The new life is a new direction more than an instant perfection: it is daily abiding in Christ, walking by the Spirit, feeding on the Word, praying, belonging to the church, and getting back up when we fall. It looks like a life that is being renewed, not a life that has already arrived.
Not a summary of these passages: the passages themselves. Read them, then come back to the study below.
The study
What the Scripture says
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A new direction, not instant perfection
Paul does not promise that a believer wakes up flawless. He says that in Christ you are a new creation: the old things have passed away, and in Christ they have truly become new, and are being renewed day by day. He who began a good work in you will carry it on, and even Paul himself said, 'Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect; but I press on.'
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings, and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator,Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect; but I press on, if it is so that I may take hold of that for which also I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus.Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Jesus gave the whole new life in one picture: remain in Him, and He in you, for He said, 'apart from me you can do nothing.' The branch does not strain to make fruit; it stays joined to the vine. So the daily walk is not grim effort but remaining in Christ and walking by His Spirit, even as the flesh pulls the other way.
Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me. I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
“In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples.Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
You didn’t choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you will ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh.This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
The new life is shaped from the inside. Paul tells us to set our minds on the things that are above, and to be transformed by the renewing of the mind. The word of Christ is meant to dwell in us richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom. What fills the mind day by day slowly becomes what fills the life.
If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
The new life is lived in ordinary, repeatable habits. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in everything. Do not neglect meeting together, but stir one another to love and good works. Seek first His kingdom, and present your body as a living sacrifice. These are not the fuel of salvation; they are the steady breathing of a life that already belongs to God.
Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works, not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching.And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
It is dressed in Christ's character, and it gets back up
Paul names the new clothes: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and, over them all, love. He puts away bitterness and slander, and he both receives and gives forgiveness: 'as Christ forgave you, so you also do.' And when a believer falls, the new life does not end: he who confesses is forgiven and cleansed. A righteous man falls seven times and rises again, and every morning God's mercies are new.
Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do. Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for building up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
for a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again; but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
It is because of Yahweh’s loving kindnesses that we are not consumed, because his compassion doesn’t fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me. I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do. Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh.This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.