Turning the page…
Turning the page…
Glory · Our Walk with Him
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.
https://glorystudy.com/questions/what-the-new-life-looks-like · Scripture quoted from the World English Bible
2 Corinthians 5:14-21
As you read: The old has passed away; everything has become new. This is where the new life begins.
14For the love of Christ constrains us; because we judge thus, that one died for all, therefore all died.
15He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again.
16Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.
17Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.
18But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
21For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Colossians 3:1-17
As you read: Paul's portrait of the new life: put off the old self, put on the new, and let the word of Christ dwell richly.
1If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.
2Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.
3For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory.
5Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry;
6for which things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.
7You also once walked in those, when you lived in them;
8but now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth.
9Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings,
10and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator,
11where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.
12Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;
13bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.
14Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.
15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
16Let 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.
17Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him.
John 15:1-8
As you read: Jesus shows the daily secret: remain in Him, and you bear fruit; apart from Him, nothing.
1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the farmer.
2Every branch in me that doesn’t bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
3You are already pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
4Remain 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.
5I 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.
6If a man doesn’t remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
7If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you.
8“In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples.
Ephesians 4:17-32
As you read: The concrete shape of change: speech that builds up, and a heart that forgives as it has been forgiven.
17This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,
18being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their hearts;
19who having become callous gave themselves up to lust, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20But you did not learn Christ that way;
21if indeed you heard him, and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus:
22that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man, that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit;
23and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.
25Therefore putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor. For we are members of one another.
26“Be angry, and don’t sin.” Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath,
27neither give place to the devil.
28Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need.
29Let 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.
30Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice.
32And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.
1 John 1:5-10
As you read: A realistic picture of daily life: we walk in the light, and when we stumble we confess and are cleansed.
5This is the message which we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and don’t tell the truth.
7But 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.
8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10If we say that we haven’t sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
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.”2 Corinthians 5:17
“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,”Colossians 3:9-10
“being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”Philippians 1:6
“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.”Philippians 3:12
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.”John 15:4-5
““In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples.”John 15:8
“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.”John 15:16
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh.”Galatians 5:16
“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.”Galatians 5:17
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.”Colossians 3:1-2
“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.”Colossians 3:16
“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.”Romans 12:2
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.”1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
“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.”Hebrews 10:24-25
“But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.”Matthew 6:33
“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.”Romans 12:1-2
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.”Colossians 3:12-14
“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.”Ephesians 4:29
“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.”Ephesians 4:31-32
“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.”1 John 1:7-9
“for a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again; but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.”Proverbs 24:16
“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.”Lamentations 3:22-23