Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:15
Ultimate Transformation Assured
Paul is sure that all believers will undergo full transformation. He sees death as dismantling of a temporary tent, to be exchanged for a building constructed by God.
For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens… while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, in order that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5:1, 4.
Present Transformation Also Assured
Paul’s teachings: 1. The Holy Spirit is truly present in the temporal body of the believer as we undergo our transformation. 2. Only love for Christ will stimulate a believer to inner responsiveness . 3. The purpose of Jesus’ death was to work the inner transformation, moving believers to live no longer for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.
God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed us the world of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us. 5:19-20
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Time passes so fast. In the backdrop of things that seem to last forever such as the sky, ocean, stars, the universe and nature that seems to constantly renew itself, our life is so brief. We don’t get to stay.
It doesn’t seem to be fair nor right that our time is so brief. Paul points out that this is not so. We are not actually going away after our time is over. The destination of our camping trip is not death but a new life.
For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed, but to be clothed, in order that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5:4
In Christ, I get to be a newborn again with my whole life ahead of me. So, when I look at myself in the mirror, worse for wear than yesterday, let’s remember that what I am looking at is a tent. Don’t cry over a tent. Construction of the real thing is underway.
We might as well enjoy the camping trip while it lasts.
