Reading: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” —2 Corinthians 5:17
Have you ever asked yourself, “Why do I sin?” You’ve fallen again into a recurring sin, your heart cold and your mind distracted with things of earth, and you live in defeat with this reverberating cry, “Why?” The Bible tells you that you are a “new creature,” but you don’t feel new. You are haunted by past sins and continually hurt by present sins.
The newness of the creation in Christ Jesus has removed the desire to sin, and when sin does occur there is the obvious hurt and regret. But remember that the hurt and regret of sinning is an evidence of grace, which leads to continual repentance and ought therefore to be a source of encouragement.
But the “new creation” does not promise the removal of remaining sin or the cessation of temptation. Remaining sin along with temptation forms a toxic mix. We are to flee “youthful lusts,” pray that we do not enter into temptation, and rejoice in the fact that while we live in the flesh the Lord—who is faithful and just—has promised continual forgiveness when there is continual confession (1 John 1:9).
To be holy, then, I must look to God through His Son Jesus Christ—I cannot be anything apart from Him. Only when I have been united to a holy God through Christ can I obey the command “be ye holy.” I cannot be holy if I do not know Him for holiness is from Him. And if I am not holy I cannot be happy for happiness is in holiness.
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