Go back with me if you would
to 2 Corinthians 5. We've been in this chapter all
day. And I have enjoyed it all day.
I hate to go to chapter 6. I know it will be wonderful,
but I have enjoyed it. We ended the message this morning
here with verse 17 and we'll read it again. It says, therefore,
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are
passed away. Behold, all things are become
new. I want us to look a little deeper
into this. into this verse. And I want us to answer the question,
what is a new creature? What is a new creature? He begins
by saying, therefore, if any man be in Christ. Now, before
we get into this, I want to acknowledge that if any man be out of Christ. How horrible. If any man be out
of Christ. He said back in verse 10 that
we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. Isn't that what he said? We must
all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. And if any man
be out of Christ, let the warning go out again. Let it go out again. Sound the siren again. If any
man be out of Christ, he is going to be judged by Christ. Judged,
covered in his own sin. He is going to be standing there
still in his own sin. Still covered in his own sin.
Look with me at Romans chapter 2. Romans 2 verse 16 says, In the
day when God shall judge the secrets of men. He is going to
judge these secret things. We all have secrets. All men
have secrets. And God is going to judge the
secrets of men by Jesus Christ. He is going to do it by Jesus
Christ according to my Gospel. Look with me at Acts chapter
17. Acts 17 verse 31 says, Because
he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world
in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained, whereof
he hath given assurance unto all men in that He hath raised
Him from the dead. The very one that God raised
from the dead. The one that He raised from dying
for the sins of His people. He died paying the debt of that
sin. The very one that God raised
from the dead is going to be the very one who will judge every
soul that's not in Him. Every soul that was not buried
in Him. If a man is outside of Christ,
oh, I don't want to be outside of Christ. I don't want to be
outside of Christ. I want to leave this world having
attained one thing, Lord, let me be in Christ. No matter what,
let me be in Christ. I have to be in Christ. I have
to be. The greatest and the clearest
warning that I believe we have been given of the horror of being
found outside of Christ is Noah's Ark. I believe that's the clearest
horror of the judgment of being found outside of Christ. Every
soul on this earth, God rained down on it. Every single one. Noah and his family were rained
down on. Just like everybody else. God
judged them just like everybody else. They received the same
judgment everybody else received. But they were in the ark. They were in the ark. They were
saved because they were hidden inside the ark. And the ark took
that judgment for them. And that ark is Christ. Now,
go with me back to the text. 2 Corinthians 5. Verse 17 says, Therefore, if
any man be in Christ, not only is he saved, it says he is a
new creature. There's no salvation outside
of Christ. There's none. No salvation outside
of Him. We must be in Him. We're going
to be judged or damned. based on whether or not we're
in Christ or out of Christ. If any man be in Christ, and
this is what he said, seek while he may be found. Seek while he
may be found. He said ask, you will receive. He said knock, it will be open
to you. Back in verse 11, Paul said we
persuade men of these things. We persuade, we all know This
sinful flesh can't persuade anybody to do anything. This sinful flesh
can't persuade people to be saved. I'm going to preach hell, fire,
and brimstone to people until they're convinced to be saved.
That's impossible. This sinful flesh cannot convince
itself to be saved. cannot persuade itself to be
saved, but if God's Holy Spirit persuades, you just declare the
truth, and if God's Spirit persuades, then we're going to be persuaded.
We are going to be persuaded through the preaching of the
gospel. If God says, and I wish He would, I wish He'd say it
to me. If God says, seek ye my face, Isn't it wonderful when
he does that? Seek ye my face. If God says,
seek ye my face, our hearts will cry, thy face, Lord, will I seek. If God's Spirit persuades, we
will be persuaded. So here's the truth of the matter.
If any man be in Christ, God put him there. We said that this
morning. We quoted 1 Corinthians 1.30.
Turn over and look at it with me. 1 Corinthians 1. 1 Corinthians 1 verse 30 says,
But of Him are you in Christ Jesus. who of God is made unto
us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. That according as it is written,
he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. And that is a little clue to what we're about
to look into. Of God are we in Christ and He is our Savior.
Wisdom, our righteousness, our sanctification, our redemption.
