(a) What is Paul's teaching on new life in Christ ? (b) In what two ways can Christians manifest this ?

Answer Details

(a) Paul's teaching on new life in Christ (Romans 6; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 3; Galatians 2:20)

• Paul teaches that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come. Conversion means a complete transformation of the person.
• Through baptism the believer is united with Christ's death and resurrection: we were buried with Him so that, just as Christ was raised, we too might walk in newness of life.
• The old self was crucified with Christ so that the body of sin might be destroyed and we should no longer be slaves to sin. We are to consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
• The new life is lived by faith; Paul says, It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.
• Believers must put off the old nature with its practices such as anger, malice, lying, immorality and greed, and put on the new nature of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness and love.
• They are to set their minds on things above, not on earthly things, and to yield their bodies as instruments of righteousness to God.

(b) Two ways Christians can manifest this new life

1. By turning away from sinful habits of the old nature and living holy, upright lives of honesty, purity and self-control.
2. By showing the fruit of the Spirit toward others, that is love, kindness, forgiveness, patience and service, so that Christ is seen in their conduct.