According to 2 Corinthians 5:17-19, what happens to someone who is in Christ?

In 2 Corinthians 5:17-19, the central theme is transformation and reconciliation through Christ. The verse clearly states that anyone who is in Christ becomes a new creation. This signifies a profound change in a person's spiritual state, marking the old self as having passed away and the new self as having been brought into existence.

This new creation not only involves a transformation in one’s identity but also in how one relates to God and others. The passage emphasizes that this transformation is rooted in God's action through Christ, signaling that believers have been reconciled to God and are now part of a new covenant community. The context of verses 18 and 19 further supports this idea as they highlight the ministry of reconciliation, emphasizing the new role and purpose believers have in sharing the message of reconciliation with others.

The other options, while potentially relevant to a believer's journey, do not encapsulate the specific transformation that is articulated in this scripture. Becoming a leader, being called to preach, or upholding the law are all important aspects of the Christian life but do not capture the essence of the new identity that comes with being in Christ as described in these verses.