The Christian life is a life of change. However, we acknowledge that we are all born sinners. We admit that we have an aversion—a deeply rooted preference for sin. But our confession, our reason for being a part of the Church and for becoming a part of the growing family of God, is our belief that “if man (anyone) is in Christ he (they) is (are) a new creature; old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.” This statement is predicated on the belief that God can and does give a person a new life. In fact, Jesus Christ anticipated that people would need something other than established religion for them to be a part of his kingdom. He said to a man named Nicodemus, “Verily I say unto you, you must be born again.”

The passage from Romans 6, assures us that our baptism signifies that we have been “born again,” and are living life in Jesus. Our lives are changed, because by faith our sinful selves have been consumed in Jesus’ death. We are now living in a new reality. The passage Romans 6:4 in the second part of it says, “that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk (live) in the newness of life. This is a change based on and made in us by the power of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Regardless of where you’ve been, what you are, or what you’ve done, the power of God made available through Christ can and will bring you new life.

No matter what the issue, Christians are called and empowered to live this new life in Christ. This simply means to live believing in who he is, what he said and in doing what he did. We should understand what it means to live differently from the people who live according to the world’s practices, habits and traditions. Jesus said, “you are the salt of the earth.” Also he said, “you are the light of the world.” Christians should not try to live in both decadence and holiness. John the apostle said, “love not the world…”

We are buried and should now live new lives in Christ. The power of your life is the power given to you by his resurrection, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Be encouraged and live in that power.