Weekly Devotional: Our new self (5 in Romans series)

For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin – because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Romans 6:1–23 (NIV)

The apostle Paul speaks often in his letters about the old self and the new self, as we see here in Romans. It’s not surprising, for his conversion was so radical – one day he was persecuting the new church to the point of death, and the next he was blinded while traveling to Damascus as he encountered the risen Jesus. He turned from a murderous antagonist to the gospel to one of its biggest proponents.

Paul tells the Roman church that no longer do they need to be slaves to their old life of sin, but now, empowered by the Holy Spirit, they can live out of the new self. No longer do they have to be at the mercy of sin and wickedness, for they live united with the resurrected Jesus.

We might read this and lose heart, thinking that we never will win the battle with the besetting sin we face, whatever it may be. But God transforms our character day by day as we seek to live for him, and often we may not even be aware of the subtle changes that are happening within us. For example, I remember years ago in my weekly small group when we each named how we noticed God working in and through the members of the group. I was surprised and heartened to hear some of the lovely things people said about everyone.

We can be encouraged to know that no longer are we tied to the things of sin, but that Jesus dwelling within us makes all things new. We who have been baptized into Christ Jesus live a new life.

For reflection: “You were taught … to put off your old self … to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness” (Ephesians 4:22–24, abridged).