New creation vs 新造的人 (2 Cor 5:17)

2 Cor 5:17

NIV: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! [link]
新譯本: 如果有人在基督裡，他就是新造的人，舊事已經過去，你看，都變成新的了！[link]

For quite a long time, I thought "new creation", or in the Chinese version literally "new created human", refers to the character change after conversion. Upon reading the NIV version "new creation", I suddenly have a different feeling. Then, I read the context a bit and now I think it has a deeper meaning than that.

Verse 17 starts with "therefore", so reading verse 16 and other verses around it is important. 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." Okay, "so" means we should look further up. 5:15 - "And he [Jesus] died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again."

Jesus died for all --> all should live for Him --> Regard no one from worldly point of view --> everyone in Christ is new creation.

Meaning, I am new creation, you are new creation, he is new creation, i.e. a community of new creation. In other words, the human who accepted Christ has joined the community of new creation. It is more than just personal character change. You also join the community of new creation. Also, the context is about reconciliation. That can be another evidence that this is about joining a community.

It seems to me there are 3 folds: 1) The one who accepted Christ joins the community of community. (You cannot just be a lone ranger Christian) 2) The one who are already in Christ should accept the new convert because he/she is also in Christ now and Christ died for him, too (regard no one from the worldly point of view). 3) Next step: ask other to join this community of new creation, reconciling to God and to each other.

Then, this part I am really not sure. Does this term new creation relate to "new heaven and new earth, new Jerusalem" in Revelation? The community of new creation on earth right now is a fore-shadow of the new heaven and new earth to come.

What does it mean to us now and here? I guess fellowship life. 1) For those who are different from the "worldly point of view", it may not be easy for us to accept them. However, we should. Christ died for him/her, too. 2) Sometimes, it may be hard for us to open up ourselves to join the community of faith for whatever "old creation" we have. Well, you know what, the old has passed and the new has come! 3) Be open. Fellowship should be "open concept" (I am not refering to Kitchen).

Why am I typing all these? I don't know. I just thought of something and felt like sharing it. Feel free to comment and/or agree and/or disagree.