Definitively Reconciled as New Creations
July 25
I have already said that this realm is temporary. Paul reminds his readers that we will, at some point, set aside our earthly tent (our physical body) and put on a new body. He says that all believers are new creations and old things – the Old Covenant and God’s dwelling place – have passed away. (2 Corinthians 5:17) God doesn’t live in a place built with hands, (2 Corinthians 5:1; Acts 7:48; Hebrews 9:11) but in the lives of New Covenant creatures.
Paul says that believers have been reconciled to Him. (2 Corinthians 5:18) The word reconciled is the same Greek word from which we get the English word lasso. A cowboy uses a lasso to catch a runaway steer. Is that not an accurate description of what God has done to catch and draw people to Himself? (2 Peter 2:9; Luke 15:4)
Paul says the new life in the new, permanent place has been secured by the Holy Spirit’s Presence in our lives. He says that God prepared us for the purpose of living in a redeemed, restored relationship with Him and that He secured our lives with the Spirit as the down payment.
Application
If you have ever purchased real estate, you know what a down payment is. A down payment is also called Earnest Money. If you have made a down payment on a house, you may have an Option Period when you can change your mind. But once the Option Period date has passed, if you change your mind and choose to not follow through with the purchase of the property, you forfeit your Earnest Money. And you can never get it back.
Paul says that the Holy Spirit is God’s Earnest Money and therefore is a guarantee of our final redemption. This means that God cannot change His mind on saving anyone who turns to Him in faith and becomes a new creation. God has definitively chosen to save His people and secures their future with one-third of the Trinity.
Think about that. If you have repented from your sin in order to follow Jesus, and then if God chose to walk away from you, He could never be unified as a Trinity again!
If you are a believer, you didn’t do anything to earn eternal life. And you can’t do anything to maintain your eternal life. Your eternal security is not up to you. If you are a believer, God has put His own name on the line to make sure that you will persevere for eternity.