WEEK 7
NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
i. Meaning of old life as living in Sin
Old life means the life we live in sin. It is characterized by the life without the consciousness of the God-factor or the real purpose of existence. This may also refer to the life one carelessly live without recourse to how God wants us to live our lives.
ii. Characteristics of old life (Galatians 5:19-21, Colossians 3:5-7)
According to the Bible in Galatians 5:19 – 21, the Bible records that, “Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness(debauchery – living in such a way that ignores societal standards of living), idolatry, sorcery(witchcraft or magic), enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension (discord), party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing (wild life often with alcohol), and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Anyone who lives in such behaviours as listed above is said to live an old life. That is why the Bible states in Colossians 3:5-7, that, “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you once walked, when you lived in them.” The Bible recognizes the fact that while we were ignorant of God’s standard, we have lived in one or two of these lifestyles. But now, we should do away with these characters, which represent old life and embrace the Jesus’ Way of life.
iii. Need for change (Romans 6:1-4)
Paul highlighted the need to live a better live when he wrote to the Romans in Romans 6:1-4 where he said, “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we, who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Paul stated that grace doesn’t increase in sinful characters. Anyone who believes in Jesus Christ dies with Him and will inherit eternal life in Him also. The death in Him means that we are no longer conscious of the dictates of our flesh. Rather, we are united with the spirit of Christ. So, we should walk in the newness of this life. The baptism represents dying in our old life when dipped in the water and resurrecting in the new life as we are lifted up from the water.
Unprecedented 