The new birth entitles the believer to membership in the new order of beings, of which the risen Christ is the Head. The implantation of the divine life and the impartation of the divine nature in the believer form a completely new entity. The man in Christ is a new creation.

2 Corinthians 5:17

“Wherefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new.”

Galatians 6:15

“For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.”

In this new creation, everything must partake of the character of the new nature, which is its fountainhead; therefore, the old things must pass away. Members of the new order have a new ambition: to be altogether well pleasing unto the Lord, its Head (2 Corinthians 5:9). To be like Christ is their supreme ambition. To attain this, they are willing to count all things belonging to the old life but loss.

Philippians 3:7-8

^7 “But what things were gain to me, those I counted as loss for Christ. ⁸ Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.”

Members of the new order have new affections. The object of their affection has changed from self to Christ. The Holy Spirit has made the Lord Jesus so attractive and so satisfying that they can say from the heart:

“Thou, O Christ, art all I want, More than all in Thee I find.”

The love of Christ constrains them to live unto God instead of unto themselves and to love God with all the mind, heart, strength, and soul.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15

^14 “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that one died for all, therefore all died; ¹⁵ and he died for all, that they that live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto him who for their sakes died and rose again.”

Matthew 22:37

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”

Loving God in this way with every faculty of the whole being means loving the things He loves and hating the things He hates. The expulsive power of this new affection removes the old things that grieve and displease Him, the things that are not to His honor and glory. The creative power of the new affection produces within us love for the things He cares for most: His Word, His house, His people, His day, His Kingdom.

Love for the Father includes love for all His children. The love of the Head of the new order constrains every member to love all the other members. Love for our brothers and sisters in Christ is one proof of our own rebirth.

1 John 3:14

“We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”

Source: “Life on the Highest Plane” by Ruth Paxson

Gracious Lord, we have passed from death unto life. As a new creation in Christ Jesus, we now have the capacity to love God as well as one another.