In the Concise Oxford Dictionary (10th edition), the word “new” is defined as “something not existing before, something made, introduced or made recently or now for the first time—not previously used or owned.”

The Bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

It means the believer in Christ has received a change of life—totally different from the life lived before. The person has been actually set free by Christ from the controlling power of sin.

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19–21).

There is now “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22, 23).

1. Because “they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” since they are “dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” and we have been “buried with him by baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should also walk in newness of life” (Galatians 5:24; Romans 6:4).

2. Because they now serve in “the newness of spirit and not in the oldness of the letter,” “for sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace,” “that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Romans 6:14; 7:6; Ephesians 4:24).

3. Because they are not to let sin reign in the mortal body, that they should obey it in the lust thereof, neither should they yield their members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin, but should yield themselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and their members as instruments of righteousness unto God, for sin shall not have dominion over them (Romans 6:12–14).

4. Because they “walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1).

Therefore we are bidden to “lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man and his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him” (Colossians 3:9, 10).

By all these means, Christians live the life of the Lifegiver, a life of complete surrender and obedience to every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. In the new life, the Christian has been crucified with Christ, has died to sin and has been resurrected to newness of life. By being under grace, we are not to continue in sin. “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid” (Romans 6:1, 2).

Because we have died to sin, we can no longer live in it. There is no possibility.

For “how shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer in it” (Romans 6:2)?

“Our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin” (Romans 6:6). It is simply because the old man has died with its old established habits, both cultivated and inherited.

“Wherever the word of God has been faithfully preached, results have followed that attested its divine origin. The Spirit of God accompanied the message of His servants, and the word was with power. Sinners felt their consciences quickened. The light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world' (John 1:9) illumined the secret chambers of their souls, and the hidden things of darkness were made manifest. Deep conviction took hold upon their minds and hearts. They were convinced of sin and of righteousness and of judgment to come. They had a sense of the righteousness of Jehovah and felt the terror of appearing, in their guilt and uncleanness, before the Searcher of hearts. In anguish they cried out: Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?' (Romans 7:24). As the cross of Calvary, with its infinite sacrifice for the sins of men, was revealed, they saw that nothing but the merits of Christ could suffice to atone for their transgressions; this alone could reconcile man to God. With faith and humility they accepted the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. Through the blood of Jesus they had remission of sins that are past' (Romans 3:25).

“These souls brought forth fruit meet for repentance. They believed and were baptized, and rose to walk in newness of life—new creatures in Christ Jesus; not to fashion themselves according to the former lusts, but by the faith of the Son of God to follow in His steps, to reflect His character, and to purify themselves even as He is pure. The things they once hated they now loved, and the things they once loved they hated. The proud and self-assertive became meek and lowly of heart. The vain and supercilious became serious and unobtrusive. The profane became reverent, the drunken sober, and the profligate pure. The vain fashions of the world were laid aside. Christians sought not the outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but . . . the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price' (1 Peter 3:3, 4).” 1

It brings an end to sin, a full stop to it. It is not a comma to sin; it is not a continuation of the life of sin. But instead it is a radical change; “behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

“Jesus took upon Himself man's nature, that He might leave a pattern for humanity, complete, perfect. He proposes to make us like Himself, true in every purpose, feeling, and thought—true in heart, soul, and life. This is Christianity. Our fallen nature must be purified, ennobled, consecrated by obedience to the truth.” 2

This was the faith of the apostle Paul. He said, “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God” (John 1:12).

Jesus said, “for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5).

“And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him” (1 John 3:5, 6).

“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (1 John 3:9).

“Abundant grace has been provided that the believing soul may be kept free from sin; for all heaven, with its limitless resources, has been placed at our command. We are to draw from the well of salvation.” 3

“[Christ] makes an end of the controlling power of sin in the heart, and the life and character of the believer testify to the genuine character of the grace of Christ. . . .

“By beholding Jesus we receive a living, expanding principle in the heart, and the Holy Spirit carries on the work, and the believer advances from grace to grace, from strength to strength, from character to character. He conforms to the image of Christ, until in spiritual growth he attains unto the measure of the full stature in Christ Jesus. Thus Christ makes an end of the curse of sin, and sets the believing soul free from its action and effect.” 4

“We fail many times because we do not realize that Christ is with us by His Spirit as truly as when, in the days of His humiliation, He moved visibly upon the earth. The lapse of time has wrought no change in His parting promise to His apostles as He was taken up from them into heaven: Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world' (Matthew 28:20).” 5

“Henceforth through the Spirit, Christ was to abide continually in the hearts of His children. Their union with them was closer than when He was personally with them.” 6

“It is the merit of Christ that will avail in our behalf. Through faith in Him, Christ will make all our imperfect efforts acceptable to God.”7

“[Christ] holds before the Father the censer of His own merits, in which there is no taint of earthly corruption. He gathers into this censer the prayers, the praise, and the confessions of His people, and with these He puts His own spotless righteousness. Then, perfumed with the merits of Christ's propitiation, the incense comes up before God wholly and entirely acceptable. Then gracious answers are returned.” 8

Through Christ, they are seen by the Father as righteous and without spot or wrinkle.

“Christ is the fragrance, the holy incense which makes your petition acceptable to the Father.” 9

“All must be laid upon the fire of Christ's righteousness to cleanse it from its earthly odor before it rises in a cloud of fragrant incense to the great Jehovah and is accepted as a sweet savor.” 10

“And to her [the church] was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints” (Revelation 19:8).

