Christians must renew resolutions involving their faith

Religion Columnist

We’re now a full week into the new year of 2015. Many people view the beginning of a new year as a new lease on life. They resolve to give up things that lead to their own disappointment in themselves so they can live guilt-free (or self-inflicted pain-free) and enjoy the good life. (Sure, some people resolve to enjoy the good life by making more money, often by less than appropriate means, but their desire is still to have the good life. They just haven’t learned that true happiness doesn’t come by ill-gotten means or disobedience).

Some people make promises to God whenever they face tough times. I recall college classmates whose regular prayer was, “O Lord, please take this hangover away right now and I promise, I’ll never drink again.” I suspect that resolution was made many times this past New Year’s Day. I also suspect that many of the resolutions made have already been broken.

There are some similarities between New Year’s Day and the resolutions and the Christian life.

When a person becomes a Christian, they get a new lease on a guilt-free, abundant life (Acts 2:38-39; 2 Corinthians 5:17; John 10:10). Through baptism the old life of sin is put to death leading to the new life in Christ (Romans 6:1-5). The new life gives us a new hope – sharing in Jesus’ resurrection and inheriting eternal life in the new heaven and new earth (Titus 3:3-7; 2 Peter 3:3-13; Revelation 21:1-5; 1 Peter 1:3-9). We’re also given a new name, Christian, since we’re in Christ – his followers (Isaiah 62:2; Acts 11:26). All this is possible through the new covenant Jesus instituted with his death, burial, and resurrection (Hebrews 8:8; 9:15; 12:22-24).

The Christian life also has some things in common with the truly repentant hung-over, over-indulger. That is, we’re likely to be repeat offenders because Christians are merely forgiven sinners. If properly done by immersion to unite one with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins, baptism is a once in a lifetime event that need not be repeated each time the Christian sins. But, while the crucifying of our sinful self begins at baptism, it’s a continuing, lifelong process because our old self also wants to resurrect itself (Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 2:6-13, 30; 3:1-10; Romans 7:14-25). So, we must continue putting to death our misdeeds by seeking forgiveness (Romans 8:9-17; 1 John 1:8-9). We can only do that by the Holy Spirit who indwells us upon our baptism and all we have to do is ask even though God knows we want to be forgiven before we ask (Galatians 3:26-4:7; Matthew 6:6-15; 7:7-11).

If you’re among those who’ve already broken their New Year’s resolutions, don’t worry. Just as God forgives us whenever we ask in repentance, anyone can resolve to get back on track with self-improvement at any time of the year (Matthew 18:21-22; Luke 17:3-4).

Why not bypass the resolutions and get a new lease on life in Christ today?

Leonard Lauriault is a member of the Church of Christ in Logan. Contact him at [email protected]