The New Has Come series Archives

Glory to Glory

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18

Over the past three weeks, we’ve explored what it means to be a new creation in Christ—how “the old has gone,” “the new has come,” and how we’re “transformed by the renewing of our minds.” Today, we turn to another powerful image of transformation found in 2 Corinthians 3:18, where Paul describes our ongoing journey of becoming more like Christ as moving “from glory to glory.”

This verse follows Paul’s discussion of Moses, whose face reflected God’s glory so brightly after being in His presence that he had to wear a veil. Paul contrasts this temporary, reflected glory with the permanent, transformative glory we experience in Christ. Unlike Moses, we approach God “with unveiled faces”—with direct, unhindered access to His presence. And as we “contemplate” or “behold” the Lord’s glory, something remarkable happens: we are “transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory.”

The word Paul uses for “transformed” is again metamorphoō—the same word he uses in Romans 12:2 and the same root from which we get “metamorphosis.” This isn’t superficial change but profound transformation that alters our very nature. What’s striking here is the mechanism of this transformation: beholding leads to becoming. As we fix our gaze on Christ—contemplating His character, meditating on His words, reflecting on His actions—we gradually take on His likeness.

Notice that this transformation happens “with ever-increasing glory” or “from glory to glory” (as some translations render it). This reveals the progressive nature of our transformation. Unlike the instantaneous positional change that occurs when we become new creations in Christ, our experiential transformation unfolds over time. It’s not a single event but a lifelong journey of becoming more like the One we behold.

This progressive transformation explains the tension many of us feel between who we are positionally in Christ and who we are experientially in daily life. We are already new creations, yet we’re still being transformed. We already bear Christ’s image, yet we’re still growing into His likeness. This isn’t a contradiction but the natural progression of spiritual growth—like a seed that contains the full genetic code of the mature plant yet must develop over time.

Paul is careful to note that this transformation “comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” Our transformation isn’t self-improvement or moral reformation but the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. We participate by beholding Christ and yielding to the Spirit, but the power for transformation comes from God Himself. This is why spiritual disciplines like prayer, Scripture meditation, and worship are so vital—not because they earn us anything but because they position us to behold Christ and receive the Spirit’s transforming work.

How do we participate in this “glory to glory” transformation? Here are some practical steps:

Prioritize beholding Christ. Since transformation comes through contemplation, make spending time in Christ’s presence your highest priority. This includes Scripture reading focused on Jesus’ words and actions, prayer that involves listening as well as speaking, and worship that fixes your attention on His character and work.
Practice spiritual rhythms. Establish regular patterns that keep you engaged with God’s presence. This might include daily quiet times, weekly Sabbath rest, monthly retreats, or annual spiritual inventories. Consistency matters more than intensity in long-term transformation.
Lean into resistance. Transformation often accelerates during seasons of challenge or suffering. Rather than merely enduring difficult times, approach them as opportunities for deeper conformity to Christ’s image. Ask, “How might God be using this situation to make me more like Jesus?”

The journey “from glory to glory” isn’t always linear or predictable. We experience seasons of rapid growth and seasons of apparent stagnation. We have breakthrough moments and backsliding moments. But through it all, the Spirit continues His transforming work as we keep our gaze fixed on Christ. The trajectory matters more than the pace.

As we conclude our series on becoming new creations, we’re reminded that transformation is both a completed reality and an ongoing process. Positionally, we are already new creations in Christ—the old has gone, the new has come. Experientially, we are being transformed day by day, from one degree of glory to another. Both truths are essential. We don’t strive to become what we’re not; we grow into who we already are in Christ.

The journey of transformation continues throughout our earthly lives and will be completed when we see Christ face to face. As John writes, “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). Until that day, we continue beholding and becoming, moving from glory to glory, being transformed into the image of the One we love.

A Transformed Mind

By Paula Wiseman

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

In our journey of becoming new creations, we’ve explored how “the old has gone” and “the new has come.” But how does this transformation actually happen in our daily lives? Paul addresses this question directly in Romans 12:2, revealing that the primary battlefield for transformation is our mind. The renewal of our thinking is not just one aspect of becoming a new creation—it’s the essential pathway through which our new identity expresses itself in practical living.

The word Paul uses for “transformed” (metamorphoō) is the same root from which we get “metamorphosis”—the process by which a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. This isn’t superficial change but profound transformation that alters our very nature. What’s remarkable is that Paul connects this deep transformation not to mystical experiences or dramatic interventions but to something seemingly ordinary: the renewing of our minds.

Our minds—our thoughts, beliefs, values, and perspectives—shape everything about how we experience and interact with the world. Before Christ, our minds were conformed to “the pattern of this world” (literally, “this age”). We absorbed the values, priorities, and assumptions of the fallen world system around us. Even after becoming new creations positionally, our thinking patterns don’t automatically change. We must actively participate in renewing our minds to align with our new identity in Christ.

