Old life is a sinful life. It is a life lived under the power of sin. It is a life that gratifies our sinful natures. An old life is a life in which the body is under the control of sin and gives sinful desires. It is a life in which sin is the master. It is a life full of disobedience. Old life is a life in which the wishes of God failed to be understood.
New is a life that has been set apart and free from sinful acts. When someone has a new life, it means that the person has forsaken the old nature and wears the new garment. There are characteristics of new life in the Bible. The following Bible verses talk about new lives.
2 Corinthians 5: 17, Galatians 6; 15, Ephesians 4: 24, Colossians 3: 10, Ephesians 2: 15, Romans 6: 4; 7: 6, Lamentations 3; 23, 1 john 4: 18, 1 Peter 1; 3, 2 Corinthians 5; 17, Ezekiel 11: 19; 36: 26, Isaiah 40: 31; 65; 17, Jeremiah 29:11, Job 8: 7, John 1: 12, Luke 7: 47, Malachi 4: 2, Ecclesiastes 3: 11, Revelation 21: 4-5, Philippians 3: 13-14, Philippians 4: 6-7, Proverbs 3: 5-6, Isaiah 43: 18-19, Colossians 3: 9-10.
If you read each of the Bible verses above, it will bless your soul. The Bible verses confirm that when someone has a new life, the old things have passed away and everything in him or her has become new.
New Life in Christ(Romans 6:1-4,12-14,7:4-6)
- In the Epistle to the Romans, Paul asked a question if we shall continue to sin the grace of God may abound seeing that sin has been the occasion of grace and favor of God.
- Paul says No. He explained why such cannot be done. The fact is that Christians, dead to sin, can no longer live in it. Death whether physical or spiritual means separation
- So dead to sin means separation from sinful power, not extinction of sin. Being dead to sin is being free from sin.
- Believers cannot sin if they die to it. It is impossible for those who are dead to act as if they were alive. When a man dies, he is no longer influenced and affected by the affairs of this life.
- He is insensible to his surroundings, tastes, and pleasures, to his business, to the voice of fellowship, and to anything that he enjoyed and valued before he died.
- So when a Christian is said to be dead to sin, it means that sin has lost its power over him, he is not a slave to it, he is like a man in the grave who is never influenced by the cares of his life.
- In baptism, we die with Christ and are buried with him through it to death. Baptism is an act that shows our dedication or consecration of our service to the service of him in whose name we are baptized.
- It is a means since a Christian solemnly created to the service of Christ, dead to sin because we carry the very human nature as the Christians.
- By baptism, we become dead to sin and rise from the dead. Unlike, Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Sin has no dominion over you. For you, sin becomes law where sin is excited.
- Paul urged the Christians. Believers who are identified with Jesus Christ are no more under the law. They had with Christ and so need not submit to legalistic rules.
- They have also been raised with Christ, so they should set their hearts on the heavenly things. Believers are to seek values and put off the sins of the old life and put on the virtues of the new life. Not only did believers die with Christ but have been raised with him.
- So they should set their hearts on things above. Here Paul is telling them that they should live in Christ and also let Christ dwell in them. They should put on a new way of life and their conduct should be in accord with their new position.
- Paul urged Christians to put on the virtues of new life, which are kindness, compassion, humility, gentleness, and patience, bear with each other, forgive all complaints against others, and over all these, put on love.
- They should let the peace of Christ rule in their hearts. Put on the new life in which the word of God dwells strictly. Whatever one does whether in word or action, should be done to the glory of the Lord Jesus.
Promise of Victory over Sin(Gal.5:16-21)
- Paul emphasized that a godly life is not lived under the rules of the law, but is a life led by the Holy Spirit.
- Paul warns that whoever sees will not inherit the kingdom of God. But if the Christians are free from sin, they should not go back to the yoke of slavery again.
Significance of the study
- The New life in Christ destroys the old man in us. The new life is lived out in our daily lives. For believers to sustain the New Life, Christ must live in them
- New life in Christ is achieved by believing that Christ is the Son of God and that He resurrected from the dead and ascended into heaven. With the new life in a believer, he obtains the peace of God. Believers have victory over sin when the New life takes place.
- Paul admonished, that if one is raised with Christ, let him experience things that are above, not things that are below, because your life is hidden with Christ in God. Then Christ who is our life appears, and we shall appear in glory putting to death what is earthly such as fornication, impurity, evil desires passions, and which is idolatry.
- Put away anger, wrath lice and slander out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another because you are now a new creation. There should be no discrimination of race in you; no Greek or free man or slave, sex or creed, but Christ should be our pillar and perfect example.
- You should put on compassion, kindness, meekness, willingness, patience, and forbearance towards one another. You should forgive one another as the Lord has given you. You should put on love. You should sing of thanks to God. Everything must be done to the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Prayers
- Thank God for finishing the work of Jesus Christ in you to become a new person in Christ. The old life has passed away.
- Appreciate God for giving you Jesus Christ to put an end to old nature in your life and replace it with a new way of life.
- Tell God to forgive you for the bad ways of life you have lived in the past and assure God that you will not go back to those sins again.
- Pray against the power and manifestation that still want to tamper with the new ways of Jesus Christ you have received in the name of Jesus.
- Enrich me abundantly in you from today in the name of Jesus.
- From today Oh God, let your new life in me bring breakthroughs in the news of Jesus.
- Almighty God, let the life in Christ bring new success, uplift, accomplishment, fulfillment, etc. to me right now in the name of Jesus.
- As of today, commit new things that will change my life better into my hands in the name of Jesus.
- Thank God for what God has done, bringing you a new life and new glorious things that will turn your life around.
- Begin to sing of joy, new songs, and songs of praises because Lord Jesus has come to your life afresh.