Old Things Have Passed Away, All Things Have Become New

2 Corinthians 5:16-18 (KJV)

16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;


If there is one verse in the scriptures which captures the essence of Jesus' New World Order, it is 2 Corinthians 5:17. It can't be any clearer than that. If we have truly been born again, we are a new creature, or new creation. That means who we were before will fade away in the light of Jesus Christ.

There are a number of phrases in the Bible that include the word new in them, which are part of this great revelation and reality. They include, new wine, new covenant (testament), new commandment, new creature, new creation, new man, new heavens, new earth, new Jerusalem, new name and new song. There are more of them, but you get the point.

Everything is new in Christ, and the Spirit of God within us starts to bring in God's new world order, which is based and built upon the person of Jesus Christ.

When Abraham looked for a city whose builder and maker was God, it wasn't some city in the sky somewhere he was looking for. What he was looking for was a city built upon the very person of God. Not only would God be the architect, but in fact, would be the architecture itself.

That architecture now resides in those truly born from above by the Holy Spirit, and is now working in us to conform us to the image of Jesus Christ.

This doesn't mean His work is only within, but that it starts there. He comes down from heaven and resides within us, and from there starts to build His character, obedience to His commands, and finally, to bring that which is worked within to the world. That's the dominion side of His image, which we as believers, are to bear.

The old things that have passed away are this world, the old creation, sin, the flesh, and everything else that is contrary to the Word of God and sound doctrine.

I'm not saying that happens instantaneously in a believers life, but it will immediately begin when truly born from above, and will continue to work to change us as long as we're alive on planet earth.

What this all means is Jesus Christ has taken up residence within us, and everything that is not of Christ will be dealt with, as it must bow down before Him who is the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Over time that which is within works itself out into the visible world, in order that the invisible and visible on this earth come together in unity as to the will of God in Jesus Christ.

That's Jesus' New World Order, and what He had in mind before the creation of the world. That's His eternal purpose.

So when the scriptures say the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord, it's not talking about His general presence, but the fact His people have been transformed into His likeness (never perfectly before the resurrection) and are now starting to rule and reign on the earth, being a kingdom of priests.