Becoming a New Creature in Christ

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (II Cor. 5:17). And, what is it that puts us into Christ, thereby making us a "new creature?" "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit" (I Cor. 12:13). So it is the baptism of the holy Ghost that puts us into Christ and makes us a new creature. And that leads us to this: "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature" (Gal. 6:15). So our conclusion has to be that the only thing we can add to a new creature is more of what makes us a new creature - The holy Ghost. Anything else that we add to that equation only subtracts from our being a new creature. The apostle Paul admonished the Galatians in the same letter of this sobering reality: "Christ [The Spirit - II Cor. 3:17] is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace" (Gal. 5:4). Whether it be the ceremonies of the old covenant, or likenesses to them, or anything else that is not the Spirit of God; if we try to add it to the experience of being a new creature, it will only nullify the effect of the Spirit in our lives; and give place to the "old man" to take over in our lives (Eph. 4:22; Col. 3:9). Add only God's Spirit to the "new creature" and that new creature will thrive in the love and peace of God. Amen.