The Italian Memorandum

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

(2 Corinthians 5:17)

Life “in Christ” is about newness (2 Cor. 5:17). When Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “The old has passed away,” he uses a historical tense, pointing back to a definite moment and event (that is, baptism: see Acts 18:8; 1 Cor. 6:11; Gal. 3:26,27). This newness is constantly new (perfect tense—“…the new has come”). Although the Old Testament speaks of newness from the standpoint of God (Lamentations 3:23 and Isaiah 43:18,19), under the new covenant, newness is extended to the believer himself/herself—“if anyone is in Christ.” Newness changes how the believer looks outward upon the universe:

1. Re: Nature –“This is my Father’s world” (contra randomness; Heb. 1:3; Col. 1:15-17; 2 Cor. 10:5).
2. Re: Knowledge—absolute knowledge (contra sensory and limited; 2 Pet. 1:20,21; 2 Cor. 2:14; 11:6).
3. Re: Ethics—according to the will of God (contra humanistic and situational (Rom. 12:2; 2 Cor. 13:5).
4. Re: History—purpose, meaning, goal (contra chance cycles/ uniformitarianism; Heb. 9:28; 2 Cor. 6:1-3).
5. Re: Death—hope, good courage (contra hopelessness, fatalism, the end; 2 Cor. 5:1-10).

Newness today, newness tomorrow, and newness through eternity! Take time to evaluate where you are on life’s journey. It is never more exciting than being “in Christ”!

-Robert M. Housby