Sermon Text: 2 Corinthians 5:13-17
Sermon Title: "A New Creation!"
By Rev. Joon-Sik Park

Sometimes we wonder what are differences between Christians and non-Christians. Or whether there are any. Sometimes we wonder what are differences between the community of believers and other communities in the society. Or whether there are any.

According to the Scriptures, there are differences of light and darkness, and of life and death. The problem is that we Christians do not really know who we are, and do not live in the way we should.

Paul declares, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" He in fact says anyone can be a new creation but only with one condition, that is, "being in Christ."

What does "being in Christ" mean? It means to have experienced death and resurrection in Christ. The death and resurrection of Christ no longer remain as remote and abstract events. Rather, they are the events in which we ourselves have participated with him. Thus, Paul says, when Christ died for all, all died. And those who truly live are the ones brought to life by the resurrection of Christ. The death and resurrection of Christ should make ultimate and effectual difference in the lives of Christians. If you are not in Christ in this sense yet, then, you’re not a Christian yet.

"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation." Then, what are the evidences of our becoming a new creation. First, we no longer live for ourselves but for Christ who died and was raised for us. Before knowing Christ, behind all our words and actions were motives based upon our own selves and interests. We simply lived for ourselves, and were controlled by our own interests. Our selves were our idols.

However, when we become new creations, our lives are controlled by the love of Christ. We forget ourselves; all that we do is in the service of God and for the benefit of others, and not for our own interests and glory. Our lives are no longer centered upon self, but centered upon Christ. And our only motive is the love of Christ which compels us.

Why is it so difficult for us to reach a unity even in the church? It is because, somewhere in the body of Christ, there are motives other than the love of Christ. When only the love of Christ compels us, there can be and should be true unity.

When we become new creations, second, the way we look at others and our ministry changes; there is the change in our value and perception. Paul says, ^"From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view, or a worldly point of view." Those who live because of Jesus’ resurrection and by the renewing power of the Holy Spirit can no longer look at anything from the old age point of view that we held before knowing him.

Then, what is the human or worldly point of view? It is a view based upon purely human, self-centered considerations; it is a judgment conditioned by the value of the world, a criterion based upon what everyone does, not upon what Christ would do; focused upon the world not upon Christ, and thus limited to it, not looking beyond to the kingdom of God.

The worldly point of view regards the rich, influential, and powerful important. It values people because of their rhetoric, power, or money. The world constantly seeks to get us to think or see from its point of view, that is, according to the flesh. But it has a completely different value system from God’s. Unfortunately too often we Christians are affected and conditioned by its value system.

But God has a different value system, demonstrated by the cross, and weakness of His servants. Look at the disciples of Jesus. Whom did Jesus call as his disciples? None of them was wise by human standards; none of them were influential; and none of them were of noble birth.

We can no longer judge anyone in terms of externals. We are not to be conditioned by the value of the world, not to judge others from its perspective.

The natural contrast to life according to the flesh is life according to the Spirit, that is life now lived from the perspective of, and in the power of, the Spirit. And if we regard people according to the Spirit, we will value those on whom the Spirit rests with power, those who have made a commitment to the Gospel, those who pray, and those who serve Christ through their weaknesses, and sacrifices.

How do we regard one another? From which point of view? How do we regard ourselves? From which point of view? How does our church regard people? From which point of view? Not to regard people according to the flesh is no longer an option for those who are in Christ. That is a touchstone for whether we are in Christ or not.

Our value system should be effected by the cross and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We should stop thinking like the world. How in the name of Christ can we justify doing things just because the world does?

Christ’s death and resurrection mark the turning of the ages, so much so that nothing, absolutely nothing, is any longer the same. The present age continues, but has come to an end for those who have been raised to new life in Christ.

The problem of the Corinthian church was giving up the perspective of the Spirit, and in its place having adopted the perspective of the world, a world that has been condemned in the death and resurrection of Christ. In consequence they were in no way astonished when these developed within the church.

How easily we take for granted and not to question certain behaviors simply because they are widespread in the world! How often we follow the customs and wisdom of the world, while ignoring the practices and lessons of Jesus! How readily we limit our ministry by worldly calculations, rather than expecting a miracle in the power of the Holy Spirit?

But in Christ, the old has passed away: The old, the criterion which governed our behavior, has passed away. Now, behold, the new has come, in which there has been a total, radical restructuring of value. So absolutely radical transformation of how one perceives everything, it is like a new creation. All has changed in such a fundamental sense that each is now a "new creation." To be newly related to God, to others, and to ourselves through Christ is to live in a new world; a new set of relationships has come into being. It no longer permits us to think on the value system of the old order. It affects our perspective on people and ministry. We no longer live for what is seen, which is temporary, but for what is unseen, which is eternal.

May we live as a new creation, being compelled by the love of Christ, and regarding everyone and everything not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit!