New in Christ

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Every new year presents us with new opportunities and challenges, allowing us to reflect upon our past accomplishments and failures. Although we may start with New Year’s

resolutions, they often fail to motivate us for long. As Christians, we tend to measure our walk with Christ through tangible means, such as completing Bible studies or reading set verses daily. While these are necessary and worthwhile pursuits, they are not the accurate measure of our faith.

In 2 Corinthians 5:17, the apostle Paul gives us a more accurate measure of faith. Our newness in Christ is measured by how effectively we communicate the message Christ came to embody: the message of reconciliation. As ambassadors of Christ, we are called to share the good news that all people can find peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ. Our position in Christ provides us with a new perspective that allows us to see ourselves as part of God’s redemptive mission.

We have been reconciled to God by Christ’s death, and therefore, we are called to proactively share the Gospel as though God himself were pleading with sinners. In Genesis 33, we see a beautiful picture of reconciliation. Jacob and Esau, who had been estranged for years, are reconciled after Jacob steals his brother’s birthright and patriarchal blessing. Jacob had lived in Padam Aran for 20 years when God told him to return to Canaan. Uncertain of what the reunion would bring, Jacob attempted to appease his brother with gifts. However, Esau took the first step of reconciliation, offering his brother love, forgiveness, and acceptance rather than rejection and condemnation.

Similarly, God initiates reconciliation between himself and sinners. We become new creatures once we accept Christ as Savior, and God no longer holds our past against us. Because we are “in Christ,” our sins have been forgiven, and we are given a new life. This is the message we are commissioned to share, and we are compelled to share it with everyone.

Our newness in Christ causes us to look at each other differently, with grace and love, and it calls us away from worldliness and sets us on a new path. As we begin a new year, let us commit to being intentional in our efforts to share the message of reconciliation. We can live in fellowship with God because He has made it possible. Let us not be weighed down by guilt or resolutions to do better, but instead embrace the freedom that comes from being reconciled to God through Christ’s death on the cross.