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.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Be the first to comment