In 2 Corinthians 5:7 God promises us that when we become a Christian we become a new creation: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” We become a new creation through our baptism into Christ. Romans 6:4-6 explains it this way, “4 . . . we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.”
Becoming a new creation in Christ is something that happens on a spiritual level. All of the sins of our past are washed away in our baptism, just like Paul’s were in Acts 22:16. The water itself doesn’t do the washing. The washing or cleansing of our sins is a spiritual act that happens because of Christ (1 Peter 3:21).
In being immersed into Christ we make the choice to put to death our old selves and live for Christ. Galatians 2:20 tells us that as a Christian, “20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
In making the choice to die to self and live for Christ, our baptism into Christ symbolizes the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. We die to self and sin; are buried in the waters of baptism; we are then raised to a new life. A new life that Romans 6:4 tells us we should walk in.
Jesus talks about the new life we have in Him in John 3:3 as being born again. It is a time when “all things have become new.” Being born again means having a new life in Christ. Having a new life starts when we submit to being baptized into Christ. Submission to baptism is not a work, but an act of obedience. It is not something you do, but you allow to be done to you. In other words, you cannot baptize yourself. You are baptized by another into Christ. This is how someone puts on Christ (or is clothed with Christ). Galatians 3:27 tells us that “27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
So much of what it means to “become new” in Christ happens on an internal spiritual level. The way we live our life as a Christian is something visible when our actions match our spirituality. This is why Romans 6:6 reminds us that “our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” In other words, our old sinful ways of living we committed to ceasing (as though that life is dead) when we were baptized into Christ and have therefore committed to living a spirit-filled life in Christ.
We can see the contrast between the sinful lifestyle and the spirit-filled lifestyle in Galatians 5:19-25. Regardless of our commitment and intent, as physical beings we are still tempted and sin (Romans 3:23). This means that in order for someone who has “become new” in Christ to be “renewed” (or forgiven of their sins) they have to repent of that sin and ask God for forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 tells us, “9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This is only possible if we remain faithful to Christ (1 John 1:7).
Becoming new in Christ or being renewed is not dependent upon a specific day of the week or a day of the year. It can happen any day or any time. The choice is ours.
