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QUESTION 10:
I am bothered about 2 Corinthians 5:17, where it says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away . . . " I find many old things have not passed away. Does this mean I am not saved?

ANSWER:
This is a verse that bothers many believers. The thought behind this question is true. When you become a Christian there will be changes in your life; this is biblical evidence that you are saved; but "ALL THINGS won't necessarily change." Nevertheless, this isn't what the verse is teaching. If you will note in the KJV, "he is" is in italicised print. This means it was not in the original, but supplied by the translators. The word "creature" is translated elsewhere, "creation." What this verse is teaching is; if a person is saved, they are in a new creation, where all things of the old creation have passed away. All things in the new creation have become new. The first birth brings a person in Adam this is the old creation. This one is totally corrupt. This new birth brings us out of the old creation and into Christ, a new creation where all things are new. It is the old creation that you were in, which has now passed away.

Now, to move from one environment to another will always bring some changes in our life style. To move out of Adam's old corrupt creation, and then to be placed into Christ's pure creation, is life changing. In the bible, this is called "sanctification." "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification," 1 Thessalonians 4:3. It is this new creation, which is perfect; nonetheless, every believer still has his or her imperfections. Until Christ comes to complete the good work He began in us, when we first believed, Phil 1:6, our salvation rests on Christ and His sacrifice, not on ourselves.

All comments and questions to: Harold Smith

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Updated July 2009, by Shelly Allen