A New Walk

         My mom bought me a new shirt a couple of days ago. She has great taste and I loved the top!   Most of us like getting new things.  Wearing something new gives us a good feeling.  It just makes us feel better and when we feel better, we act better - we are happier and that shows. 
     As Christians, we are new creatures.  When we put Him on in baptism - we have something new to wear- His precious name.  We have Christ's spirit living in us.  We cast off our old lifestyle and gladly wear our new name -Christian.  Our sins have been washed away .. what joy and peace comes from that!  Putting Christ on -- allowing all things to become new -- well, that makes us feel better.  Actually, it is the greatest feeling in the whole world!  And when we have that love and joy reigning in our hearts - then we act better.  Again, as Christians we are happier people - or we should be.  And that happiness, that new resolve we have as we wear His name --well, that should show!!
     Let us consider a few scriptures:
       II Corinthians 5:17 - "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away, behold all things are become new."
       Romans 6:4 - "Therefore we are buried with by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father; even so we should walk in newness of life."
       Galations 6:15 - "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but a new creature."
      Galations 4:23-24 - "And be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that ye put on the new man, which after God, is created in righteousness and true holiness."

      These are beautiful scriptures full of hope and comfort.  In II Corinthians we see that Christ is the one who makes us new.  Only Christ can "pass away" those old things that kept us in bondage to sin.  In Romans we learn that as we give our old ways over to God by putting them to death in baptism -- we throw all our sins away --we leave them there in that burial -- and Christ makes us whole and new again.  How are those old sins - that old lifestyle put to death?  How are we able to walk in newness of life?  The spirit through Paul tells it is through the glory of the Father. 
     OK now look at Romans 6:4 again.  Notice the word should in that verse - "even so we should walk in newness of life."  Christ will wash away our sins.  At that moment of baptism we are washed clean.  We have the chance to raise up out of that water to build a new life - a whole new life.  But the verse said we should walk in newness of life.  It does not say shall.  It is not a guarantee that we will somehow magically walk in this new way with no effort on our part.  No -- it says should -implying that this is a choice.  We always have a choice.  We could allow ourselves to go back to the same old ways with no true change in our heart or in the way we live.  If we come up out of that water with no intention to seek to change and grow -- then it will all have been for naught.    We must renew the spirit of our minds -- renew our way of thinking - so that we can put on the new man-- and be created in righteousness. 
     The change in lifestyle was evident in the lives of the apostles.  All of them except Peter and John fled when he was taken; and we know that Peter denied the Lord three times.  But the others ran away afraid for their lives.  Yet just a short time later we find them all boldly declaring the gospel with Peter on the Day of Pentecost. (Acts 2).  And then in Acts 4 -- after being brought before the Sanhedrin -- Peter and John said "we cannot but speack the things which we have seen and heard."  Looks like theydid what they "should" have done.  They made the choice to "put on the man!" And we all know how Saul's conversion totally changed his way of life.  But why?  Because that is the choice he made --that's why.
     What choice will you make?  Have you done what you "should" do?  Have you put on the new man and kept him on?  Have you let all your old sins "pass away?"  Make that choice and you will be glad you did.  I can assure you that the Christian life is absolutely the best life to live!

Christ above all things,
Robin