A New Creation

There is a memorable scene in Disney's Finding Nemo when the strapping great white Bruce compelled Marlin a clownfish and his companion Dory (of course a dory!) to accompany him as "friends" to a support group with fellow sharks.  Patterned from a cliche "AA" style gathering, the meeting was called to order by Bruce who lead them in the recitation of their motto in unison:  "Fish are friends, not food."  During the meeting Dory was bopped in the nose and a faint trail of blood wafted up to friendly Bruce's nostril.  Suddenly his pupils dilated as instinct to feed kicked in.  "Just a bite!" Bruce shouted as his shark friends attempted in vain to restrain him and made excuses for his ravenous behaviour.

This is a fitting demonstration of how good intentions, willpower, knowledge and even a support group are inadequate in themselves to keep sinners from sin.  Bruce was triggered to attack by a drop of blood in the water because he was a shark.  It is impossible to curb our appetites of the flesh by feeding them, and we cannot dodge the triggers forever.  Our flesh is so hungry to be satiated new triggers will appear everywhere:  reminders that lure and opportunity to indulge beckons.  Unlike Odysseus who packed his ears with wax and was physically restrained to the mast to prevent him from chasing the call of the Sirens, no mortal man can restrain body or soul from the call to chase transgressions which will corrupt, drown and destroy him.

Religion is not the antidote of sin's poison, for our best attempts to do what is right are as vain as our efforts to avoid what God deems sin.  God looked upon sinful flesh and did for us by the Gospel what no man could do through the Law or prophets:  by faith in Jesus we are born again and made new creations.  After Paul said through Christ the world had been crucified unto him and he unto the world, Galatians 6:15-16 explains:  "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.¹⁶ And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God."  Being circumcised does not save a soul nor does uncircumcision doom to destruction:  those who will be acceptable before God must be born again by faith in Jesus.  He is the only Way for salvation and genuine transformation from within.

A wise man knows his areas of weakness and avoids temptation, and even better is the one who is born again and realises the world has been crucified to him and he unto the world.  What power does a crucified world have upon a crucified man through whom risen Jesus lives?  We who have been made new creations and righteous by God's grace through the Gospel have peace and mercy upon us to endure and overcome.  Many believers have been duped to think they need fellowship with no one but God when Jesus has joined all believers with Himself as one Body, the church.  We are new creations united with Jesus Christ and one another to love, support, encourage and serve.  Only God knows the hearts of men and why precisely we are overtaken by trespasses, yet I know this without a doubt:  we must first be born again.  Trying to overcome sin by the flesh is a most foolish endeavor.  Jesus is the only way to obtain victory over sin, death and experience the abundant life Jesus has promised to all who follow Him.