Added to the Church

New Means New When Becoming a Christian

Isn’t it exciting to be part of a new year! What is it that makes this new year new? Is it not that the old has been given up? We no longer date our forms with last year’s date unless you are like me and get stuck in the habit and now must relearn how to date things again. If we still label the new with the old, we would be in error. 

Becoming a Christian is a tremendous accomplishment! This accomplishment is the most important event in your life. After your belief in Christ is triggered by hearing God’s word combined with your repentance, confession, and baptism, you are then located in Christ after your baptism (Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27). Like the new year, we become new in Christ at a precise moment. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV). 

A Repenting Christian Walking in the Light

As it is said by man, old habits die hard. Just as I struggle to write the correct date after the new year, a new Christian may repeat “things” of the past, and by “things,” I mean sinful things. When that happens, an error has occurred, and that error must be corrected. We are no longer new when we are living as our old selves. We must, as Christians, continue to repent when we sin a new sin or relive an old sin. We Christians accomplish this by once again turning away from sin and praying to the Father for forgiveness (Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:9). 

A Christian has repented of their past sins and, upon having them washed away in baptism, will work to remain faithful by continuing to live a life of righteousness in the eyes of God, therefore remaining a new creation. If and when sin does enter our lives, we repent and pray, turning back to the light of Christ. New means new, not the old thing with a new title.

I pray we enjoy the new year and continue as a new creation in Christ.