Behold, all things have become new!

Albert Barnes, 1798-1870

(Be sure to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
 

2 Corinthians 5:17,
"If anyone is in Christ . . .
   he is a new creation;
     old things have passed away;
       behold, all things have become new!"

1. "He is a new creation"
In the conversion of a sinner, a change is produced so great, as to make it proper to say that he is a new creation of God. His conversion is a work of Divine power, as decided and as glorious as when God created all things out of nothing!

This change is so deep, so clear, so radical, and so abiding--that it is proper to say that he is a new man in a new world! He has . . .
  new views,
  new motives,
  new principles,
  new objects and plans of life.
He seeks new purposes, and he lives for new ends.

2. "Old things have passed away"
His former prejudices, opinions, habits, attachments--are all passing away.
His supreme love of self is passing away.
His love of sin is passing away.
His love of the world is passing away.
His sensuality, pride, vanity, foolishness, ambition--are all passing away.
There is a deep and radical change on all these subjects!

This change commences at the new birth.
It is carried on by progressive sanctification.
It is consummated at death, when he enters into glory.

3. "Behold, all things have become new!"
The purposes of life,
the feelings of the heart,
the principles of action
--all become new.

His understanding is consecrated to new objects,
his body is employed in new service,
his heart forms new affections.

The Bible seems to be a new book! There is now a fascination about it which he never saw before.

All is new! There are . . .
  new views of God, and new views of Jesus;
  new views of this world, and new views of the world to come;
  new views of truth, and new views of reality!