Apostle Paul establishes: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corin. 5:17)
Apostle Paul further explains by contrasting a departure from 'the instruments of wickedness' (our old self) against, the adoption of 'the instruments of righteousness' (our new self). This operation becomes possible when we consciously become "dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus." (Rms. 6:11-12) The process is best understood if we borrow the example of the snake that sheds its old skin for a new.
We cannot continue to live our lives like we did in the past, now that we have had an encounter with Christ. The two can no longer blend. We are now a new creation, sin no longer has dominion over us. Why? "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light." (Eph. 5:8) "For we know that our old self was crucified with Him (Jesus) so that the body of sin might be done away with." (Rms. 6:6)
To conclude, Jesus states: "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." (Jn. 12:46) Peace!
