The key verse is 2 Corinthians 5:17: "if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). The new creation begins when a person is "born again" (John 3:3) and ends with God's promise, "I create new heavens and a new earth" (Isaiah 65:17).
The phrase new creation sums up the hope of the whole Bible: God makes people new now, and one day He will make all things new. That is why so many Christians turn to these verses at baptism, when they first come to faith, and at the start of a new year. These twelve King James verses explain what it means to be a new creature in Christ, how the new life begins, and what God has promised for the whole creation. For fresh starts in general, see new beginning; for changing the way you think, see the mind.
A new creature in Christ
1. Galatians 6:15
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature."
Paul says religious rituals such as circumcision cannot make anyone right with God; what counts is a new creature. It is the same phrase he uses in 2 Corinthians 5:17. Being made new is God's work, not a badge we earn.
2. Colossians 3:10
"And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:"
The new man is renewed in knowledge after the image of the One who created him. God is restoring the image of God in us that sin spoiled (Genesis 1:27), one day and one choice at a time.
3. Romans 6:6
"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."
The old man, the person we were apart from Christ, was crucified with Him, so believers no longer have to serve sin. Baptism pictures this death and new life (Romans 6:4). See baptism.
4. James 1:18
"Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures."
God gave us new birth by the word of truth to be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Firstfruits were the first part of the harvest and a promise of more to come. Believers are the first signs of the new creation God will finish.
Born again: how the new life begins
5. John 3:3
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
Jesus told Nicodemus, a respected teacher of Israel, that he must be born again to see the kingdom of God. The new birth is not self-improvement; it is new life given from above by the Spirit (John 3:5-8).
6. John 1:13
"Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
John explains where the new birth comes from: not from family line, human effort or anyone's will, but of God. The verse before it says all who receive Christ are given power to become the sons of God (John 1:12).
7. 1 Peter 1:23
"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."
Peter says believers are born again by the word of God, which lives and abides for ever. The seed of the new life cannot spoil or die. That is one reason reading Scripture feeds the new creature.
8. Romans 7:6
"But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter."
The new creature serves in newness of spirit, not in the oldness of the letter. Christian obedience flows from a changed heart and the Spirit's help, not from fear of a rule book.
All things new: the new heavens and the new earth
9. Romans 8:22
"For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now."
The whole creation groans like a woman in labour, waiting for the day God sets it free (Romans 8:21). The pain of this world is real, but Paul pictures it as birth pains, not death throes.
10. Isaiah 65:17
"For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind."
God's promise of new heavens and a new earth first appears here, and the former troubles will not even come to mind. The verses that follow describe joy, long life and peace (Isaiah 65:18-25).
11. Isaiah 66:22
"For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain."
Isaiah's last chapter repeats the promise and adds that God's people will remain before Him as surely as the new heavens and the new earth. The new creation is permanent.
12. Revelation 21:1
"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea."
John saw the promise fulfilled: a new heaven and a new earth. Four verses later, God says He makes all things new (Revelation 21:5). See the future.
A short prayer
Lord, thank You that in Christ I am a new creature. Put to death what is old in me, renew me in knowledge after Your image, and help me walk in newness of life this year. Keep my eyes on the day You will make all things new, and let my life be a firstfruit of Your new creation. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
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Frequently asked questions
What does it mean to be a new creation in Christ?
It means God has given you a new life and a new identity. Paul says "old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). You are forgiven, your old self was crucified with Christ (Romans 6:6), and the Holy Spirit is renewing you from the inside. Growth still takes time; see growth.
Does the KJV say new creation or new creature?
The King James Version says "a new creature" in 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Galatians 6:15. Many modern translations render the same Greek words as new creation. Both are fair: the word can mean a newly created person or the new creation as a whole.
What does the Bible say about the new heavens and new earth?
God promised them through Isaiah (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22), Peter repeated the promise, "new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness" (2 Peter 3:13), and John saw them in Revelation 21:1-5. There God will dwell with His people and "wipe away all tears from their eyes" (Revelation 21:4).
What new creation verses are good for baptism or the new year?
2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 6:4 and Galatians 2:20 are classic baptism verses. For a new year, many people choose 2 Corinthians 5:17 or "Behold, I make all things new" (Revelation 21:5). Write one on a card and read it each morning in January. See the new year.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Bible verses about a new beginning · Bible verses about the mind · Bible verses about baptism · Bible verses about salvation · Bible verses about change · Bible verses for the new year · Bible verses about walking by faith, not by sight
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