A New Humanity In Christ

The apostle Paul’s letter to the Colossians beautifully captures the essence of our new identity in Christ. In this epistle, Paul emphasizes that our old humanity, characterized by brokenness, powerlessness, and unholiness, has been declared dead in Christ. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus redeems us from darkness and brings us into God’s marvelous light1.

Here are some key points to consider:

The Old Self and the New Self:

Before trusting in Christ, we were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds. This condition is common to all fallen humanity (Colossians 1:21–23).

However, in Christ, we become new creations. Our old self, with its sinful practices, is put off, and we put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator (Colossians 3:9–10).

The Work of Jesus:

Jesus alone breaks the power of sin. He takes us out of the condition of being in Adam (our fallen state) and declares us new, complete human beings in Him.

Through His death and resurrection, Jesus transforms us, making us participants in His gracious redemption (Colossians 2:1–15).

Living as New Human Beings:

Being a Christian means living as new creations in Jesus. We are called to put on love, holiness, meekness, patience, and other characteristics that reflect our true identity (Colossians 3:1–17).

As we live out these qualities in our relationships with others, the church becomes an expression of what humanity was originally designed to be (Colossians 3:18–4:18).

Our Great Savior:

Jesus not only saves us from sin but also saves us unto true humanity. He reveals what it means to bear fully the image of God.

Our sense of functioning as we were originally designed has been severely warped, but in Christ, we learn what it truly means to be human (Colossians 3:10).

In summary, our new humanity in Christ is a divine creation. Through justification, God performs His declaration of righteousness within us, leading us to pursue a life of holiness. As we imitate Christ, we reflect the image of God and fulfill our purpose as new creations in Him.

May you continue to grow in your faith, understanding, and pursuit of holiness, knowing that you are part of this glorious new humanity in Christ! 🙏🌟

By: Herbie Mac