A while back, our car had some hail damage on it and, I had it repaired. The car was fading in certain places so, I had it painted as well—or most of it. Isn’t it amazing what a coat of paint will do for an older car? After it’s painted, it sparkles and shines. It makes you proud to drive around in it. You probably even take better care of it by washing it more and, even waxing it.

But, what’s underneath the paint? It’s not something new but, old. The only difference is, it is new paint. It’s not like you have a brand new car with its new car smell and low mileage but, one that is worn. There may be a few dings or dents in it (mine had smaller ones I did not have repaired). It may have over 200,000 miles on it. A window may not roll down any more and, the headliner may be sagging. But, it has a new, fresh, coat of paint and, you are proud of it.

In Romans 6, Paul is reminding the brethren what they did to become Christians. Verse three informs us they were "baptized into Jesus Christ" through a "burial " in water (vs. 4). In verse six he states, "knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin" (NASB). In 2 Cor. 5:17 he said, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come" (NASB).

It is the same body just like with the car. But, something special happened. In our conversion, there is a change from the inside out. No longer do we carry around the old sin—it has been done away.

The story is told of a man who was cruel to his wife. She left him and went home. He went to see a preacher and begged for help with tears streaming down his face. He became a Christian and changed his life. He then went to see his wife. Her father met him at the door and let him know that because of his cruelty, she would have nothing to do with him. He told her father, "I have never been cruel to her." She bore the marks of the beatings on her body and, the father let him know this. His response was, "I haven’t hurt her. That was the old man. I am a new creation in Christ and have never hurt nor will I hurt her."

That’s what Jesus does for us. Have you obeyed Jesus and allowed Him to remake your life?