2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) says, "If any person is (ingrafted) in Christ, he is a new creation (a new creature altogether) the old previous (moral and spiritual condition) has passed away, Behold, the fresh and new has come."
The truth of the Gospel tells us that, "the old previous moral and spiritual condition has passed away." Under the Law of the old covenant, man's sins were covered by the blood of bulls and goats, making men counted as righteous by that blood. The problem with the Law wasn't the Law. The Law was perfect, the man wasn't. The old moral and spiritual condition remained the same.
Romans 3:20-24 (Amplified) says, "For no person will be justified (made righteous, acquitted, and judged acceptable) in His sight by observing the works prescribed by the Law. For (the real function of) the Law is to make men recognize and be conscious of sin (not mere perception, but an acquaintance with sin which works toward repentance, faith and holy character) But now the righteousness of Gd has been revealed independently and altogether apart from the Law, although actually it is attested by the Law and the prophets." Verses 22-24 go on, "Namely, the righteousness of God which comes by believing with personal trust and confident reliance on Jesus Christ (the Messiah) (And it is meant) for all who believe Since all have sinned and are fallen short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives (All) are justified and made upright and in right standing with God freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy) through the redemption which is (provided) in Christ Jesus."
Let's read on in Verses 25-28, which say, "Whom God put forward (before the eyes of all) as a mercy seat and propitiation by His Blood (the cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received) through faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment. It was to demonstrate and prove at the present time (in the now season) that He Himself is righteous and that He justifies and accepts as righteous him who has (true) faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of (our) pride and (our) boasting? It is excluded (banished, ruled out entirely) On what principle? (On the principle) of doing good deeds? No, but on the principle of faith. For we hold that a man is justified and made upright by faith independent of and distinctly apart from good deeds (works of the Law). (The observance of the Law has nothing to do with justification)."
Now, after reading the above scripture, reread our original text in 2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) "Therefore if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether) the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come."
Under the Law, men were only covered from the consequences of sin. Under Jesus, we're not only covered, but we're actually creation brand new by faith in His sacrifice. Our old person was crucified with Jesus, buried with Him, raised with Him, and have become brand new, sinless, righteous and accepted sons and daughters of the living God. You never existed before in the new covenant. The old person you were, was already dead to God, while the new creation was born anew, with no past or blemish. We're just like the first Adam was in the beginning. We are truly a new creation people, who never existed before accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
In God's righteous judgment, we're so pure, holy, and righteous in Jesus, that God Himself can actually live in us and proclaim us the "temple" of God. It's difficult to understand, except by faith, that a God Who is so holy and righteous can abide and live in us as a temple. An unrenewed mind and the "accuser of the Brethren (satan)" keep reminding us of who were once were, so we cannot see who we are now in Christ. Once the truth of this new creation is realized in the heart of God's children, satan will have no hold on our lives at all. He has worked diligently to keep this truth from God's children. Guilt and condemnation from an unrenewed mind, will keep God's children in captivity under satan. When we fully recognize that our old person no longer exists, that hold is broken and we will come out from under that bondage. When Jesus said that, "The gates of hell shall not be able to withstand the Church," He was saying that once we know who we now are, the chains will be broken and we will be free.
Condemnation is the only hold satan has on the Church and the power of deception is his only weapon. If he can keep the Church under the deception of guilt, then we will never be able to accept the truth of righteousness by faith. Once the Church understands the new creation, we can walk in boldness as ambassadors for Christ. A new creation means exactly that, new. New is not remade, redone, repaired of just forgiven, but it means "new." If I am new, then I have no past. A baby has no past for which to be judged by, because he has never been before. You are born-again, with no past and no sin, born perfect in God's righteousness.
If God calls you "righteous and new," then who are we to call Him wrong? After all, He justified us and declared that we are in right standing with Him. This is the answer to Jesus' prayer to the Father. He prayed in John 17:16-19 (Amplified), "They are not of the world (worldly, belonging to the world) (just) as I am not of the world. Sanctify them (purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy) by the Truth, Your Word is Truth. Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And so for their sake and on their behalf I sanctify (dedicate, consecrate) Myself, that they also may be sanctified (dedicated, consecrated, made holy) in the Truth."
When we receive the Truth of the Word (instead of man's idea of the Truth), we can know (without a doubt) that we, as new creations, were made sanctified, consecrated, purified, holy and separated from this world, just like He is. In his letter from Jude 24:24-25 (Amplified), Jude says, "Now to Him who is able to keep you without stumbling or slipping or falling, and to present (you) unblemished (blameless and faultless) before the Presence of His glory in triumphant joy and exaltation (with unspeakable, ecstatic delight) To the One Only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory (splendor) majesty, might and dominion and power and authority, before all time and now and forever (unto all the ages of eternity) Amen (so be it)."
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