Lesson 2: The Creation of the New Creature

OBJECTIVES cont’d Discuss the oneness of the soul with God through salvation and the impact of its union with Christ. Students should be able to articulate how salvation creates a real union between the soul and the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 6:17) and fulfills Christ’s prayer in John 17.

Reflect on evidence of spiritual transformation in thoughts, character, and daily walk as a result of becoming a new creature. Students should be able to give personal examples or observations of spiritual transformation as evidence of the new nature received at salvation showing how they reflect the identity of Christ.

(a) Examine the image below that shows a series of changes from one state to another, and say how it illustrates the meaning of terms such as: renew, transform, new creature.
(b) Use your response to Part (a) above to help you complete the table provided.

PREPARATION ACTIVITY

2.1

Focus The Image Old Man to New Creature

(Spiritual Transformation)

Supporting Scripture

Nature of the Change Gradual, irreversible transformation from crawling to flying Sudden, spiritual rebirth through death and resurrection in Christ New Structure or Form Entire body is broken down and rebuilt into a butterfly Romans 6:6 – “Our old man is crucified with him...”

Purpose Designed to fly, pollinate, reproduce; new purpose unlocked Created to serve God in righteousness and walk in the Spirit Freedom/ Ability Gains new perspective, flight, and beauty Romans 6:4 – “Walk in newness of life...”

Galatians 5:16 – “Walk in the Spirit...”

No Return to Old State Cannot return to caterpillar form Romans 6:2 – “How shall we...live any longer therein?”

From Old to New and Beautiful

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE EXPLANATION EXPLANATION Scripture 1 2 Corinthians 5:17

Scripture 2

THE RENEWAL OF THE SOUL

According to our foundational Scripture, after the putting off of the old man, a renewal of the inner man must occur.

Ephesians 4:23

And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

The “spirit of the mind” refers to the soul, as the soul is the spiritual18 aspect of a person that governs the mind. 19 Therefore, the next phase of the born-again experience is the renewal of the soul.20 To renew means to make new, recreate, or revive. This renewal of the soul is not something accomplished by the soul itself, and, contrary to popular belief, does not refer to mental training or discipline—it is a true re-creation of the soul. However, when the soul is renewed, it does not merely revert to the purity it had before Adam’s fall; it is refashioned into something entirely new.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

To renew the soul, at salvation, God places the soul and human spirit into Christ’s Spirit. 21 When the soul is placed in the Holy Ghost it causes the soul to be born of the Spirit. It is the creation of a new creature - a son of God.

18 Non-physical as opposed to divine.

19 To learn more about the relationship between the soul and the mind, refer to page 35 of Course 1: Introduction to Salvation.

20 Ephesians 4:22-24 may seem like an instruction to put off the old man, renew your mind, and put on the new man. However, Paul is actually teaching the truth in Jesus or the experience of those who are in Christ: the sons of God have already put off the old man, been renewed in the spirit of their mind, and put on the new man. Colossians 3:9-10 confirms this, speaking in the past tense to affirm that this transformation has already occurred.

21 For the remainder of this lesson, I will primarily say that God placed the soul in Christ; however, He also placed the human spirit there as well. Find three (3) scripture verses that reveal that the sons of God are considered to be in Christ, signifying that the soul is united with Christ.

2.2 The Scripture specifically uses the phrase “man be in Christ” to describe the position of the soul in Christ.

Since the soul was brought to life by being placed in the Holy Ghost, it is now able to live by the Spirit of God, whereas before salvation it could only express itself through the body. This is similar to how Jesus rose to life in the lower parts of the earth before returning to His body.

It is important to consider that Scripture goes further in its explanation of the union of soul and Holy Ghost as shown in Titus 3:4-5.

Titus 3:4-5

4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

The scripture verses above clearly explain that to save the soul from sin, the soul is regenerated and renewed by the Holy Ghost. The word regenerate means to be reborn, reformed, or transformed. It is to bring into renewed existence; to generate again. This regeneration occurred by uniting the soul and the Holy Ghost into one entity.

ONENESS WITH GOD

One of the greatest mysteries and privileges of salvation is the believer’s oneness with God. This oneness is not merely symbolic or emotional—it is a real, spiritual union established through the Holy Ghost. When the soul is placed in Christ, it becomes one spirit with the Lord, sharing in His nature, His righteousness, and His purpose. Let us look at this more closely using Scripture.

1 Corinthians 6:17

But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

The Scripture describes the placing of the soul in the Holy Ghost as a joining or a uniting in oneness. The oneness of the soul in the Holy Ghost was a fulfillment of the eternal plan of the Godhead, revealed in Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.

