and, in many ways, physically;
4. He places the ring of sonship on our finger (ladies, you, too) and gives us the robe and sandals of sonship;
5. He signs adoption papers and gives us a throne near His!

In our dungeon allegory, Christ comes to us and says, “Arise!” The chains fall off our hands and feet, we take His hand and get up, and walk right out of that cell (it’s actually a grave).

Paul continues,

¹⁶ So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 

Paul gives a little insight into his past. He had regarded Christ as just a man who was leading his nation astray, but now He views Him as his “great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). Nor does he regard people from his former point of view, but now as potential brothers and sisters in Christ. We should, too. In fact, we should view our spiritual brothers and sisters in Christ as new creations, not holding their past against them nor allowing ourselves to judge them according to their past. “The old has gone, the new is here!”

Anyone can now respond to Christ, and everyone’s invited. All they need is an invitation, which we will cover tomorrow.

Abba, thank You for making me a new creation in Christ. My old desires and perspectives are gone and now I see things from Your perspective (at least, that’s what I am working to attain). May You and I work together to make me more like You. I would like that very much! Amen.