(Albert Barnes, 1798-1870)
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,
he is a new creation;
old things have passed away;
behold, all things have become new!”
2 Corinthians 5:17
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–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. Because he has . . .
new views,
with new motives,
new principles,
and new objects and plans of life.
Therefore he seeks new purposes, and he lives for new ends.
2. “Old things have passed away”
Their former prejudices, opinions, habits, attachments pass away,
because their supreme love of self passes away.
Love of sin passes away,
and love of the world passes away.
Supreme attachment to their earthly friends rather than God passes away.
Their love of sensuality, pride, vanity, levity, ambition passes away
because there is a deep and radical change on all these subjects, a change which commences at the new birth. It is carried on by progressive sanctification and consummated at death and in Heaven.
3. “Behold, all things have become new!”
The purposes of life,
feelings of the heart,
principles of action
–all become new.
Therefore understanding is consecrated to new objects,
and body is employed in new service.
The heart forms new attachments.
All is new!
There are new views of God, and Jesus Christ;
of this world, and the world to come,
new views of truth and duty.
Therefore everything is seen in a new aspect, and with new feelings.
The Bible seems to be a new book, and though they may have often read it before, yet there is a beauty about it which they never saw before, and which they wonder they have not before perceived.
Therefore the whole face of nature seems to them to be changed, and they now see it to be the work of God and His glory is spread over all. Because they now say, “My Father made it all!” The heavens and the earth are filled with new wonders, and all things seem now to speak forth the praise of God
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