How we view ourselves and the world we live in impact on how we live our lives.

The New Testament writers communicate countless truths of Jesus’ accomplishments on the cross to enlighten us of the new reality we have been brought into as a result that. These are not truths there for us to simply give mental assent to but help us understand and appreciate our new reality and radically transform our lives as we align our thoughts and practice with them. These are not truths we’re called to strive to attain but truths that reflect our current or new reality in Christ – we are already there. We’re not being called to make them happen, but rather simply being enlightened to what has already happened, what is now already here, the new reality.

However, it is also very important to note that none of these truths are native or natural to the human nature. On the contrary, they are alien to our fallen nature and as such not truths or realities that apply to all people but only to those who are in Christ – that is, those who’ve trusted in and committed their lives to Him. They are therefore acquired and native to the new nature in Christ.

A significant change, a transition from the old (represented by our natural human state) to the new (that which we are in Christ) occurred at a point in time that is succinctly put to us by the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:17 as follows:
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

This transition into the new reality happens instantaneously as a result of faith in Christ – John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

In the New Testament this was marked – and firmed – by water baptism which happened immediately after one came to faith in Christ. There was literally no latent period between coming to faith in Christ and getting baptised in water. In the New Testament coming to faith in Christ and getting baptised in water were two sides of the same coin. They were inseparable and went hand in hand. The second is evidence of the first – Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Subsequently, faith in Christ and water baptism were seen and executed as one by the apostles. Acts 16:33 – And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.

We must understand that the key phrase that unlocks and reflects this new reality is “in Christ”. Consequently, that which happened to Christ on the cross happened to all who God put “in Him” on account of their faith. 1 Corinthians 1:30 – But of Him (God) you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—

The reality or truth of being “in Christ” is that everything that happened to Christ on the Cross has happened to those who are “in Him”.

This is the reason why the apostle Paul makes statements like, “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Gal 5:24) and “We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin” (Rom 6:6).

In these, seemingly incredulous yet powerfully true statements – along with many others like them throughout the New Testament – Paul is not expressing opinions but making factual statements backed by historical evidence. They are not opinions or extrapolations. The crucifixion of Christ on the cross was indeed the actual crucifixion of all those in Him – including us. Hence the need to make the time and space to deep these truths.

It sounds absurd and unreal but this is the new reality we are brought into on account of our faith in Christ. Under no circumstances are these truths up for negotiation just as Christ’s completed accomplishments on the Cross are non-negotiable. These are not truths that are yet to happen but have already taken place. So in the instance of the above statements by Paul, we do not strive to crucify the flesh but by faith embrace and walk in light of this truth and in this new reality that has already been achieved.

They are accomplishments we are called to simply rest in, and not strive for.

These are core truths that reflect a new nature or reality that we’ve come into. And it is on the back of these core truths we are called to live out this new reality. This new reality has to find expression in and inevitably lead to a new walk, a new way of living – one that matches and is consistent with it. Otherwise, it’ll be all talk and no walk.

But how do we do that?

How does this new reality become a lived experience?

How do we live that truth and reality out in our daily lives?

These questions will be the subject of our consideration in the next post.