Greek Words Studies: New Creation
Greek expression: kaine ktisisStrong’s Numbers: NT 2537, NT 2937
God’s first creation was good, in the beginning. All of creation, however, was ruined when Adam and Eve fell into sin. But God did not leave humanity to die with sin. He gave us salvation, freedom from sin and an open door to being in His presence, through Jesus Christ. Once we accept Jesus, our sins are forgiven and we become kaine ktisis, which means a “new creation” in Greek. Thus, salvation is the distinguishing factor between God’s original creation and our life through Christ as God’s “new creation.”
Salvation, according to the New Testament, is from beginning to end a matter of being united with Christ and sharing in all the benefits resulting from His once-for-all redemptive work. Accordingly, because Christ died and was resurrected, anyone who has accepted Jesus and received the Holy Spirit is already a participant in God’s “new creation” (2 Cor. 5:15-17). Resurrection is not only a future hope for believers, but also a present reality. We have already been raised with Christ (Eph. 2:5-6; Col. 2:12-13; 3:1). Consequently, we are “created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Eph. 2:10). The church is also God’s “new creation,” seen as “the one new person” made up of both Israelites and Gentiles (Eph. 2:15; Gal. 6:15). As such, members of God’s church are already being renewed inwardly by the Lord, who is the Spirit, according to the glorified image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18; 4:4-6, 16; Rom. 8:29; Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10). Believers will bear this same image bodily when Christ returns (1 Cor. 15:49). Therefore, one of the deepest desires of the believer should be to live as a new creature, as God’s holy child.
As we are a new creation in Christ, this is not only a present reality, but also a future hope. We should be looking to Christ’s return so He can establish “new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells” (2 Pet. 3:13, nasb). We look forward to getting new, spiritual bodies when we are raised to eternal life. Our present body—sown in corruption, dishonor, and weakness—will be raised incorruptible, glorious, and powerful. And what holds true for our bodies is also true for all of creation. The anxious longing and groaning of the entire creation will be set free from decay, not annihilated, and will share in the glorious freedom of the children of God (Rom. 8:19-23).
Key Verses2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15
Furthermore, the “new creation” is not merely a return to the conditions of “the beginning,” when God created Adam and Eve, but a “renewed creation”—the fulfillment of God’s saving purposes in history. Those who believe in Jesus will know what it is like to be this new creation.
—Holman Treasury of Key Bible Words
God’s first creation was good, in the beginning. All of creation, however, was ruined when Adam and Eve fell into sin. But God did not leave humanity to die with sin. He gave us salvation, freedom from sin and an open door to being in His presence, through Jesus Christ. Once we accept Jesus, our sins are forgiven and we become kaine ktisis, which means a “new creation” in Greek. Thus, salvation is the distinguishing factor between God’s original creation and our life through Christ as God’s “new creation.”
Salvation, according to the New Testament, is from beginning to end a matter of being united with Christ and sharing in all the benefits resulting from His once-for-all redemptive work. Accordingly, because Christ died and was resurrected, anyone who has accepted Jesus and received the Holy Spirit is already a participant in God’s “new creation” (2 Cor. 5:15-17). Resurrection is not only a future hope for believers, but also a present reality. We have already been raised with Christ (Eph. 2:5-6; Col. 2:12-13; 3:1). Consequently, we are “created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Eph. 2:10). The church is also God’s “new creation,” seen as “the one new person” made up of both Israelites and Gentiles (Eph. 2:15; Gal. 6:15). As such, members of God’s church are already being renewed inwardly by the Lord, who is the Spirit, according to the glorified image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18; 4:4-6, 16; Rom. 8:29; Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10). Believers will bear this same image bodily when Christ returns (1 Cor. 15:49). Therefore, one of the deepest desires of the believer should be to live as a new creature, as God’s holy child.
As we are a new creation in Christ, this is not only a present reality, but also a future hope. We should be looking to Christ’s return so He can establish “new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells” (2 Pet. 3:13, nasb). We look forward to getting new, spiritual bodies when we are raised to eternal life. Our present body—sown in corruption, dishonor, and weakness—will be raised incorruptible, glorious, and powerful. And what holds true for our bodies is also true for all of creation. The anxious longing and groaning of the entire creation will be set free from decay, not annihilated, and will share in the glorious freedom of the children of God (Rom. 8:19-23).
Key Verses2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15
Furthermore, the “new creation” is not merely a return to the conditions of “the beginning,” when God created Adam and Eve, but a “renewed creation”—the fulfillment of God’s saving purposes in history. Those who believe in Jesus will know what it is like to be this new creation.
—Holman Treasury of Key Bible Words