What does the new life look like day to day?
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.
This question arose from studying What does it mean to be born again? and What is the difference between being born again and being baptized?.
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What the Scripture says
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.
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,
being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete 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.
The daily secret is abiding
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.
“In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will 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.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill 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.
It feeds on the Word and renews the mind
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.
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.
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.
It keeps the practices that feed the flame
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.
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.
But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
for a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again; but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
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.
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Verses to meditate on
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have 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.
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.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the 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.
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