Out With the Old – In With the New
By: Brian A. Yeager

When an alien sinner makes the decision to repent of their sins based on the faith they have acquired from hearing God’s word (Romans 10:14-17), and be converted they have made a choice to change their ways and be a new creature in Christ Jesus (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19, and II Corinthians 5:17).  This means that we are to be different than we were prior to being baptized into Christ.  We have to leave our worldly ways behind and set out to do godly things.  Notice the following passages: (Colossians 3:1-3) “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”  (Colossians 3:9-10) “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.”  (Romans 6:3-4) “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

True Repentance

When one becomes a Christian they should have truly made the appropriate changes.  Repenting means to turn away from sin and turn to God (Acts 26:20 and Matthew 3:8).  We should not cling to the things we have left behind.  There is a good biblical example of one who was converted but failed to leave behind all of his sinful ways.  (Acts 8:13-24) “Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.  Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)  Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.  And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.  But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.  Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.  Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.  For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.  Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.”

No Longer a Servant of Sin

When we are converted from darkness to light (Colossians 1:13), we change from being sinners to becoming followers of the Lord.  In times past those outside of Christ served sin.  Upon obedience to the Gospel truth they have obeyed the Lord.  (Romans 6:16-17) “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?  But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.”  Having left sin behind and being washed through baptism by the blood of Christ (Acts 22:16 and Revelation 1:5), we must not turn back to the world.  Satan’s whole duty lies in turning us away from God.  This was the case from the very beginning (Genesis 3:1ff).  Being Christians we are saved from sin, but we are not safe from sin.  Satan already has the worldly folks his work of causing people to be lost is among the saved.  The bible teaches the reality that a Christian can be lead astray (Romans 3:23, Hebrews 10:38-39, Romans 6:1-2, Galatians 5:4, Galatians 6:7-8, I Corinthians 9:27, I Corinthians 10:12, II Peter 2:20-22, Revelation 2:1-7, Revelation 2:12-17, Revelation 2:18-28, Revelation 3:1-6, and Revelation 3:14-21).

Conclusion

 
Leaving behind the sins we once committed requires a commitment to God.  If we do not love God enough we will not do his will.  We should always be mindful of the great love Jesus Christ showed to us by giving His life and taking on the burden of our sins that we could have life eternal (John 3:16 and John 10:6-18).  When we put our old selves away in baptism we are dead to sin and we should strive never to go back.  (Romans 6:7-12) “For he that is dead is freed from sin.  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.  For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.”