NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Memorise: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:
old things are
passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2nd
Corinthians 5:17
Read; 1st Corinthians 6:9-11, 9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the
kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor
adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor
thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall
inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And
such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are
justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Bible in one year: 2nd Kings 8:25-10:17, Proverbs
22:13-28
MESSAGE
Speaking about a ‘new life’ is an
indication that there has been an old one. In Christianity, when we speak of
the ‘old life’, we mean a combination of the philosophy of life and worldview
that controls the lifestyle and behaviour of a person that is not born again.
The new life in Christ however, is the new way of thinking and doing things in
accordance with the Bible that we have come to be acquainted with since we became
born again. Several passages of the Bible focus on issues concerning the old
and new life in order to help Christians identify the sources of their thoughts
and actions,
whether they are remnants of the old evil ways or from the new
life in Christ. Galatians 2:20 says:
“I have
been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The
life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and
gave himself for me.”
The book of Galatians devoted
much effort to explanations on the old and new life, but what the above passage
says about the old life and the new is golden. It simply says that when a
person accepts Jesus as Lord and Saviour, he automatically becomes dead to the
old life, and communication with the old life becomes cut off. Everything about
the thought process, interest, tastes, sensibilities, and the will becomes
inaccessible to the former system of control. The old password simply refuses
to work because the access code has been changed. This event effectively marks
the end on an era called ‘the old life’, and the beginning of the new life in
Jesus. 2nd Corinthians 5:17 says;
“Therefore
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new.”
At this point, everything about
the life we lived before we met Jesus ceases. The control of our lives now
shifts back to the original source, to the One who gave us this free gift of
new life. We naturally begin to hunger for righteousness by pursuing purity,
honesty, justice, unselfishness, love, humility, and service to humanity. The
Bible makes it clear that becoming a Christian is much more than adopting a new
philosophy of life. When a person becomes a Christian through the right
process, all phases of life are renewed. It starts from a new mind; you
instantly begin to think differently from the old ways, to the extent that you
actually become surprised at your new self. You suddenly develop a new standard
and you begin to measure everything you do in line with the Bible. The new life
in Christ also comes with a new hope of abundant life here on earth and eternal
life in heaven. People may equate hope with wishful thinking, but real hope is
based on the authority of the one offering it. God is faithful and dependable.
You can count on Him for a new life in Christ.
Prayer Point
Father, please let the new life You gave me be refreshed every day
of my life in the Name of Jesus.
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