kata sarka, “according to the flesh”

2 Corinthians 5:16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. [17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Do we really think that our fellow Christians are a new creation? What about people outside the church: those not in community with us? Do we judge them? Do we look at them as people created in God’s image? We are all on a journey of being recreated to resemble Christ.

Consider that Paul says the old ways are gone: the worldly point of view (kata sarka, “according to the flesh”) is gone. We know longer are viewing things the way the world does but rather we see things through the lenses of God. We do not view people or culture with prejudice as we once did. All people have value and worth because they were created in the image of God. We are not trapped with a limited existence because we know there is more than this and we want all of mankind to experience this mindset.

But is it just us that have been changed? Could it be that through the resurrection of Christ all of creation has changed? I like to think of Jesus bringing heaven to earth. He gave us that glimpse through His life here on earth. I do not think Jesus took heaven with Him when He ascended. Heaven is not just a destination but it something that can be experienced here and now. We do not live lives kata sarka(according to the flesh/world) rather we now live lives kata pneuma (according to the Spirit).