“New Life in Christ”
“New Life in Christ”
The Fear of New Life: We Do Not Have to Fear New Life
Frederick Douglass grew up as a slave in Maryland in the early nineteenth century and experienced slavery's every brutality. He was taken from his mother when he was only an infant. For years as a child, all he had to eat was runny corn meal dumped in a trough that kids fought to scoop out with oyster shells. He worked in the hot fields from before sunup until after sundown. He was whipped many times with a cowhide whip until blood ran down his back, kicked and beaten by his master until he almost died, and attacked with a spike by a gang of whites.
But even so, when Frederick considered trying to escape to freedom, he struggled with the decision. He writes in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave that he had two great fears.
The first was leaving behind his friends:
I had a number of warm-hearted friends in Baltimore—friends that I loved almost as I did my life—and the thought of being separated from them forever was painful beyond expression. It is my opinion that thousands would escape from slavery, who now remain, but for the strong cords of affection that bind them to their friends.
His second fear was this: "If I failed in this attempt, my case would be a hopeless one—it would seal my fate as a slave forever."
Today, people who find themselves in slavery to sin, and who think about escaping to freedom in Christ, may have similar fears. They may fear leaving behind friends. They may fear they'll fail in their attempt to break from sin and live free for God. They should take heart from Douglass's experience. On September 3, 1838, he remembers: I left my chains, and succeeded in reaching New York without the slightest interruption of any kind....I have been frequently asked how I felt when I found myself in a free State....It was a moment of the highest excitement I ever experienced....I felt like one who had escaped a den of hungry lions (Citation: Kevin A. Miller, editor and author, Wheaton, Illinois).
New Life In Christ Principles, Scriptures, and Daily Tasks
New life is possible because Jesus gives us new life.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life” (John 10:10, NASB).
New life in Christ means a transformed life.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come (2 Cor. 5:17, NASB).
New life in Christ is about new identification.
“I have been crucified with Christ; and 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 up for me” (Gal. 2:20, NASB).
New life in Christ gives us new attire.
“and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth” (Eph. 4:24, NASB).
New life in Christ means placing heavenly priorities into practice (daily).
“Therefore, if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore, consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry” (Col. 3:1-5, NASB).
Daily Task #1: Express your gratitude to God for new life in Christ.
Daily Task #2: Share your new life in Christ with others.
Daily Task #3: Help others to experience new life in Christ.