The Holy Spirit, through Paul, repeats astonishing truths that Jesus and the prophet Isaiah had proclaimed. Jesus tells his disciples, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener… Remain in me, and I will remain in you.” (John 15:1, 4) The Lord, through Isaiah, foretold, “Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will… take delight in my people.” (Isaiah 65:17-19a)
Now, through Paul, the Spirit says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (17; Galatians 6:15) Jesus was the first-fruit of the new creation. (1 Corinthians 15:50) “…we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” (Romans 8:23)
God has not counted the sins against those who approach him with humble and contrite hearts through the grace available through Jesus. When God sees anyone in Christ Jesus, he makes them a new creation, a new person, and provides a new beginning. In Jesus are new beginnings.
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