A Man of New Principles
Being a new creature in Christ means having a changed heart, with new principles, judgments, and affections, and living a life that is pleasing to God.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes that being in Christ transforms a person into a new creature, fundamentally changing their judgment, will, affections, and life choices. This new identity brings about a constant internal conflict against sin, as the new man cannot coexist peacefully with it. The new creature embraces a new understanding of good and evil, prioritizing God and holiness above all else. Brooks illustrates that this transformation is evident in the lives of biblical figures like Paul and Zaccheus, who exemplify the new life that accompanies a renewed heart. Ultimately, he reminds us that true glory comes from being made new by God's grace.
Text
"If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature;
old things are passed away, behold all things
are become new!" 2 Corinthians 5:17
A new creature has . . .
a new judgment,
a new will,
new affections,
new thoughts,
new company,
new choices,
new laws,
new ways,
new works, etc.
A new creature is a changed creature throughout.
The new creature includes a new light, a new sight,
a new understanding. The new creature sees sin to
be the greatest evil, and Christ and holiness to be the
chief good. When a man is a new creature, he has a
new judgment and opinion--he looks upon God as his
only happiness, and Christ as his all in all, and upon
the ways of God as ways of pleasantness. The new
man has new cares, new requests, new desires, "Oh
that my heart may be adorned with grace!"
The new man is a man of new principles.
If you make a serious inspection into his soul,
you shall find a principle . . .
of faith,
of repentance,
of holiness,
of love,
of contentment,
of patience, etc.
The new man experiences a new combat and conflict
in his soul. "The flesh lusts against the spirit, and the
spirit lusts against the flesh." He combats with all sorts
of known sins--whether they are great or small, inward
or outward, whether they are the sins of the heart or the
sins of the life. This conflict in the new man is a daily
conflict, a constant conflict. The new creature can never,
the new creature will never, be at peace with sin; sin and
the new creature will fight it out to the death. The new
creature will never be brought into a league of friendship
with sin.
The new man is a man of a new life. A new life
always attends a new heart. You see it in Paul,
Mary Magdalene, Zaccheus, the jailor, and all
the others that are upon Scripture record.
The new man has new society, new company.
Holy society is the only society for people with
holy hearts, and in that society can no man
delight, until God renews his heart by grace.
The new man walks by a new rule, which is the
written Word of God. This rule he sets up for all
matters of faith, and for all matters of practice.
Well, friends, whatever you do forget, be sure that
forever you remember this--that none can or shall
be glorious creatures, but such as by grace are
made new creatures.
Sermon Outline
- A New Creature
- Characteristics of a New Creature
- New Judgment, Will, Affections, Thoughts, Company, Choices, Laws, Ways, Works
- A Changed Creature Throughout
Key Quotes
“A new creature has a new judgment, a new will, new affections, new thoughts, new company, new choices, new laws, new ways, new works, etc.” — Thomas Brooks
“The flesh lusts against the spirit, and the spirit lusts against the flesh.” — Thomas Brooks
“None can or shall be glorious creatures, but such as by grace are made new creatures.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- To be a new creature, one must be made new by the grace of God.
- A new creature experiences a daily conflict between the flesh and the spirit, and will never be at peace with sin.
- A new creature walks by the written Word of God, setting it up as the rule for all matters of faith and practice.