S2 Ep2175: Quiet Time Coaching Episode 509 | New Creation Series — Part 1 | “Jesus is the Firstborn” | Malcolm Cox

Malcolm Cox

Quiet Time Coaching Episode 509 | New Creation Series — Part 1 | “Jesus is the Firstborn” | Malcolm Cox

Introduction

A new creation! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to this new series on the topic of ‘A new creation’ following our previous focus on ‘A new thing’. We are moving from the Old Testament to the New and exploring what it means that there is a new creation. Our key text is:
“So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NRSV)
How did this new creation come into being?
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.” (Colossians 1:15-18 NRSV)
What does this mean?
“…Jesus is the firstborn of new creation. When the Son became flesh, the Word joined himself to creation and united God with creation. The incarnation means God secured the eternal existence of creation because the Son is forever human and thus forever shares our creaturehood as our elder brother. Moreover, the Son transformed human existence—and thus creation’s as well—through death when he was raised as the firstborn from the dead. His resurrection is the beginning of new creation, and the body of Jesus is part of the new creation just as our own resurrected bodies will participate in new creation. Creation is important because it will be made new in the resurrection, which includes not only our bodies but the dwelling place of God as well, the new heaven and new earth.” Hicks, John Mark; Valentine, Bobby; Wilson, Mark. Embracing Creation: God's Forgotten Mission. Leafwood Publishers. Kindle Edition.
For Reflection

If Jesus is the firstborn of a new creation that exists now, what does that mean for your relationship with him? The fact that his resurrection from death unites the realm of the heavenlies and our earthly existence must have a profound effect on our prayers. What comes to you as you reflect on this reality?
Why not take some time today to ask God to help you understand what it means for your relationship with him that there is a new creation?
Conclusion

Until next time, take care, and God bless.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: [e-mail].
If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org.
Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.
"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

• John Mark Hicks, Bobby Valentine, and Mark Wilson: Embracing Creation