“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (II Corinthians 5:17).

There is more to the creationists’ message than science, for we can also talk about and encourage modern acts of creation. Our text tells us that as a sinner turns to Christ the Creator for forgiveness, he becomes “a new creation” (an alternate translation to “creature”). Rebirth is creation, the calling into existence of something entirely new and different from what was there before—life—where, before, was only death.

This act of creation is accompanied by complete reconciliation. “All things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ” (v.18), breaking down the former barrier to fellowship. Sin had broken the original created relationship between God and man, and man was totally unable to mend the severed ties. God has accomplished this reconciliation through Christ by “not imputing (our) trespasses unto (us)” (v.19), but placing them, instead, on His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, having “made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin” (v.21).

Even though He alone can create, He now graciously allows us a part in His work of modern-day creation, for He “hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation” (v.18), and “hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation” (v.19). His love for us “constraineth us” (v.14), in so controlling and motivating us that we “should not henceforth live unto (ourselves), but unto Him which died for (us), and rose again” (v.15). We are so motivated by this truth that our desire is to carry out the ministry He has entrusted to us, enabling us to be effective representatives of Him in His bodily absence. “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God” (v.20). JDM