Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB)
Seven Old Things Passed Away
One very important thing that happens to you when you surrender and give your life to Christ Jesus is that the old things pass away. Halleluyah! So, what old things is the Bible talking about?
- The Old You: Before you came to Christ, your spirit was estranged from God, you were dead (Ephesians. 2:1-4). That is, you were cut off from God, and condemned for eternal damnation. The Old you was full of sin and by your nature, you were an enemy of God (Romans 5:10). The Old you bore the image and nature of the fallen Adam and belonged to Satan (John 8:44, Romans 5:12). But all of that is no more. Jesus has changed and replaced that Old You.
- The Old Life: Before you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, the life in you was the life you inherited from the fallen Adam, which he got from the devil (Ephesians 2:1-3, Romans 5:14-19). The wicked and corrupt life. But the moment you came to Jesus, all of that changed. Jesus replaced that life with His own Life. It is called the New Life.
- The Old Master: Before you came to Jesus, your master was the devil (John 8:44). He was the one lording it over you, and directing the affairs of your life, with or without your permission (2 Corinthians 4:3-4, Ephesians 2:1-3).
- The Old Ways of Life: Another good news is that when you came to Christ Jesus, the power of the old ways of life over your life was broken and destroyed. You now have the freedom and power to say No! To sin and do only what pleases God (2 Corinthians 5:16, Romans 6:1-7, 1 Peter 1:23).
- The Old Ways of Thinking: One other thing that was destroyed the moment you accepted Jesus is the old way of thinking about all things. The old nature thinks like the world does, occupying itself with the cares of this life (Ephesians 2:1-3), 2 John 2:15-17). But now, all that is passed. The New Life in you does only the will of God. God is now the focus of your thought, not the world.
- The Old Friends: The world is no longer your friend. That also is passed. Your new friends are now Jesus and the people of God. You can no longer maintain a friendship with the world, you have no more business with people who don’t have the same values as that of Christ Jesus. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18, 1 John 2:15-17).
- The Old Status: Before you came to Jesus, you were an enemy of God, and an object of his wrath (Romans 5:10). But all that is now passed. Your status has changed from being an enemy to being a friend of God (Romans 5:8-10).
The New Verdict says “Justified!”
Condemned! That was what heaven’s verdict about you was (John 3:17, Ephesians 2:1-3). You were already condemned because you did not know the Lord. Your destination was going to be hell. But then, mercy found you, and you opened up your heart to Jesus Christ. You know what? The old verdict about you has been torn apart and overturned (Romans 8:1-2). A new verdict has been written for you and it says Justified! Acquitted!
