A new life means a changed life. It means that a person living in sin suddenly changes and gives up his sinful ways. As a result
1 The old character gives way to a new character.
2 The old way that led to destruction now changes and leads to a new life of salvation.
3 The old attitude changes to new attitude.
4 The old attitude of cheating, lying, fighting, abusing, cheating in examination, disobedience, etc., now changes to telling the truth, loving, obedience and kindness.
A new life in Christ means that a sinner who had lived his life in deceit, lying, disobedience, and so on, now accepts Jesus Christ into his life and so becomes a child of God. Such a person has a new life. New life can only come through Jesus Christ. Repentance of sins and acceptance of
Jesus Christ will give us a new life.
Evidence of a new life
When a person’s life changes, it is evident in his character, attitude and behaviour. The life of a person with new life will have joy, kindness, peace, and other virtues.
The behaviour of the changed life will be noticed by the people around.
The story of the Philippian jailer is an example of the evidence of a new life.
Paul and Silas went to Philippi to preach the gospel of Christ. They met a slave girl who had an evil spirit. Paul cast out the spirit. The owner of the girl realised that the means of making money through evil spirit had been stopped. Paul and Silas were arrested and accused of disturbing the city.
The magistrates ordered them to be flogged. After beating them they threw them into prison. The jailer was instructed to keep them in prison. He put them into the inner prison and p
At midnight, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God. Suddenly, there was a great earthquake, the foundation of the prison shook, all the doors were opened and every chain was loosened. The jailer woke up and wanted to kill himself, he thought that the prisoners had escaped.
Paul told him that they were still in prison. The jailer became afraid. He asked Paul and Silas, ‘What must I do to be saved’? They said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household’.
Paul and Silas spoke the word of God to him. He accepted Christ the same hour. He took Paul and Silas to his house and prepared food fo them. He rejoiced with his household that he had believed in God.
The fruits of a new life
The Holy Spirit gives the fruits of the spirit to a person with new life. The fruits of the spirit are
1 Love
2 Joy
3 Peace
- Patience
- Kindness
- Goodness
- Faithfulness
- Gentleness
9 Self-control
These fruits will be shown in the character of the person who changes from his old ways to a new way. The evidence of these fruits will be seen and known by both the changed person and the people around him.
Characteristics of a new life
The characteristics of a new life in Christ are:
1 Obedience
2 Right-living
3 Kindness
4 Being honest
5 Speaking the truth
6 Self-control
7 Gentleness
8 Showing love
9 Forgiving one another
Moral lessons
1 God loves us. He wants us to have a change of life.
2 God wants us to repent from our sins, accept Jesus and receive a new life.
3 It is the wish of God that all mankind will come to repentance and accept the new life in Christ.
4 God wants us to receive the fruits of the spirit.
5 The evidence of a new life must be seen in us.
6 Our lives must show the characteristics of a new life.
Remember
1 When a man changes from his old habits and attitude, we say he has a new life.
2 When a person repents from his sins, accepts Jesus and forsakes his old ways, we say he has a new life in Christ.
3 Evidence of a new life is usually shown in the character of the person. People around him must see the changes from old life to new life.
4 The Holy Spirit gives the fruits of the spirit which include: peace, love, joy, kindness, patience, and so on.
Exercise
1 Explain what new life means.
2 State the evidence of a new life.
3 Mention two fruits of a new life.
4 List three characteristics of a new life.
Fill in the gaps with the correct answers.
5 ‘If anyone is in Christ he is a new —————–‘.
6 The fruits of the spirit are ————- and ——————-.
Choose the correct answers to the following.
7 Evidence of a new life is usually seen in
- character. B. food. C. meal. D. drink.
8 Love, joy, kindness, are the fruits of
- man. B. Holy Spirit. C. food
Guide to Bible passages
Acts 16:31-34; Galatians 5:22-26
See also