In part one of our series we noticed that the New Covenant and the New Birth are two of the new things that are mentioned in the Bible. In this installment we call attention to a few other new things that the Bible talks about.
     New Creature. Another new thing we read about in the Bible is the New Creature. In the process of the new birth one becomes a new creature In Christ and old things are passed away (2 Corinthians 5:17). Then in his letter to the Roman brethren, Paul said, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1). Then again, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature” (Galatians 6:15). Let us notice, “in” especially from these passages, the in is “In Christ” (not out of Christ) that one is a “new creature.” That it is also “In Christ” that one is made free from the “condemnation” of sin. So whatever it is that puts one into Christ is the new birth. Hence we raise the question, “What puts one into Christ according to the Bible?”  Can we find this answer in the Bible? Friends, the apostle Paul answers this question for us in such a simple way that it would take a lot of help to misunderstand it. “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?” (Romans 6:3). So the conclusion is that when one is raised from the waters of baptism, he or she is brought forth from the kingdom of darkness or the kingdom of Satan into the kingdom of Christ. Or, in other words, born again, and become a new creature. Notice that Paul said that we “rise to walk in newness of life” (verse 4).
     New Clothing. Then when one enters the New Covenant, by the New Birth and becomes a New Creature, it is necessary to put on New Clothing. So Paul said, “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him” (Colossians 3:10). Again, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27). Hence, we put on Christ, or are clothed with his righteousness. As new creatures, we have on new clothing.
     New Food. Not only does the New Creature or New Man require New Clothing, but he also requires New Food. The food that the old man feasted upon will no longer suffice. Peter said, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). If we feast upon the sincere milk of the word as we should, it will cause such rapid growth that it will not be long until we can handle the meat of the Word. It is sad to say that some never make this desired growth, and some even die spiritually, as a result of a failure upon their part to feed their souls upon the spiritual food as they should. Too many members of the church are like the Hebrew Christians to whom the apostle said, “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat” (Hebrews 5:12). Too many are literally starving their souls for that spiritual food which God has provided for us in his word. Our Lord said in reply to the temptation of the devil, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). So let us as new creatures feast daily upon the new food, the word of God, lest we die spiritually.
     New Name. Then another new thing mentioned in the Bible is the New Name. The new creature in Christ has a new name waiting for him just as soon as he is born into the family of God. The new name, of course, is a family name belonging exclusively to the family of God or Christ. We wear the name of the head of the family. The earthly father is the head of the fleshly family, and the children born into his family all wear his name. So it is with the family of Christ. He is the head of the family which is the church (Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:18). Therefore, since the church is the family, and He is the head of the church, he is the head of the family, and everyone that is born into this family wears his name. Hundreds of years before there was a Christian on earth, God said this through the prophet, “And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name” (Isaiah 62:2). Now we notice according to this text that God was going to give this new name when the Gentiles had seen his righteousness. In other words, just as soon as the church had Gentile members or had heard the gospel in which he reveals his righteousness, the new name was to be given. For sometime after the church was established, or had its beginning, only Jews were members of it. Cornelius and his household were the first Gentile coverts. We read of their conversion in the tenth chapter of the book of Acts. Then in the very next chapter we have this significant statement, “And the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch” (Acts 11:26). Now this was after Cornelius and his friends and kinsmen had heard the gospel or had seen the righteousness of God. Hence the new name was the name Christian. In Acts 26:28, after Paul had preached to king Agrippa, he said, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” Agrippa knew that if he obeyed the gospel that Paul preached he would be a Christian, and so it is today. When the gospel is preached and obeyed it makes only Christians. It takes something different from the gospel to make one a denominationalist because the gospel of Christ will make one nothing but a New Testament Christian. To Be Continued—1925 County Highway 59, Haleyville, AL 35565