John 17:20-23

20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Jesus made it clear that this oneness that He prayed for was not an experience that was to be unique to the disciples, but He desired all who would believe the gospel to partake in this transformation. Even as the Father was in His body, and His soul in the Father, He desired that the Church partake in the same makeup.

Thus, by the joining of the soul to the Spirit, right here on earth, we are made the same type of creature or being that Jesus is - a son of God.

1 John 4:17

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

1 John 3:1-2, teach us that even as Jesus was a son of God, now are we the sons of God. 22 Jesus is indeed the first of many brethren, the first begotten son of God. 23 And we are those that follow. 22 1 John 3:1-2 1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

23The scripture that identifies Jesus as the “first of many brethren” is Romans 8:29, and the scripture that describes Him as the “firstbegotten” is Hebrews 1:6.

Evidence of Oneness with Christ

2.3 Find and write down the Scriptures that support your answer.

Use The Bible Teacher App to answer this question: How are born-again believers one with God in the same way Jesus is?

Using what you have learned from Parts (a) and (b), complete the diagram below, by filling in missing phrases and Scriptures that describe our oneness with God Divine Nature Image of God (2 Corinthians 3:18)

(Galatians 2:20)

Purpose Sonship

The joining of the soul with Christ during the operation of salvation creates a new creature, or a son of God. With this understanding, it is important to examine the impact this operation has on the soul. This will prove that spiritual transformation by the Holy Ghost is not about wilfully changing one’s behavior or way of thinking. The following is a list of ways in which the soul is impacted through its union with Christ:

Partakers of the Divine Nature:

When placed in the Holy Ghost, the soul’s nature changes from earthly to heavenly. This new nature is of God, and as a result it is unnatural for a son of God to sin.24 The Word Written on the Heart:

The soul’s presence in the Spirit allows it to become aware of God’s Word. God now guides the soul into truth and righteousness, and the conscience which is now purified bears witness to that truth. The conscience is also able to judge the thoughts and intents of the soul according to God’s righteousness.

24 In Psalm 82:6 and John 10:34, God and Jesus respectively refer to those who are born again and sanctified as “gods” (with a lowercase “g”) because they are the children of God. This is similar to the concept that dogs birth puppies, who are considered small dogs. The teaching, “ye are gods,” is intended to establish the divine nature of the Church, not to attract worship as idols.

PUTTING OFF THE OLD MAN THE IMPACT OF THE UNION OF SOUL AND CHRIST

25 Though Jesus died for the sins of the world, only those who receive the Holy Spirit partake in the atonement. While Jesus paid for all sin, one must be united with His sacrifice to have their own sins removed—an operation that occurs only upon receiving the Holy Ghost. John 3:16 explains that belief in Christ is necessary to access this atonement.

26 Being baptized into Christ is different from outward water baptism. In this context, baptism means to be fully submerged into something, referring to the soul’s complete immersion into Christ at salvation.

To learn more about the spiritual operation of being baptized into the death of Christ, enroll in our upcoming course, The Divine Atonement. Partakers of the Eternal Nature of God:

Joined with the eternal Spirit, the soul shares God’s timeless nature, transcending earthly limits. Sons of God, though on earth, are seated in heavenly places, sharing in God’s omnipresence. Baptized into Christ’ Death:

Receiving the Holy Ghost made us recipients and partakers of the atonement.25 This means that when our souls were baptized into Christ, we were also baptized into His death.26 Through an eternal spiritual operation, our submersion into Christ placed us in the Holy Ghost, making us present with Him on the cross and in His formation in the lower parts of the earth, sharing in both His death and resurrection.27 Oneness with the Sons:

All the souls that are placed in Christ are united in oneness, reversing the separation of death and fostering genuine love within the Body of Christ.

CREATION OF THE NEW CREATURE

The table below presents the list of ways in which the soul is impacted through its union with Christ. For each type of impact, search the Scriptures and provide a verse that supports or illustrates that truth.

2.4 Impact of the Soul’s Union with Christ Impact of Union with Christ Supporting Scripture (KJV)

Partakers of the Divine Nature

The Word Written on the Heart Partakers of the Eternal Nature of God Baptized into Christ’s Death Romans 6:3–5; Colossians 2:12 Oneness with the Sons Freedom from Sin Romans 6:6–7; Colossians 2:11 Justification by the Spirit of Christ Freedom from Sin:

Through the circumcision of Christ and union with the Holy Ghost, the soul is free from sin. Now able to choose righteousness, any sin committed is by choice, with repentance required to restore fellowship with God and ultimately escape hell.

