Remember the promises of the “Body for Life” program?  O the long list of exercise programs and personal makeovers that indicate that they have the solution for creating a new, permanent you.  

The good news is that in Christ, you already possess a new you.  2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”  Through the resurrection of Jesus, you were raised with Christ to a new life that is eternally permanent (Colossians 3:1).

For any believer that is wrestling with their past or struggling with sin, this is indeed gospel or “good news”, because they can now consider themselves dead to sin and alive to God.  Paul in Romans 6:11 go so far as to command this:  “So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus”.  The angry, backbiting “you” has died.  You are no longer a slave to sin.  Instead, you have found freedom in slavery to Christ.  You are a slave to righteousness (Romans 6:19).

Your union with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection is the foundation of your new life.  Because of this union, you are able to:

  • love others with brotherly affection (Romans 12:10)
  • bless those who persecute you (Romans 12:14)
  • live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16)
  • feed your enemy (Romans 12:20)
  • overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21)

Μόνο ο Χριστός:  In Christ Alone

There is a new you.  Your union with Christ isn’t a program that you can buy for $29.99.  It is the result of the free gift of salvation by grace in Christ alone.  The power to live out this good news is given by God through His Spirit.  Abide in Christ today, and He will sustain you as you grow in grace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Anger, Christlikeness, Fighting, Others and tagged