The New Creation

Two Kinds of Stuff

There was a problem that some people at the Corinthian church were laughing at the idea of a resurrection
1 Corinthians 15 starts by addressing this problem
Ends up with one of the clearest presentations of the “New Creation” in the Bible

John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Rom 1:4 who was appointed the Son-of-God-in-power according to the Holy Spirit by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom 8:11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again [from above] he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

his baptism!
- Ah, now we are getting somewhere!
So after his baptism, was he made of this (paper) or this (metal)?
- both
Which was visible to the eyes?
- Old
(put metal inside cardboard)
- if you were to set fire to this, or bury it in the ground for a few months, what would be left
- So when Jesus died, it was only the Old Creation that died
So what moment in history did the New Creation start? (we could equally well say “did the Kingdom start”)
- baptism
Now Jesus was born from Mary and the Spirit, but that was his first birth. He was 100% like us except he had no sin.
- When the Spirit came down on him, he became the first of a new kind of humanity.
  He had the Spirit before, but now it was in a new way, and he immediately began preaching the Kingdom and doing signs and wonders.
So if this was the moment, was there any similarity to the Old Creation moment?

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Mar 1:10 And just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
Luk 3:22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my one dear Son; in you I take great delight.”

Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth,
for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him.

For through the law I died to the law so that I may live to God.
I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.