NEW LIFE, NEW CREATION
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)
When you begin a relationship with Jesus, He changes everything. Jesus speaks of salvation as a passing from death to life (John 5:24). Paul tells us in the verse above that our old life is gone, and a new one has begun. Praise God!
Now, you may not always feel like a new person. You may, at times, feel the pull of your old life—a draw toward your previous proclivities. When we begin a relationship with Jesus, it doesn’t mean that we’ll no longer experience temptation. You may have, in fact, felt an increase in temptation—of course, the enemy is going to oppose you the more you seek to follow Jesus.
The good news is that you are no longer enslaved to sin. Romans 6 speaks repeatedly about our slavery to sin and the freedom we have as new creations in Christ. See what Paul says in Romans 6:20-22 (NLT): When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life.
You have been set free. You’re not the same person with some Jesus sprinkled on top. He fundamentally changes who you are. This should impact every part of your life—your relationships, your finances, your job, how you make decisions, etc.
APPLICATION:
Consider who you were before you met Jesus. How has He changed you? Where can you see His fingerprints in your life? Where is He continuing to change you by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2)? Ask God to continue to work in you to make you more like His Son Jesus.
PRAYER:
Father, thank You for the new life found in Your Son Jesus. Thank You for setting me free from slavery to sin. May Your Spirit remind me daily that I have passed from death to life, and may that life be given in honor of You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?