Brand New Creations Because Of The Cross!

In this episode we unpack the last phrases of 2 Corinthians 5:17 where we discover that the old is gone and the new has come – we are brand new creations because of the cross!

TRANSCRIPT:

The day you put your faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross was the same day the old you died and was buried so that you could be totally recreated as the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Today, we’re talking about the day we died. We’re glad you’re here, New Creations. Let’s dive in.

Welcome to episode five of The We Are Recreated Podcast, where we are discovering answers to two of life’s biggest questions: Who is God and what is He like? And who am I as a result of Jesus’ work on the cross?

We started out this podcast journey looking at our theme verse, 2 Corinthians 5:17, and we’ve been exploring how our new identity in Jesus is the result of what happened at the cross. Today, we’re narrowing in on the second part of the verse: “The old has passed away, and behold, the new is here.”

Often, we hear about the side of the cross that talks about Jesus dying to pay the price for our sins. And it is so important to remember that—it’s foundational for our faith. But there’s another side to the cross that we often overlook. This side shows us that by faith, God places us at the cross with Jesus, and in doing so, He does away with the old, corrupt person we used to be. Our sinful identity—the one that used to define us and dictate our behavior—was crucified with Jesus, and it’s gone. This truth allows us to say that we have been born again and have new life in Jesus.

There’s an illustration that describes these two sides of the cross really well, though it touches on a tender topic—cancer. If this is sensitive for you, please extend some grace. Consider this: if someone we loved had a cancerous tumor and the doctor told us, “The tumor is gone; your loved one is cancer-free,” we would be thrilled. But if the doctor then said, “Unfortunately, your loved one died on the table,” our joy would disappear.

The point is this: the fact that the tumor is gone doesn’t matter if there’s no life left for our loved one. In the same way, the cross isn’t just about Jesus paying the price for sin—it’s also about giving us life. Jesus not only deals with sin but makes spiritually dead people come alive in Him.

This is the essence of what some call the Theology of “in,” which we’ve explored in previous episodes. To be in Jesus is to be joined and united with Him. Not only did Jesus die for our sins, but we also died with Him so that we could be recreated and reborn with the life of God inside us.

Romans 5:10 says:
“For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life?”

Galatians 2:20 also puts it powerfully:
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Notice that first statement: “I have been crucified with Christ.” By faith, by grace, we participate with Jesus at the cross. The old self—the one cut off from God, affected by sin, and defined by a corrupted identity—is gone. The old is gone, and the new has come.

This new self is alive to God. We are holy, righteous, and filled with the life of God because we are in Christ. We are reunited with the source of life that Adam and Eve lost in the garden. We can receive God’s love, His acceptance, and His security. We live as brand-new creations, made right and restored into relationship with God.

Colossians 2:12 says:
“…buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the powerful working of God who raised Him from the dead.”
And Colossians 3:1-3 adds:
“Since then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above… for you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”

At the cross, this glorious exchange takes place. The unacceptable, sinful identity is dead and buried. You have been made righteous, accepted, and hidden in Christ. From now until Jesus returns, you can know that you are His.

When we step into life with Jesus, we receive more than we can comprehend. It’s an inheritance that cannot perish, spoil, or fade. Galatians 2:20 reminds us: “The life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God.” Christ lives in us—His life flows through us. It’s not about working harder, following rules, or measuring up; it’s about depending on Him moment by moment, cooperating with His Spirit.

Jesus Himself said, “I only do what I see the Father doing.” Because of His grace, all of God comes to live in us, and we get to partner with Him for wisdom, strength, and life.

The cross is the fulfillment of God’s plan, prophesied in Ezekiel 36:26-27:
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow My decrees and be careful to obey My laws.”

God has done it. He finished the work at the cross. The old is gone, and the new is here. You are alive in Christ. This is who you are.

In the next episode, we’ll dive deeper into comparing life in Adam versus life in Christ. You’ll see what you’ve been freed from and what you’ve been freed into. Until then, remember: We Are Recreated.