New - Now, Not Yet, Maybe Someday

Could it be that we are new?  Are we new or becoming new?  How can I be new with so many old ways remaining?  What do we do with this paradox?

I recently posted a question on Facebook wondering why so much of Christianity speaks of “about to” or “getting ready to” or “its going to be”.  There were a lot of good responses.  My heart in asking that question was my thoughts over a foundational brick in theology.  There is a lot of talk that communicates the idea of “about to” or “becoming”, and I believe that causes a view that there is more to be done because we are not there yet.  The core in my question was to consider are we new or are we becoming new? 

The Kingdom of God has a lot of “both/and” answers that creates tension while considering.  The answer to this question has to have a firm resolved at the core or it leads us off course.  See what you think of what I have come to in this.  

The trouble may be over the general paradigm that “new” means flawless, all together, or undamaged.  When we use the word new we tend to translate that to mean nothing is wrong with it.  We think of new cars, new shoes, new clothes, new house, new book, etc. as things that don’t have issues.  New clothes don’t have stains.  New cars don’t have broken parts.  Although these should be true of new materials we gain, the word new does not mean perfect.   For the generations to adjust this perspective will help us see more clearly who we already are and not be chained to an unachievable effort of being flawless. 

“New” brings with it the desire to experience the difference of something else verses what has been.  Something that is new doesn’t have to work perfectly to be new.  It just shows it is different from what was.  Something does not work to become “new”.  It is either new or its not.  If it is new, it will be conveyed by it's difference.  If we don’t communicate accurate understanding in this, we will not give full expression to the full work of Christ. 

I feel that a strong part of the awakening happening in this hour is a return to celebrating the full victorious work of the Triumphant One, Jesus.  To me, the “about to”, “getting ready”, “becoming” message keeps God’s people striving to be something they already are and props the idea that there is something more needed.  This is an unending treadmill.  The idea that we are still “becoming” or we’re “about to” or we’re “getting ready” keeps people in a “prepare” mode instead of a “doing” mode.  Many live in a place of never feeling qualified, and then that creates an excuse out of our responsibilities.  The message that we are “about to” or we are “getting ready” becomes a control over people so they need a “leader” that will help move them closer to being qualified, yet all the while, never actually helping them to see they are.  This is bondage that flies in the face of Jesus’ ultimate accomplishment – making all things new (Rev 21:5 / II Cor 2:15). 

As a man, there is no need for me to see myself as “becoming” a man.  It’d be foolish to think I’m “getting ready” or I’m “about to” be a man.  To live from that perspective would be crippling in numerous ways.  As a man, I live from that concrete place and more and more of my manhood manifest as I embrace the already existing reality.  A newborn boy is a man.  He is not becoming a man.  There are many aspects of his manhood that will be revealed, but he is already a man.  If we are in Christ, we ARE new.  We are not working to become new or getting ready to be new.  In Christ, we are there!  Its amazing how much of the achievements of Christ and His Kingdom are pushed off to some future time.  This misapplication is a driving force that keeps people on the hamster wheel trying to be something they are, new.  Just as a boy matures and his manliness is revealed, the new creations in Christ mature to reveal more newness.  Yet, they are already fully new.

The Greek word for NEW, kainos, in Rev 21:5 / II Cor 2:15 conveys 2 ideas; new in form which is recently made or fresh, also new in substance which is a new kind, unprecedented, unheard of.  The finished work of Jesus created a new form (not perfect, but different then what had been). It was recently made and fresh as Rev 21:5 was written.  This new form was the Church, the New Jerusalem.  As His Covenant Ones, His Bride we are of this new.  We are not “about to “ or “becoming” that.  We are!   As the transformed, regenerated, alive again people of His Kingdom, we are the new kind, an unprecedented, unheard of people.  We are forgiven, redeemed, wash clean of sin, and in open personal relationship with the Most High.  This is a totally new kind of person, unprecedented.  Sin had only been covered over until the cross, resurrection, and ascension.  Now in Christ it is removed!  We are a new kind (we are different from what had been, both historically and personally).  As we mature, more and more of that newness is to be seen.  We are to take the responsibilities of being the new creation.  Because of Jesus, we don’t get to stay in a “not yet” condition.  We don’t stay in the mindset of “getting ready” or always striving to be qualified.  Now we are; so we do. 

The word “make” in Rev 21:5 is the Greek word poieo.  Poieo is a verb; to form, to author, make ready, to produce, to do, to celebrate, to perform.  Jesus poieo all things kainos.  He completed the work of forming, authoring, producing an unheard of, unprecedented thing; you and me in His covenant as His Church, His Bride, His New Jerusalem in the earth to carry out His work of newness in history. 

The generations must awaken and arise to who we are in Jesus; His new creation.  From that we are those responsible to shape nations so they express the new Jesus achieved and provides.  To get this straight in our foundational understanding provides the stability and freedom for fulfillment and strong work.  It’s time to get off the treadmill of “getting ready” and “becoming”.  It’s time we live and express who we already are – NEW.