“Christ's righteousness alone can avail for his salvation, and this is the gift of God. This is the wedding garment in which you may appear as a welcome guest at the marriage supper of the Lamb.” 11

When we surrender to Christ, our sins are pardoned, the filthy garments are removed and transferred to Jesus who is the sinner's representative, substitute and surety. At the same moment, the Lord imputes the righteousness of Christ to the believer's account and pronounces him/her righteous before the universe, forgiven and renewed in the spirit of the mind. A new heart is given and the image of Christ is stamped upon the very mind and soul.

The Old Testament prophet Zechariah was shown in vision the high priest, Joshua, standing before the Lord and Satan at his right hand to resist him.

“Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment” (Zechariah 3:3, 4). When Christ covers us with the robe of His righteousness, He does not furnish a cloak for sin, but rather takes the sin away. This shows that forgiveness of sins is not simply a mere formality. It is something more than a mere entry in the books of record in heaven.

The forgiveness of sins is a reality; it vitally affects the individual, clearing the soul from guilt. If one is justified and made righteous, a radical change occurs. He or she becomes a new person, having obtained the righteousness of Christ. The full and free forgiveness of sins carries with it the wonderful and miraculous change known as the new birth. This is the same as having a new or clean heart.

“It is the righteousness of Christ, His own unblemished character, that through faith is imparted to all who receive Him as their personal Saviour.” 12

“Pardon and justification are one and the same thing. Through faith, the believer passes from the position of a rebel, a child of sin and Satan, to the position of a loyal subject of Christ Jesus, not because of an inherent goodness, but because Christ receives him as His child by adoption. The sinner receives the forgiveness of his sins, because these sins are borne by his Substitute and Surety. The Lord speaks to His heavenly Father, saying: This is My child, I reprieve him from the condemnation of death, giving him My life insurance policy—eternal life—because I have taken his place and have suffered for his sins. He is even My beloved son.' Thus man, pardoned, and clothed with the beautiful garments of Christ's righteousness, stands faultless before God.” 13

By continual obedience and practicing all known duties.

“No one can believe with the heart unto righteousness, and obtain justification by faith, while continuing the practice of those things which the Word of God forbids, or while neglecting any known duty. . . .

“It is an evidence that a man is not justified by faith when his works do not correspond to his profession. James says, Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was his faith made perfect?' (James 2:22).

“The faith that does not produce good works does not justify the soul.” 14

“He who becomes a partaker of the divine nature will be in harmony with God's great standard of righteousness, His holy law. This is the rule by which God measures the actions of men. This will be the test of character in the judgment.” 15

“The soul who sees Jesus by faith, repudiates his own righteousness. He sees himself as incomplete, his repentance insufficient, his strongest faith but feebleness, his most costly sacrifice as meager, and he sinks in humility at the foot of the cross. . . .

“Beholding the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world, he finds the peace of Christ; for pardon is written against his name, and he accepts the word of God, Ye are complete in him' (Colossians 2:10).” 16

“When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness.” 17

“The heart is to be worked, subdued, plowed, harrowed, seeded, to bring forth its harvest to God in good works. Ye are God's building' (1 Corinthians 3:9). You cannot build yourself. There is a Power outside of yourself that must do the building of the church, putting brick upon brick, always cooperating with the faculties and powers given of God to man. . . . The Lord has provided that the soul shall receive nourishment from Him, to be given out again in the working out of His purposes. In order that there be an outflowing, there must be an income of divinity to humanity. I will dwell in them, and walk in them' (2 Corinthians 6:16).

“The soul temple is to be sacred, holy, pure, and undefiled. There must be a copartnership in which all the power is of God and all the glory belongs to God. The responsibility rests with us. . . .

“The law of the human and the divine action makes the receiver a laborer together with God. It brings man where he can, united with divinity, work the works of God.” 18

“We are never to rest in a satisfied condition, and cease to make advancement, saying, I am saved.' When this idea is entertained, the motives for watchfulness, for prayers, for earnest endeavor to press onward to higher attainments, cease to exist. No sanctified tongue will be found uttering these words till Christ shall come, and we enter in through the gates into the city of God. Then, with the utmost propriety, we may give glory to God and to the Lamb for eternal deliverance. As long as man is full of weakness—for of himself he cannot save his soul—he should never dare to say, I am saved.'

“It is not he that putteth on the armor that can boast of the victory; for he has the battle to fight and victory to win. It is he that endureth unto the end that shall be saved.” 19

“The perishing sinner may say: I am a lost sinner; but Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost, He says, I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance' (Luke 5:32). I am a sinner, and He died upon Calvary's cross to save me. I need not remain a moment longer unsaved. He died and rose again for my justification, and He will save me now. I accept the forgiveness He has promised.' ” 20

“Every soul may say: By His perfect obedience He has satisfied the claims of the law, and my only hope is found in looking to Him as my substitute and surety, who obeyed the law perfectly for me. By faith in His merits I am free from the condemnation of the law. He clothes me with His righteousness, which answers all the demands of the law. I am complete in Him who brings in everlasting righteousness. He presents me to God in the spotless garment of which no thread was woven by any human agent. All is of Christ, and all the glory, honor, and majesty are to be given to the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world.” 21