Justification by the Spirit of Christ:

Though the soul once lived in sin and deserved death, it is justified and granted life by the Spirit of Christ. Jesus paid for its sins, and by partaking in the atonement and being sanctified through Christ’s circumcision, the soul is made pure and holy. United with the Spirit of Christ, it is justified through His righteousness. Empowered by the Spirit, the soul can maintain its righteousness through obedience to God, securing its place in the Kingdom of Heaven.

CONCLUSION

In this lesson, we explored the second phase of salvation: the creation of the new creature. Through Scripture, we demonstrated that once the soul is removed from the body of sin and cleansed, it is placed into the Holy Ghost—becoming one spirit with the Lord. This union is not symbolic or poetic; it is the literal formation of a new spiritual being, now a member of the divine family of God. This transformation changes everything. The soul, once carnal and bound to the flesh, now lives by the Spirit of God. The Holy Ghost empowers it to walk in righteousness, partake of the divine nature, and manifest the will of God on earth. The creation of this new being—a son of God—is the fulfillment of Jesus’ prayer in John 17: that we would be one with Him and the Father. In this oneness, we are not only free from sin but now possess the true identity of a son of God with a new mind, and whose daily walk reflects the character of Christ.

Here are some key points from this lesson that you should remember:

• The Soul Is Renewed in Christ – Renewal refers to complete re-creation, not mental change or behavior modification.
• The Soul Is Born of the Spirit – The soul is placed in the Holy Ghost, becoming a new creature and partaking in divine nature.
• Union with the Holy Ghost – The soul and Spirit become one, fulfilling Jesus’ prayer in John 17.
• Eternal Life Is Fellowship with God – Life is defined as union and communion with God through Christ.
• Partakers of God’s Nature and Righteousness – The new creature is empowered to live holy and free from sin.

The self-evaluation serves as a tool for you to examine how you have been applying that which is taught in the lesson to your own life and/or to further probe your knowledge of the lesson. Please answer honestly and thoroughly.

SELF-EVALUATION

1. Why do I see, or do not see myself as a new creature in Christ?
2. What explanation would I offer to others who struggle to understand how the soul is regenerated and made one with the Holy Ghost?
3. Why have I embraced, or not embraced that the identity of being in Christ is not simply being a better version of my old self?
4. What Scriptures can I use to support the reality of spiritual renewal and oneness with God?
5. Am I allowing the divine nature within me to govern my thoughts, choices, and actions? Explain.

EXTENDED STUDY

Task 1

(a) Read or listen to an audio recording of Jeremiah 18:1–6.
(b) Reflect carefully on the imagery of the potter and the clay as you engage with the passage.
(c) Compare the imagery in Jeremiah 18:1–6 with the born-again experience of the believer using the table below.

Areas for Comparison The Potter Born Again Experience

The material used Natural (clay.)

The making process The nature of the change Reversible, temporary The outcome of the change New Creature

Task 2

(a) Use clay/playdough to form and reform a shape as a symbol of transformation. Pay attention to each part of the making process from collecting the clay to the completed product.
(b) Share how making this symbol of transformation impacted you when you considered the transition of believers from natural to spiritual beings.

NOTES

40 40

PUTTING ON THE NEW MAN

OVERVIEW

This lesson unveils the final stage in the operation of salvation: the putting on of the new man. In this study, we will learn that the “new man” is not the soul, but the sanctified body, made alive and filled with the life of Christ—now functioning as the temple of the Holy Ghost. We will explore the mystery of the new man, examine the body’s role as an instrument of righteousness, and uncover how salvation empowers Jesus to continue His ministry on the earth through the lives of the sons of God.

As you engage with this lesson, take a moment to reflect on your own body. Is it surrendered to God as His temple? If not, consider how Christ desires to live, walk, and minister through you—daily. See this lesson as a call to manifest the life of Jesus in every thought, action, and interaction.

OBJECTIVES

Differentiate between the “old man” and the “new creature.”

Students should be able to use supporting Scriptures to show that the old man is the sinful body before salvation, while the new creature is the soul made new in Christ. (Ephesians 4:22–24 and 2 Corinthians 5:17).

Trace the process of salvation using Colossians 2 and Romans 8.

Students should be able to identify and describe the steps of salvation based on specific verses in both Scriptures.

Explain how Christ living in the body reveals the Mystery of Godliness.

Students should be able to articulate with supporting Scriptures how Christ living inside the believer is the fulfillment of the Mystery of Godliness.

Describe what it means for the body to be the temple of the Holy Ghost.

Students should be able to outline the spiritual change that causes the body of the born again believer to become God’s holy dwelling place and vessel to be used for His purpose.

During this lesson, you should be able to: