By Sherelyn Mayberry
Synopsis: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Cor. 5:17).
In the hymn, A New Creature (PHSS #617), we sing of becoming a new creature after being buried with Christ in baptism. Having heard God’s word and beginning to grow in our faith in Him, we determine to repent of our sins, confess Jesus as the Christ, and are baptized for the remission of our sins. Then, we are followers of Christ, and as such, we walk in “newness of life.”
Repentance requires death to the old life of folly and sin. Dying to sin, we no longer live in it and can be made alive to God in Christ Jesus through baptism (Rom. 6:2, 11). Having repented, we cease functioning as instruments of unrighteousness, but become instruments of righteousness through obedience to God’s will. Sin no longer reigns in our lives (Rom. 6:12-13). Like sheep, we return to the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls (1 Pet. 2:25). Our godly sorrow for sin without regret leads us to salvation and a clearing of our past (2 Cor. 7:10).
When this change in our lives occurs, we suffer in the flesh, having ceased from sin. We no longer live for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. Those with whom we once walked may be surprised that we no longer run with them in the same excess of dissipation, and they may speak evil of us (1 Pet. 4:1-4). As we stand with Christ, we can be confident that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus—not Satan and his devices, not anything (Rom. 8:37-39)! So, repent and return. Your sins can be blotted out and times of refreshing can come through Christ’s death on the cross and your obedience (Acts 3:19).
Having repented of our sins, we should be baptized for the remission of our sins that we might receive the gift of the Holy Spirit—eternal life with God the Father (Acts 2:38). Being baptized into Christ, we are buried with Him into death (Rom. 6:3-4a). Christ bore our sins on the cross so we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His stripes, we are healed (1 Pet. 2:24). Our old self in sin is crucified, our body of sin is done away, and we are no longer slaves of sin (Rom. 6:6). Having been buried with Him in baptism, we are raised with Him through faith in the working of God (Col. 2:12). Putting on Christ in baptism, we can go on our way rejoicing (Gal. 3:27; Acts 8:38-39). What then?
As Christ was raised from the dead, we must be raised to “walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4b). If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things are passed away, new things have come (2 Cor. 5:17). We once were alienated from God in our wicked works, but now, being reconciled in obedience through baptism, we are made holy, blameless, beyond reproach. Bear fruit in keeping with repentance (Matt. 3:8). We must continue in that faith and not be moved away from our new hope (Col. 1: 21-23).
No longer being slaves of sin resulting in death, we are now slaves of obedience resulting in righteousness. When freed from sin and enslaved to God, we receive the benefit of sanctification, and the outcome—eternal life (Rom. 6:16-18, 22). The Truth we have heard makes us free. It leads us away from the slavery of sin to the freedom in Christ (John 8:31-32, 34, 36). Being a new creature, “it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20).
