The strength of something is determined by what it is made of. Or, as some
would say, “It’s what is on the inside that counts.” This could not be
more true than for the person who has confessed with their mouth the lord
Jesus and believed in their heart that God has raised him from the dead.
(Romans 10:9). When a person does this, a transformation takes place on the
inside that is unparalleled to anything else available. That person becomes a
new creation, having Christ within.
II Corinthians 5:17 (RSV):
Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed
away, behold, the new has come.
This new creation with Christ within provides for man a whole new life
filled with many rights, privileges and abilities unlike natural man could
ever have.
Is this new creation recognizable from the outside? Probably not, except
maybe that the person’s countenance reflects more peace and joy. What
happens is a dynamic change on the inside, for it is Christ within.
To explain this new creation condition inside a person lets consider a
wall. From the outside a wall may look the same as any other similar looking
wall. But what gives strength to that wall is what is on the inside. For
instance, a typical cinderblock wall can be hollow within and thereby not very
strong, or it could have steel rods and portland cement running throughout
which makes it extremely strong. With the new creation, we are extremely
strong within!
What do we have in this new creation?
There are many things we could look at in light of what we have in the new
creation. Included are many rights, privileges and abilities. It would be
difficult to cover all of them in this small article, but it is worth looking
at a few of them.
1. We are His workmanship.
Ephesians 2:10:
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which
God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Since God is the maker of this new creation, it must be perfect, for God is
perfect (Matthew 5:48).
Yes, our natural body still exists and has its natural functions. Yes, the
old man nature of the mind continues to respond to worldly influences. But,
now on the inside, we have something special, a new creation of Christ within.
With this eternal resource we can renew our mind and “put on the new man,
which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him That created him.”
(Colossians 3:10).
2. We are holy, unblameable and unreproveable in God’s eyes.
Colossians 1:21 & 22:
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by
wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable
and unreproveable in his sight.
God’s Word says we are holy, unblameable and unreproveable in His sight.
Our five-senses, fleshly mind says, no way can that be true. Who are we going
to listen to, the Creator and His Word, or our flesh?
3. This new creation is the righteousness of God.
II Corinthians 5:21:
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might
be made the righteousness of God in him.
Our opportunity is not to go by what we see in the mirror or what others
may say about us. The world is full of those who want to put us down. A very
important truth we must remember is that, “There is therefore now no
condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh,
but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1).
We are His workmanship, holy, unblameable, unreproveable and we have the
righteousness of God wrapped up in this new creation of Christ within. And so
that you never get down on yourself, or allow anyone else to put you down,
remember that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ.
What counts in life is the new creation within us. Our understanding and
believing of this truth of the new Creation of Christ within will determine
our success in life.
Our confidence level should soar; our enthusiasm should overflow; our
self-esteem should be secure; our determination should be rock-solid as we
recognize and manifest this new creation in our everyday life.
So it is true concerning Christ within us: “It’s what’s on the inside
that counts.” Let’s utilize this new creation within to our fullest
ability, giving the glory to our Heavenly Father who made it all available.
Bob Lindfelt
