Resurrection Words Day 5: New

Day 5: New

"We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." Romans 6:4

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17

Faith in Christ results in a new way of life as God's new creation. God creates in us a new person created to be like His Son. Our role is to grow up into that new Christ-like person as we grow in the knowledge of Christ and His ways. This new creation is who we are in Christ. Fully becoming our new self in Christ requires that we cooperate with God's Spirit and grow in our knowledge of Christ. This growth will be a life-long process as we "put off our old self" and "put on the new self". 

"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:22-24

"Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator." Colossians 3:9-10

Paul continues in Colossians 3:12-17 to give us a picture of what that new self looks like:

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved [This is your new self in Christ! You did nothing to earn it. In Christ this is the new creation that you already are.], clothe yourselves [Put on] with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:12-17

Our new self is to become one who pursues growing in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, forgiveness, love, peace, thanksgiving, wisdom, gratitude, good words and good deeds. There are other virtues as well in other passages throughout the New Testament letters that describe the Christ-like character that we are called to grow in as we become God's new creation in Christ.

It seems like a daunting list that seems to go against the grain of our human nature. And it is! But, thankfully, God has provided the means by which we can grow into our new self. A means that is not dependent on our own power, but on the power of the Holy Spirit, who resides in us by virtue of our union by faith with Christ. We will look at this union with Christ in more detail tomorrow.

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