This renewal isn’t merely adopting a more positive outlook or practicing better thinking techniques. It’s a fundamental reorientation of our entire mental framework according to God’s truth rather than the world’s patterns. It involves replacing lies with truth, worldly values with kingdom values, and self-centered thinking with Christ-centered thinking. This renewal doesn’t happen instantly but progressively as we intentionally expose our minds to God’s truth and allow it to reshape our thinking.

Notice the connection Paul makes between mind renewal and discerning God’s will. As our minds are renewed, we develop spiritual discernment—the ability to recognize and embrace God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will. Many Christians struggle to know God’s will because they’re trying to discern it through minds still largely conformed to worldly patterns. The renewed mind doesn’t just think different thoughts; it thinks from a different source and toward a different purpose.

How do we participate in this mind-renewing transformation? Here are some practical steps:

Identify worldly thought patterns. Begin by becoming aware of how your thinking has been shaped by the world. What assumptions, values, or beliefs do you hold that reflect the pattern of this age rather than God’s truth? Common areas include views on success, security, identity, happiness, and purpose.
Immerse yourself in Scripture. The primary tool for mind renewal is God’s Word. Develop a consistent practice of not just reading but meditating on Scripture—allowing it to challenge your assumptions and reshape your thinking. Focus especially on passages that reveal who you are in Christ and how the kingdom of God operates.
Practice thought capture. In 2 Corinthians 10:5, Paul speaks of “taking captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” When you notice thoughts that don’t align with your new identity or God’s truth, consciously replace them with biblical truth. This might involve creating specific “truth statements” to counter common lies.
Curate your mental inputs. What we consistently put into our minds shapes our thinking. Evaluate your media consumption, conversations, and influences. Do they reinforce worldly patterns or contribute to renewal? Be intentional about filling your mind with content that aligns with God’s truth.
Engage in community renewal. Mind renewal isn’t just an individual process. We need others who can help us identify blind spots in our thinking and reinforce biblical truth. Seek relationships with believers who will speak truth and challenge worldly thinking patterns.

The renewal of our minds is both a decisive break with old patterns and an ongoing process. Like physical exercise, it requires consistent practice over time. Some days we’ll feel the struggle more intensely than others. But as we persist in this renewal, we’ll experience increasing alignment between our positional reality as new creations and our daily experience. Our thoughts, emotions, desires, and actions will increasingly reflect who we truly are in Christ.

As we continue our series on becoming new creations, we’re discovering that transformation isn’t primarily about behavior modification but about identity realization. We don’t strive to become something we’re not; we grow into who we already are in Christ. Next week, we’ll explore 2 Corinthians 3:18 and what it means to be transformed “from glory to glory”—examining the progressive nature of transformation and how to persevere in the journey of becoming like Christ.

Our New Identity

By Paula Wiseman

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17

Last week, we explored the first half of this powerful verse—”the old has gone”—and considered what it means to release our former identity apart from Christ. But Paul doesn’t leave us with just the removal of the old; he immediately declares the arrival of something new. “The new has come!” This isn’t merely the absence of something negative but the presence of something wonderfully positive. The Christian life isn’t defined primarily by what we no longer are but by what we have become in Christ.

The Greek word for “new” here (kainos) doesn’t simply mean new in time or sequence but new in quality and nature—something fresh, unprecedented, and superior to what came before. This newness isn’t a slight improvement or a minor upgrade; it’s an entirely different kind of existence. Just as a butterfly isn’t merely a better caterpillar but a transformed creature with a new identity and capabilities, so we in Christ aren’t just improved versions of our old selves but new creations altogether.

What exactly is this “new” that has come? It encompasses our reconciled relationship with God, our new identity as children of God, our freedom from sin’s power, our access to the Holy Spirit’s presence and power, our inclusion in the body of Christ, and our eternal destiny. This newness touches every dimension of our being—our status before God, our self-perception, our purpose, our power source, our community, and our future.

The declaration that “the new has come” is both a statement of accomplished fact and an invitation to progressive experience. Positionally, the moment we are “in Christ,” we become new creations with a new identity and status. Yet experientially, we grow into the fullness of this new reality over time. Like Israel entering the Promised Land, we must take possession of what is already ours. The new has truly come, but we must learn to live as the new creations we already are.

This tension between the “already” and the “not yet” characterizes much of the Christian life. We are already new creations, yet we are still being renewed day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16). We have already been raised with Christ, yet we must continue to set our minds on things above (Colossians 3:1-2). We have already been freed from sin’s power, yet we must daily present ourselves to God as instruments of righteousness (Romans 6:13). The new has truly come, but we grow into its fullness through a lifelong process of transformation.

