A name or a title has significant meaning since the dawn of time, it is no different with the title “New life” that is the hallmark of who we are as church.
The term “New” from a biblical standpoint means recently made, fresh, recent, unused, unworn. as respects substance, of a new kind, unprecedented, novel, uncommon, unheard of.[1]
The word “Life” means; the state of one who is possessed of vitality or is animate. every living soul, the absolute fullness of life… life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions ( a more perfect body), and to last forever.[2] To sum up, “Life” applies to every living creature, but from a salvific point of view it is a ‘Life’ that is devoted to Christ through whom we have life eternal.
When put together, New Life is that which is fresh, unused and have been made new through Jesus Christ. The passage of Scripture that best sums up this theme is 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. New life is being “in Christ” that is being united in him through his death, burial, resurrection, and exaltation at the Father’s right hand.
Paul asserted that those who are in Christ, that is, those who are joined to him in his death and resurrection—has become a new creation. This is a language drawn from Old Testament prophetic language, describing the new world that God would bring at the end of the age (Isa. 66:22).
For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me, says the Lord, so shall your offspring and your name remain.
How is this New Life achieved? Jesus put it simply in John 3:3, 16; truly I say to you, unless a man is born again (that is born from above) he cannot see the kingdom of God… God so Loved the World that he gave his only Son that whosoever believes in him (The Son of God) will have eternal (new) life.
That in summary is defines New Life, a people whose lives are hidden in Christ, a people whose lives are devoted to Christ, a life that has been made new, fresh, a life that has been made eternal through the death, burial, resurrection, and exaltation of Christ. New life is not just a name or title it is who we are in Christ.
[1] Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
[2] Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
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