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.
