A NEW CREATION IN A NEW WORLD by Benjamin Dunn

At the first sip of the Good News we come face to face with the realities and limitless possibilities of the the New Creation. A Christian is all together New and enjoys a new joy filled Life in a new world.

“I consider myself as having died and now enjoying a second existence which is simply Jesus using my body.” Galatians 2:20. - Distilled Bible.

There are two greek words used in the New Testament for new. The first is “neos” which means new of the same kind and quality. The second, which I will spend exploring in this chapter is “kainos”. “Kainos” is one of my absolute favorite words in the New Testament. The definition of “kainos” is this:

KAINOS: of a new kind and quality, unprecedented, novel, uncommon, unheard of.

Another great explanation of “kainos” is: “ … new in kind and in contrast to what previously existed, so taking the place thereof.

If something is “kainos” it is superior to what it succeeds.

Without a doubt, one of my most cherished verses in scripture where “kainos” is used is in 2 Corinthians 5:17 :

-  “So that, assuming that anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation in quality.” - Weust Translation

- “Therefore, if anyone is in union with Christ, he is a new being.” - TCNT

- “For if a man is in Christ he becomes a new person altogether.” - Phillips Modern English

- “When anyone is united to Christ, there is a new world.” - NEB

We are not the same distorted and corrupted humans we once were, subject to the chains of sin and death. We are new, we are “Kainos’ new! We are new in quality and in kind, and superior to what we were in our fallen state.

The scripture goes on to say, in the next verse, that not only are we new creations, but that the old being or person we were before we came to Christ has also been made extinct.

“His old being has passed away.” - Con

“His old life has disappeared, everything has become new about him.” - Knox

“The past is finished and gone, everything has become fresh and new.” - Phillips Modern English

“The old order has gone, and a new order has already begun.” NEB

The old order is gone and everything is New! The greek word here for old is “arkhayos” and is defined as: the original or primeval. How amazing! Christ and his Cross have destroyed the original corrupted humanity and created us anew in him.

“Numerous popular explanations of Paul’s doctrine of the Christian life argue, or assume, that the Apostle distinguishes with these phrases two parts or natures of a person. Following this misguided thinking is the debate as to whether the “old nature” is replaced by the “new nature” at conversion, or whether the “new nature” is added to the old.

The interpretation that ho palaios anthropos and ho kainos anthropos refer to parts is wrong and misleading. These terms rather designate the complete person viewed in the corporate whole to which he or she belongs. Thus these terms are better translated as “old person” and “new person”…The translation “old self” and “new self” is too individualistic, since the idea certainly means the individual Christian (Rom 6:6), but is much more than merely individual.

The “old person” is not the sin nature which was judged at the cross and to which is added a “new person”. The “old person” is what believers where “in Adam” (in the old era). The “old” points to everything connected with the fall of humanity and with the subjection to the distress and death of a transitory life, separated from God.

The “new person” is what believers are “in Christ” (in the new era). Paul directs us to the completely new, to the salvation and healing that believers receive when they are crucified with Christ and raised with him.”-The Dictionary of Paul and His letters.

Everything that we were “in adam” has been shattered and destroyed! We have been completely disconnected from the falleness of humanity and it’s curse, which is separation from God, and have entered into a new world altogether. We enter into a new era. This change is not just a change in the nature of a man it encompasses far more!

In this new era, a Kainos era, a whole new reality and dimension opens to us. I call it the “kainos dimension”. It’s a whole new world! In our union with Christ we have entered into new existence in a new world of endless bliss. This is the realm and reality believers enjoy as a gift when they drink freely of the new covenant.

So, if we suppose that this new creation reality is truly what Paul writes it is, in the divine word, we must conclude to a few glorious truths available to us.

First lets explore a bit about a few assumptions about the human body. Without a doubt most view it as a vile and evil entity that must be subdued by much effort of the believer. This I believe is not the reality that Christ leaves us in His infinite love and with his perfect sacrifice.

The body is not in and of itself evil at all. It is a creation and master work of art by the Master of Holiness created to carry the life of the spirit!

The body is designed by the Lord to be subservient to whoever its master is. It is under the dominion of whoever owns it, whether it be darkness or light, sinfulness or righteousness, life or death. When owned by darkness it is enslaved to its purposes.

But, when owned by Christ, the body is gloriously enslaved to love and to be loved by Him! It is employed to express and demonstrate the radical love of Christ and to be put on display for all to see the divine life flowing through it. It is given totally over to His life and His righteousness. The one whose body is owned by Christ has His very eternal life flowing through their veins!

This is why we can believe and trust in Christ’s sacrifice to be perfectly sufficient for perfect divine health all of our lives. When in union with Christ life and not death is the ruling factor. The Christian body becomes is the glorious carrier of Christ himself! Believe it, drink it, and feast on the New Realities of the New Creation!