We Can Become ‘New Creations’
by Pastor James Gill
Who does my “personal mirror” reflect that I am?
James writes in the Bible: “For if anyone is a hearer of the word, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror, for he observes himself, goes away and immediately forgets what kind of man he was” (James 1:23).
Paul’s writings remind the believer of the eternal facts associated with the glorious change of every living person who has believed in the Christ of the Scriptures of the True God and is being changed by God into the “new creation” through the Holy Spirit’s birth/ indwelling, and Christ within.
The re-birth by God of each believing person changes that natural person solely by God’s grace into a new creation with new Godly relationships, purposes and as a new Godly creation into a new eternal life. God uses Paul to reveal to us how a believer in Christ Jesus is changed by the “riches of God’s divine Grace;” and again, how the new creations (which God calls His saints) are to grow and be reflected in life today — not like the negative reflection in James’ “natural man mirror,” but instead reflecting the new man of Paul’s instruction.
This new man, in Christ eternally, is equipped and instructed to grow in grace and knowledge of Christ Jesus, to be zealous for all good (heavenly sent) work so that we, as new creations, may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. God promises that as we concentrate upon the “view” (complete revelation) of God, “as if in a glass” (KJV) or “mirror” (NKJV), His indwelling Holy Spirit is charged with transforming the image of our reflection. His gracious gift of our justification in Christ, our sanctification and our guaranteed redemption into the eternal presence of God is all accomplished by our God. He has placed the saints into eternal union in Christ through His finished work.
He commanded the light to shine out of the darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. God transforms each believer from glory to glory … all by the Spirit of the Lord. Look in our spiritual mirror. Do you see God’s “masterpiece” emerging as He promised? Is there the reflection of Jesus’ love for all in that face? Do you see God’s grace teaching that face in the mirror as promised in Titus? Is the face in the mirror looking for our blessed hope, that glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ– “ who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous for good works? Do others see the riches of His Divine Grace gifted to each saint as stated in His Scriptures growing in the face in the mirror? Does the reflection in the mirror show the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world ” (John 1:9) and brings “ grace and truth…by Jesus Christ ” (John 1:17)?
May His Spirit enlighten all who seek to see the face of Christ in our “personal mirror” daily and may each of us yearn to see His return in all His glory for all His Saints.
Baton Rouge Christian Life MAGAZINE
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