Paul wrote these words under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. However, he also wrote them by his own experience. Paul knew he was not the man he was before the Damascus Road. It was such a change that we even use the term ‘Damascus Road event’ to describe a totally life changed event.
That is what salvation should be for all of us. Salvation changes us. The old man passes away and a new creation takes its place. For me on 12 February 1974 the old Roger passed on and the new Roger was born. The new Roger still lives in the flesh, but he also has the spirit of God living in him.
The question we must ask ourselves is whether or not that kind of new creation in evident in our lives. Do we reflect that new man in Christ or do our everyday lives look just like the rest of the world?
When I think of an old man/new man experience personally comes to mind. My dad was a not a bad man before Christ. He provided for his family and did the dad things. But, to be honest, he really wasn’t an easy guy to like, at least from our experience as adults. It was hard to please him or get a positive word our of him.
Then he got saved and the new Art Parrow was not a lot like the old Art Parrow. My near dad was the kindest, sweetest, most patient man you could even hope to meet. You could hardly have recognised New Dad as the same man as Old Dad.
The question that we have to ask ourselves is whether our lives represent that new person in Christ. Have the old things of our life passed away. Have things in our lives become new?
Salvation makes a difference. We can’t argue that. Is my life different? Is yours?
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