2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
Galatians 6:15 (Amplified) says, "For neither is circumcision (now) of any importance, nor uncircumcision, but (only) a new creation (the result of a new birth and a new nature in Christ Jesus (the Messiah)."
The new creation has been so misunderstood throughout the years and we have really missed what God did for us, through Jesus. Many of us have believed that being born-again meant we were forgiven of our sins and we will one day go to Heaven. I suppose that if we really understood what has happened to us through the new creation, then we would still find it difficult to accept.
Ephesians 1:20 (Amplified) says, "Which He (God) exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His (Own) right hand in the Heavenly (places)." Ephesians 2:5-6 (Amplified) continues, "Even when we were dead (slain) by (our own) short comings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and union with Christ (He gave us the Very Life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for) it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve), that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation). And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together (giving us joint seating with Him) in the Heavenly sphere (by virtue of our being) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
The word "raised" from Ephesians 1:20, can be found in other Verses and means, "resurrected." The Strong's Concordance #1453,#1454 says "raised" means, "To awaken, or "to raise from sleep, from sitting, lying, from disease, from death, from obscurity, from inactivity, from ruin," "non-existence, awake, raise, up again, take up, resurgence from death, resurrection."
The same word "raised" from Ephesians 2:6, according to the Strong's Concordance #4891-#4862 means, "To rouse from death, in company with, to revive (spiritually) in resemblance, to raise up together, rise with, denoting union with, or together but much closer (example by association, companionship, process, resemblance, possession, completion, resurrection."
When Jesus was resurrected in the Spirit, we who believe in Him, were also simultaneously "resurrected in the Spirit." This is what He made the new creation to be. We were once dead in trespass and sin, but we were made alive and were raised (resurrected) from the dead with Him. We were "raised (resurrected) together with Him and seated together with Him in the Heavenly sphere." The new creation was resurrected together with Him and made alive through Him. We were raised from death into life with Him, in Spirit and companionship and resemblance in Jesus.
The only thing left to do in our salvation, is the final resurrection of our mortal bodies, according to Romans 8:11 (Amplified), which says, "And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead (resurrection) dwells in you (then) He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you."
1Thessalonians 4:13-18 (Amplified) tells us that those who were resurrected in the Spirit (created a new creation), and have been laid to rest here in their mortal short lived bodies, will have Jesus come to receive their fleshly bodies. Thus, it says, ""Now also we would not have you ignorant, brethren, about those who fall asleep (in death) that you may not grieve (for them) as the rest do who have no hope (beyond the grave). For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, God will also bring with Him through Jesus, those who have fallen asleep (in death) For this we declare to you by the Lord's Own Word, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall in no way precede (into His Presence) or have any advantage at all over those who have previously fallen asleep (in Him at death) For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with the blast of the Trumpet of God. And those who have departed this life in Christ will rise first. Then we, the living ones who remain (on the earth), shall simultaneously be caught up along with (the resurrected dead) in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so always (through the eternity of the eternities) we shall be with the Lord, Therefore comfort one another with these Words."
Paul tells us in Verse 15 that, "It was the Lord's Own Words" he was quoting to the Church. These early Christians were already with the Father by their resurrected spirits in the new creation, but Jesus had already paid for our mortal body and will raise it up (resurrect) it too. Paul goes on in 1Corinthians 15:51-52 (Amplified) saying, "Take notice! I tell you a mystery (a secret truth, an event decreed by the hidden purpose or council of God) We shall not all fall asleep (in death) but we shall all be changed (transformed) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the (sound of) the last trumpet call; For a trumpet will sound, and the death (in Christ) will be raised imperishable (free and immune from decay) and we shall be changed (transformed)." 1John 3:2 (Amplified) says, "Beloved, we are (even here and) now God's children; It is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be (hereafter), but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall (as God's children) resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He (really) is."
The final resurrection of our mortal body, will the final stage of our new creation man and we will be "made like Him" (spirit, soul and body), to live in the Father's House for eternity. We will celebrate Easter this Sunday and thank God for the resurrection of Jesus. We have the same new creation Spirit and have been resurrected in Him. We've been raised together with Him and seated together with Him. We are ambassadors of Christ and have been living in this world form our place with Christ, in order to reconcile the world to Him. Our new creation being has already experienced resurrection in Him.
Jesus prayed in John 17:16-18, 20 (Amplified) saying, "They are not of this world (worldly, belonging to the world) Just as I Am not of the world. Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world." He went on in Verse 20 saying, "Neither for these alone do I pray (it is not for their sake only that I make this request) but also for all those who will ever come to believe in (trust in, cling to, rely on) Me through their word and teaching." 2Corinthians 5:20 (Amplified) tells us, "So we are Christ ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We (as Christ's representatives) beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor (now offered you) and be reconciled to God."
This is the Great Commission Jesus gave, saying, "As You have sent Me into the world, I also have sent them." Even though we're here in this natural body like Jesus was, we are ambassadors from the Kingdom and are already "living spirits by His resurrection." When we were dead in trespass and sin, the resurrection power of (and through) Jesus, raise us up, gave us life and presented us to the Father as His brethren and sons/daughter in His family. We are new creation children!!!
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