How do we live in the reality that “the new has come”? Here are some practical steps:

Practice “new creation” responses. When facing temptation or challenges, ask yourself, “How would the new me respond to this situation?” Then act accordingly, not based on old patterns but on your new identity.
Embrace spiritual disciplines. Practices like prayer, Scripture meditation, worship, and fellowship aren’t just religious activities; they’re means of aligning our experience with our new reality in Christ. Approach them as opportunities to live into your new identity.
Seek community with other “new creations.” We need others who will see us and treat us according to who we truly are in Christ, not according to our past or our struggles. Find believers who will remind you of your true identity when you forget.
Look for evidence of the new. Celebrate signs of transformation in your life, however small. Notice new desires, new responses to old triggers, new love for God and others. These are not just behavioral changes but evidence of your new nature expressing itself.

Living as a new creation isn’t about striving to become something we’re not; it’s about becoming more fully who we already are in Christ. It’s not about earning a new identity but embracing the one we’ve been freely given. The declaration that “the new has come” isn’t a goal to achieve but a reality to live from—a present truth that shapes our daily choices, relationships, and priorities.

As we continue our journey into this new year, let’s not settle for minor improvements or temporary changes. Instead, let’s embrace the radical truth that in Christ, we are truly new creations. The old patterns, identities, and bondages that once defined us have no claim on us now. We are free to live as the people God has already made us to be in Christ.

Next week, we’ll explore Romans 12:2 and what it means to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind”—examining how our thought patterns play a crucial role in experiencing the new life Christ has given us.

The Old Has Gone

By Paula Wiseman

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone… 2Corinthians 5:17a

January often brings a sense of fresh beginnings. We make resolutions, clear out closets, and imagine better versions of ourselves in the year ahead. But how often do our efforts at self-improvement fade by February? The apostle Paul offers us a radically different approach to transformation. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, he doesn’t speak of gradual improvement or self-help strategies but of something far more profound: becoming an entirely new creation where “the old has gone.”

This concept of the “old” being gone isn’t about superficial changes or minor adjustments. Paul is describing a fundamental shift in our identity and nature. The Greek word used here (parerchomai) conveys the sense of something passing away completely. It’s not that the old self is improved or renovated—it’s that it has passed away. This is revolutionary language that challenges our typical approach to personal change.

What exactly is this “old” that Paul says has gone? It encompasses our former identity apart from Christ—our self-centered orientation, our bondage to sin, our alienation from God, our way of seeing ourselves and the world. Before Christ, we lived according to the patterns of this world, driven by our own desires and subject to the consequences of our fallen nature. This old self wasn’t just behaving badly; it was fundamentally oriented away from God.

The declaration that “the old has gone” is both a statement of accomplished fact and an invitation to lived experience. Positionally, the moment we are “in Christ,” our old identity is replaced with a new one. We are no longer defined by our sin, our past, or our failures. Yet experientially, we often continue to live as if the old still has power over us. We cling to old habits, old thought patterns, and old identities even though they no longer define who we truly are.

Paul’s language here is intentionally radical because the gospel itself is radical. The good news isn’t that Jesus helps us become slightly better versions of ourselves; it’s that in Him, we become entirely new creations. The old person we once were has been crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20). This isn’t about moral reformation but spiritual transformation—not turning over a new leaf but receiving a new life.

How do we live in the reality that “the old has gone”? Here are some practical steps:

Identify what belongs to the “old.” Take time to prayerfully consider what aspects of your life reflect your old identity rather than your new one in Christ. These might include harmful habits, destructive thought patterns, or false identities you’ve embraced.
Practice “holy forgetfulness.” While we should learn from our past, we don’t need to be defined by it. When memories of past failures arise, remind yourself that those failures belong to a person who has “gone.” You are now in Christ.
Reject false identities. Our culture constantly offers us identities based on our performance, appearance, relationships, or possessions. Consciously reject these in favor of your true identity as a new creation in Christ.
Develop “new creation” language. Begin to speak about yourself in ways that reflect your new identity. Instead of “I’ve always been an angry person,” try “As a new creation in Christ, I’m learning to respond with patience and grace.”
Create space for newness. Sometimes we need to physically remove ourselves from environments, relationships, or activities that pull us back into old patterns. What might you need to step away from to fully embrace your new identity?

The journey of letting go of the old isn’t always easy or instantaneous. We often experience a tension between what is true of us positionally in Christ and what we’re experiencing in our daily lives. But the promise of 2 Corinthians 5:17 isn’t just wishful thinking—it’s the declaration of what God has already accomplished in Christ and is now working out in us through His Spirit.

As we begin this new year, let’s not settle for minor adjustments or temporary improvements. Instead, let’s embrace the radical truth that in Christ, the old has truly gone. We don’t need to drag the weight of our past into our future. We don’t need to be defined by what we once were. In Christ, we have been set free to live as the new creations we already are.

Next week, we’ll explore the second half of this powerful verse—”the new has come”—and discover what it means to embrace and live into our new identity in Christ.

This year – specifically in these Thursday posts – I want to make a point to include applications for the things we discuss. The Word is meant to transform us so let’s make the effort to engage and change and not skim and move on. May your 2026 be a year of growth and transformation for you!