A new creation

In my previous blog I explored the phrase Homo incurvatus in se - “the human being curved in on itself” - and how this was a powerful picture that reveals our tendency to turn inward on ourselves, and to seek our own good at the expense of others and at the expense of God.
 
Much of the analysis and thinking behind this phrase centres on how we are born with this tendency, that it is a symptom of our naturally sinful state. As a remedy to this, I offered this advice: “We need to correct the curve and turn our lives towards God.” So how do we do this?
 
Romans 6:6 says, "For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin."
 
This passage teaches us that when we give our lives to Jesus, our old sinful selves die with Christ on the cross. This is not a physical death, but a spiritual death. It means that our old sinful nature is no longer in control of our lives. And it is a powerful image, literally that our old selves are crucified on the cross. But if that’s the case, it surely must follow that we are then to rise again, transformed as new beings. What encouragement!
 
Jesus uses similar imagery to reinforce the point in John 3:5, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.” Again, we see that to enter the kingdom of God and live a transformed life, we must shed our old self and all of the tendencies and inclinations that go with it.
 
This passage from John conjures up memories of my baptism. As someone in my 30s and a latecomer to faith, I had the privilege of truly letting the gravity and importance of the occasion sink in. The symbolism of the act of baptism is powerful: the old self is submerged in water, they are cleansed, and the new creation emerges. It is a great hope to me that, despite my daily stumbling and failings, on that day of my baptism, I did my best to “correct the curve” and turn my life to Jesus.
 
Paul puts it far better than I can (2 Corinthians 5:17): “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” And thank goodness for that!
 
Prayer - Jesus, thank you that you so loved the world that you sent your only son Jesus to die on the cross for forgiveness of our sins. Thank you that we can be new creations in you. Amen

Photo by Vince Fleming on Unsplash