My Old Self

Whoever is born again, receives new life; a new me. Where is our old self?

Died

First of all, my old self died. Every human sins (read Romans 3:23, for example) and therefore misses the connection with the living God. We are cut off from the source of life and therefore our spirit is dead.

Have you ever done anything that is against the will of God? As a result, you're spiritually dead to God's Word.

Crucified

Jesus Christ died on a cross for all people who are cut off from God. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Jesus Christ took the punishment for sin upon Him. Whoever believes that Jesus died for his or her sins should trust that his or her sins are forgiven. Those people are crucified with Jesus Christ, as the Bible says in Romans 6.

Is your old self crucified with Christ? Have you nailed your old habits, your own knowledge, your own self-centered plans and works on the cross?

Buried

My old self which is dead and crucified should be buried. The Bible calls it baptism, which we read in Romans 6:3-4 . Our old self was buried with Christ. This means that we are also risen with Christ! There is a new me, as it is written in 2 Corinthians 5:17!

Where is Our Old Self?

An important question still remains. If my old self is dead and buried, why do I still do things I actually don’t want to do? The answer becomes clear when we understand what the term rebirth means. Being born again is a spiritual birth. Our mind, that part of us which communicates with God, is born again. Our body isn’t born again (cf. the question of Nicodemus in John 3:3-5). And neither is our soul (our will and our feelings). Only our mind is completely new, born of God. Our soul is illuminated, but not renewed.

We are no longer a slave to sin because we can say no to sin. But we are still able to sin. Our old self was crucified. Spiritually speaking, the victory is won. Because we still live in this world, and not yet in heaven, we have the daily struggle to do God’s will.
Our old self with its old habits and desires is still likely to emerge. But we can be more than conquerors in Christ. Our new (inner) self will be renewed day by day by the Holy Spirit of God.