A New Creation

The result of the Spirit’s work in our hearts and minds is transformation. “All  of us … are being transformed into the same image (the image of Christ) from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Just as God created us in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13), so now the Spirit works to recreate us in the likeness of Christ. Through the Spirit’s transforming work, we become a new creation. “If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:17-18a).

This transformation is a process — “from one degree of glory to another.” We refer to this process of being transformed as growing spiritually.  The Spirit works in the midst of life’s experiences to help us grow spiritually. The transformation or growth occurs as we are led by the Spirit and keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:16, 18, 25). The end result of this growth process is spiritual maturity. We are transformed into the likeness of Christ (Romans 8:29; Ephesians 4:3b). We become a new creation.

At the heart of this process of transformation and growth is the renewing of the mind (as we saw in the July 4, 2021 blog – The Mind of Christ). “Do not be conformed (literally: stop being conformed) to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds” (Romans 12:2, emphasis added).

The Spirit teaches us the things of God (1 Corinthians 2:6-16) and the things Jesus taught (John 14:26). Because the ways of God are different from our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9), the things the Spirit teaches us confront how we have been trained to think: merit-based thinking, us-them thinking, either-or thinking, black-and-white thinking, right-and-wrong thinking, ego-driven thinking. They call us to think with a different mind. (Thinking with a different mind is the root meaning of the word commonly translated as “repent.”) They call us to think with the mind of Christ.

The things the Spirit teaches does not just confront how we have been trained to think. They also confront what is in our hearts — the anxiety and fear that drive us, the attitudes that govern how we view and treat others, the self-serving, self-focused spirit out of which we live. As the Spirit transforms how we think — instilling the mind of Christ in us — the Spirit also works to transform our heart. The Spirit leads us beyond anxiety and fear into an ever-deepening trust in God’s steadfast, faithful love. We move beyond our innate spirit of self-reliance into a spirit of glad dependency upon God. The Spirit cleanses the attitudes of our heart so that we see others the way God sees them. The Spirit nurtures a humble, teachable spirit within in place of the arrogance that views those who are different as less than and not deserving. The Spirit ingrains a servant spirit that displaces our default self-serving, self-focused spirit.  The Spirit cleanses our heart, transforming it. We become a new creation, transformed from the inside out.

As a new creation, our lives reflect the likeness of Christ. The old has passed away; everything becomes new (2 Corinthians 5:17). Compassion and kindness displace the critical, judgmental spirit that is a natural part of our default nature. Humility and a teachable spirit displace the spirit of arrogance that fuels our critical, judgmental spirit. Patience and understanding displace the irritation and impatience we feel when people fail to measure up to our expectations or do things our way. We bear with others when we are at odds rather than attacking, discounting, and rejecting. We are quick to forgive, refusing to hold onto a hurt or harbor a grudge. A spirit of thanksgiving and gratitude take the place of our fear-based scarcity thinking. Generosity takes the place of giving that is calculating, merit-oriented, and governed by what-can-I-afford-to give thinking. The peace of Christ displaces the anxiety that troubles our hearts and minds. Joy flows naturally from within. We live together in meaningful, supportive relationships that are patterned after the ways of God. We love as Jesus loved. (This description is based upon Colossians 3:12-17). “All this is from God” (2 Corinthians 5:18a) — the work of the Spirit in our lives.

The Spirit is at work in us, recreating us in the likeness of Christ. The Spirit is at work transforming us, replacing the old with that which is new. The Spirit is growing us up, leading us to Christ-like spiritual maturity. The Spirit is at work in us. As a result, we are a new creation.