All those things, that if any man glory, let him glory in the
Lord. How does a sinner get in Christ? God puts him there. It's of God. Okay, now, with
all that being said, go back to the text. 2 Corinthians 5 verse 17 says, If any man be in Christ, he is
a new creature. What is a new creature? What
is a new creature? Well, if you have that center
reference, don't turn to it, but you see Romans 6 verse 4. Do you see that next to a new
creature? That tells us over in Romans 6 verse 4, it tells
us that we are buried by immersion into His death. Buried by baptism,
by immersion into His death. And it says just like He was
raised from the dead to eternal life, So we also should walk
in newness of life, newness, a new creature, newness of life. We should walk in newness of
life. Our Lord told Nicodemus, you
must be born again. a new creation. He said, that
which is flesh is flesh, that which is spirit is spirit. Marvel
not that I say unto you, you must be born again, a brand new
creature. Ephesians 2 verse 8, 8, 9, and
10, they say, for by grace are you saved through faith, and
that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works,
lest any man should boast, for we are his workmanship created
in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained
that we should walk in them. David said, create in me a clean
heart. Now, if I'm not making myself
clear, here's where I've been so far. We should walk in newness
of life. We are created unto good works. I do want a clean heart. We must be born again. All of
this is so, but there's another reference right here for a new
creature, and it's Galatians 6. Turn with me over to Galatians
6. Galatians 6 verse 15, For in Christ Jesus, alright,
now if any man be in Christ, this says, In Christ Jesus neither
circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new
creature. in Christ, if any man be in Christ. In Christ neither circumcision
availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." God, His
command of circumcision is all through His law. It's very clear
in His law, right? He commanded circumcision. This verse is in perfect agreement
with all the verses I just quoted, Ephesians 2. Perfect agreement
with all the verses that I just quoted. But this right here says,
in Christ Jesus, if a man is circumcised, it doesn't mean
anything. And if a man is uncircumcised,
it doesn't mean anything. And the reason is because there's
a new creature there. In Christ, it doesn't matter
if a man is circumcised, it doesn't mean anything. It doesn't matter
if a man is uncircumcised, it doesn't mean anything. And the
reason is because there is a new creature there. Now what does
that mean? What is a new creature? In order
to explain it, okay? Here's the explanation. I want
to begin explaining it with something I heard a man bring out. This
is too good not to repeat it. This right here is just too clear. This is too, this was a revelation
to me. This is just too, too clearly
put for me to not repeat it and begin the explanation this way,
okay? He gave five things that a new creature is not, and I
was so glad to hear these. I was so glad to hear these.
Five things that a new creature is not. What is a new creature? Five things he's not first. Number
one, a new creature is not a good outward show. A new creature is not a good
outward show. He said Judas had that. Now, Judas had all the apostles
fooled. I mean fooled, God's men. Had
all of them fooled with his outward show. They all agreed that he
should be the one to be in charge of the money. Only, only apostle
that had, other than the office of the apostle, the only apostle
who had an office. He was the treasurer. All right,
now, I'm sorry to bring attention, but we have a treasurer. Okay,
we have a man here who handles our money. He holds the checkbook.
The reason he holds the checkbook is because we all agree that
he is the right man for the job. We do, don't we? We all are confident
We believe He's not going to steal from us. Isn't that right? If we thought that, would He
be holding the checkbook? No. We believe He is not going
to steal from this congregation. We give and we trust Him. We trust the God who is in control
of Him. But humanly speaking, we trust
you. Isn't that right? We believe
he is the right man for the job. That was Judas. That was Judas. Judas stood out. He stood out. All the apostles agreed. Don't
give the money to Thomas. He doesn't have enough faith.
He just doesn't have enough faith. It takes a lot of faith to handle
this. Thomas is not the man. Don't give the money to Peter.
He's too hot-headed. He's too quick-decisioned. He's
not the man for the job. Well, okay. Fellows, apostles,
who is the man for the job? Well, let's see. OK, based on
character. And based on faithfulness. Judas. I think it needs to be Judas. And he was not a new creature. He was not a new creature. So
a good outward show is not the evidence of being a new creature. All right. Number two, a new
creature is not. The old man reformed, changed. Restrained from doing the things
he used to do, not openly sinning like he used to, you know, well,
I don't do this and I don't do this. That was the Pharisee in
the temple. He stood there and he said, I
don't do this, and I don't do this, and I don't do this, and
I don't do this. He said, I'm not like other men
are. God said he was not justified. Isn't that right? So that's not
what a new creature is. That's not the evidence of being
a new creature. Number three, a new creature
is not a good nature, a good character, a good demeanor. It's
not being kind and being mild and being respectful and being
humble and being devout. A man named Cornelius had every
bit of that. That was said about Cornelius
before God sent Peter to him. God sent Peter to him because
he was not a new creature. He did not know the Lord, so
that's not what it is. Number four, a new creature is
not a person who outwardly keeps God's law more than other people. Saul of Tarsus did that. He said concerning the law I
was blameless. The rich young ruler did that.
