The Apostle Paul was quite familiar with this statement because it very much describes the transformation that he himself went through. Paul, who used to be Saul, underwent a major change of heart and mind after his interaction with Christ Jesus on the road to Damascus. The man, who had previously been viciously pursuing and persecuting Christians (disciples of Christ), was now zealously working in the ministry of evangelism with the hope of drawing others into a saving relationship with His Lord and Master Jesus. Quite a change, huh?
In the early part of the Book of Colossians, Paul speaks about what it means to be a Christian and how being called into the faith should show, in our words and actions, how we are different than the world and its ways. Here are the Apostles’ words, “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness which is idolatry. In these you to once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of the Creator.” Colossians 3:3-5, 7-9
To walk in the footsteps of our Savior Jesus is to follow a completely different path than the world would have us travel down. He has set a new course for us, a course that leads not to death but to everlasting life. Yes, as members of the Body of Christ, we are new creations, the old has passed the new has come! Our desires are to be manifested in a manner that is in line with the will of God. The sinner (you and me) is called to take on the attitude of a saint. This new person is being transformed solely by the working of the Holy Spirit, whom the Lord has sent to carry out the reconstruction process in each one of us.
Paul also goes on to tell us in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live to the Son of God, who loves me and gave Himself up for me.” May you and I take hold of this confession of Paul and make it our own!!!!!!!!!! Pastor McCarty