Try the latest Words of Life as Spotify Podcasts.

Tip: To see latest Words of Life, use Refine Search to list by Year. If using Mobile device, Refine Search may be located at end of page.

Apostle John, who received the Revelation on Patmos, was permitted to see, amongst many other things, the new earth and the new heaven. He heard God say: “Behold, I make all things new ….”

What refers to the new creation we can in particular also apply to ourselves. God also makes all things new today. The commencement of this complete renewal is the rebirth out of water and spirit. Through this we can become a new creature. The thereby founded divine childhood is not to be the continuation of the old nature under a new name, rather God wants to form something truly new out of us, to become as Jesus “Spirit First, Body Second”.

Everything which we receive at His altar serves the purpose that the process of renewal, which dissolves the old Adam and shapes the new man in Christ, progresses until the return of Jesus Christ. This necessitates that we grasp God’s offers of Grace in faith, make room within ourselves for the Holy Spirit, become ever more of the mind of Jesus Christ, overcome temptation of sin and reveal His virtues.

The renewal of our being shows itself in:

1.Our understanding: The old human and sinful nature exclusively apply human standards and judges everything with the intellect alone. The new creature, in contrast, particularly applies faith where godly matters are concerned. Only in that way can God’s plan of salvation and His reign be grasped;

2. Our prayer-life: The old nature sees no need for a sincere, deep, prayer-life. For the new creature it is a life preserving desire to pray from the heart. Such a praying is carried by adoration and thankfulness and does not exhaust itself in pleas for help regarding earthly cares. We must always pray for others. Ephesians 6:18 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”; The wrestling for strengthening of faith and the plea for the completion of one’s own soul, as well as the work of God in total, form the main point of prayer;

3. Our sacrificing: The old nature is so engrossed in activities and concerned for itself, that it is easy to forget to take any time for the work of God. The new creature, however, wants to spur on the work of God with all its strength and feels the urge to bring sacrifices out of love and thankfulness.

4. Our whole conduct: The old nature is depicted by the prophet Ezekiel in the expressive image of Stoney, the hardened, insensitive, heart of Ezekiel 11:19 “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take their stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh”. God wants to remove that from us and wants to lay into us a heart of flesh – a heart sensitive to godly activity. Such a heart is loving, understanding, a heart which God can form according to His image.

In this way God makes new creatures out of us sinful beings. Let us allow ourselves to be shaped and moulded by Him. On the day of Christ’s return, we will experience its completion through the transformation. Then the word will be fulfilled on us: “Therefore 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