He said all these things have I kept From my youth up, that
rich young ruler was not a new creature. At that moment, Saul
of Tarsus was not a new creature. So that's not it. Number five,
a new creature is not someone who has gone through great trials
and come out the other end changed. Changed from what he was before
the trial. The scripture is full of people. full of people that the Lord
changed, endured great trials, suffered great diseases, and
the Lord healed them from it. And they were not made to be
new creatures. They just went on their way. So, none of those
things tell us what a new creature is. None of those things. What is a new creature? Go back
to our text. 2 Corinthians 5 verse 17 says, Therefore, if any man be in Christ,
he is a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become
new. Being a new creature has something
to do with old things and all things. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become
new. Now in our concordance, old things
translates the original rule, the original chief, the original
leader. All things is all rule, all leadership,
all authority. Verse 17 says, Therefore if any
man be in Christ, he is a new creature. The old rule, the old
chief, the old leader is passed away, perished, done. Behold, that means see, perceive
with the eyes, discern, turn the eyes to, Pay attention to. Know. Have an understanding of. I love this one. Cherish this. That's what behold means. Cherish
this. All rule, all authority is become
new. It's of a new kind. A soul that
has been made to be a new creature is a soul that is under new rule. It's a habitation, that's what
creature means. A building, a habitation. A new
creature is a habitation where a new chief rules. That's what it is to be a new
creation. There's a new leader. It's one
that has been caused to behold, caused to see, caused to discern,
caused to know. Eyes that have been caused to
turn. It's a heart that has been caused
to cherish this new ruler and this new authority. It's a heart
that cherishes the one that has taken over. That's a new creature. A brand new creature. A new creature. is 100% focused on the new ruler. That's a new creature. Someone
who is completely taken up with the new ruler. Now, a new creature
will show evidence of having a new ruler. It's true. If he
has a new ruler, there will be evidence of it. But that new
creature will not take his eyes off of the ruler. He will not
turn his eyes to this flesh. He will not do it. That would
be a sign of not being a new creature. We're all supposed to be new
creatures, aren't we? What are we supposed to do? We're supposed
to walk a straight line. We're supposed to walk in newness
of life. We're supposed to do good works. We're supposed to
be all of these things that this flesh cannot be. But do you know
what this flesh can do? Through God's Spirit, if any
man be in Christ, he can turn his eyes and look to the new
ruler. He can turn his eyes and look
to the new controller, the new chief, the new leader. Every
false religion that there is on planet earth looks to the
works of this flesh. Every single one of them. Every
one of them. Every false religion finds assurance
in what you see in the flesh. It's what you see in the flesh.
It's what you see in the flesh. You got to see it in the flesh.
If you see it in the flesh, you're saved. You got to see it in the
flesh. That's how you know. Now, should
we not steal? Should we not commit adultery,
not lust, not lie, not curse, not hate? Should we do good and
obey God's word and love our neighbor as ourself? Absolutely.
Absolutely. And God's people will. They will. And the reason is because they
have a new ruler. But God's new creations, they are the only
ones. They're the only ones who put no stock and no confidence
in the flesh. None. They keep their eyes totally
focused on Christ. Completely fixed on Christ. And the reason is because their
new ruler is causing them to do that. That new ruler is causing
them to turn their eyes totally away from their flesh for the
first time. And He is turning their eyes
to Christ, the brand new ruler. That's a new creation. That's
a brand new creation. All forms of look into this flesh,
no matter how close they are to the truth or no matter how
far they are to the truth. People can wrap it around free
will or they can wrap it around Calvinism if they want to. It
doesn't matter how far they are from the truth, it doesn't matter
how close they are to the truth. But all forms of looking to this
flesh are the evidence of the old rule. That's what the old
rule does. That's what the old ruler does. He looks to this flesh. If a
sinner is going to turn his eyes away from his sinful flesh and
look full into the wonderful face of Christ alone, It's going
to take a new creation of God to make that happen. That's the
only way it can happen. God's going to have to make a
brand new creature. This old flesh can't do it. Not
in the flesh. It must be a brand new creation. And that new creation, under
the rule of the new chief, will come out from among the people.
That new creature, that new creation, will gather with God's sheep. He or she will. He will love
God. He will worship God. He will
believe God. He most certainly will. He will
come to God. He will strive to obey this word. I don't ever, in the preaching
of this, I never want to encourage anybody to disobey God's word. Oh, it don't matter, just disobey
God. The Apostle Paul cried, God forbid, God forbid, God forbid. God's people will strive to do
it, but the whole time, God's people, these new creatures,
will not put one ounce of confidence in what they see in themselves. Turn with me to Philippians 3. Philippians 3 verse 3 says, For we are the circumcision,
we are the new creation, which worship God in the Spirit. We don't worship God with our
hands. We don't worship God through idols. We worship God in the Spirit.
We worship God in the Spirit. And we rejoice in Christ Jesus
and we have no confidence in the flesh. None whatsoever. Will our Lord do a work in His
people that He has promised to do? Will He do what He said He
would do? Absolutely He will. Do we believe Him? Absolutely
we do. But are we going to put our hope
and our trust in anything other than the blood of Christ alone?
Absolutely not. Especially not this flesh. If any man be in Christ, if any
man looks to Christ, if any man has had his eyes turned to Christ,
if any man completely trusts in Christ, he's a new creature.
Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become
new. And our Lord said, I hath not
seen, ear hath not heard, neither hath entered into the heart of
man the things that God hath prepared for them that love Him. Love this new ruler. Love the
God, the actual God as He declares Himself to be. Love Him, not
the flesh, Him. Not what we see in the flesh,
Him. Being a brand new creature is
all about Him. That's what it is. Being a brand new creature
is all about Him. It's not about me. It's all about
Him. That's what the new creature
cries.