The New Creation

Dictionary of Biblical Words:

This word is also translated “creature” and the expression, “a new creature,” occurs 2 Cor. 5:1717Therefore 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) and Gal. 6:1515For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. (Galatians 6:15), and describes the absolute newness and divine origin of the life and nature of the believer. With the definite article, however, the expression is used more generally as descriptive of the new work of God beginning with the resurrection of Christ, the beginning of the creation of God (Rev. 3:1414And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; (Revelation 3:14)), passing on to ourselves, and ending with the new heavens and earth. In this way it is an interesting parallel to Gen. 1. Christians are spiritually in the new creation, though their bodies and earthly ties and duties are in the old.

Concise Bible Dictionary:

This stands in contrast to the first creation ranged under Adam, who was blessed by God, and should have maintained his allegiance to Him “If anyone be in Christ, there is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold all things have become new; and all things are of God.” “If even we have known Christ according to flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer” (2 Cor. 5:16-1816Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (2 Corinthians 5:16‑18)). Those who have died with Christ, and have risen with Christ, have lost their standing in the first Adam, and are in the Second man. “In Christ Jesus neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision; but new creation. And as many as walk by this rule, peace upon them and mercy, and upon the Israel of God” (Gal. 6:15-1615For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 16And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. (Galatians 6:15‑16)). This is the wholly new position into which the believer is brought in Christ. Still, while in the body he is not entirely free from contact with the old creation: the wilderness life is a part of Christian life, as well as Canaan and its conflicts. In reverse order to the first creation, here the Man was first brought out (Christ risen), and then those that are His, and lastly the heaven and earth (Rev. 21:11And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. (Revelation 21:1)).