If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
2 Corinthians 5:13-17 New International Version (NIV)
Happy New Year! We like many new things and we celebrate the new year as we look forward to what the next 12 months will bring. There is much hope in the chance to begin again — to start over and make better choices and change some things. "Put on our new natures." Our Creator knows all about newness since everything began with Him. He also knew what new things we would need to become all He created us in His image to be. So, He sent His Son, Jesus, to die to give us new life.
To experience new life, we must die to old ways and habits that keep us bound in our old lives. This is the kind of dying that frees us receive the new life God promises through Christ. To those who do not truly know God, dying to anything seems crazy. Yet, He who gives and sustains life for us all, offers us new life when we put to death those things that are designed to permanently kill us anyway. Jesus laid down His life for us, but He rose from the grave and beckons us to follow Him to everlasting life in the Kingdom of God. There was no reason for Him to die other than a commitment He was making to help us to live. As we accept Him as Savior and Lord, we are new creatures with new life in Him. And not just for another year, but forever. Let's make today the day we commit to put on our new natures.
Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. Ephesians 4:24 NLT
Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. Colossians 3:10 NLT
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