LIVING THE NEW LIFE

 The Bible says, “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” If you claim that you have truly repented and given your life to Christ, then begin to do those things that will show that you now a new person in Christ (Matt. 3:8).

 

Today, we are going to look at “LIVING THE NEW LIFE.” The very next step after repentance is consecration. Without consecration, you cannot live the new life as a Christian.

 

What is consecration? In general, consecration is the act of “setting apart” yourself to the service of God. It is saying, "Lord, I am Yours. My ears were purchased by the blood: they belong to You. My eyes were purchased by the blood: they belong to You. My hands were purchased by the blood: they belong to You. My feet, my mouth, my eyes were purchased by the blood: they belong to You. From now on I can no longer use them for myself: they are all Yours.

 

Consecration is giving up your will to God. Biblically, consecration means living a life completely surrendered to the Lord, accepting His will for us and seeking that will each day in all things. 

 

Now, let us look at how to live the new life:

“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” (Col. 3:1-3; NLT).

 

1. Know that you have been raised to new life with Christ (Col. 3:1, NLT).

 

2. Then set your affections on the realities of Heaven, not the things on earth (Col. 3:2). The things we see with our physical eyes are temporal (2 Cor. 4:18).

 

3. Know that you have died to this life, and your life is hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3; Gal. 2:20).

 

4. Know that when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all His glory (Col. 3:4).

 

5. So, mortify (put to death) the sinful, earthly things lurking within you (Col. 3:5). “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live” (Rom. 8:13).

 

6. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires (Col. 3:6).

 

7. Do not be greedy (Col. 3:5-6).

 

8. Get rid of rage, anger, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language (Col. 3:5).

 

9. Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped of your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds (Col. 3:9).

 

10. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your creator and become like Him (Col. 3:10).

 

11. Clothe yourself with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience (Col. 3:12).

 

12. Make room for each other’s faults and forgive anyone who offends you (Col. 3:13).

 

13. Above all, clothe yourself with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony (Col. 3:14).

 

14. Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts, for as members of one body you are called to live in peace (Col. 3:15; Rom. 12:18).

 

15. Always be thankful (Col. 3:15).

 

16. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom (Col. 3:16).

 

17. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of Jesus Christ, giving thanks through Him to God the Father (Col. 3:17).

 

Conclusion: I guarantee that if you will put these things plus Romans 12:9-21 into practice, your life will radiate the New Life in Christ in deed.

 

Watch out for the next edition of the Good News from the Pulpit!

 

Your friend, I. I. Madubunyi (Senior Pastor, HOG)