As Christians, we do not trust in ourselves. Jesus is our object of faith, not of ourselves. As we walk with God, we see the weakness of our flesh. A beautiful picture of what Christ does for us is that the old life is buried, and through Jesus we are raised to walk in a new life. We are renewed in the spirit of our minds. We put on the new man, which He created in righteousness and true holiness, so that we no longer walk in the old life. Now, we walk in the newness of Christ, and our past does not have to determine our walk.
Jesus makes us new, renews our mind, and calls us to walk differently because Christ now lives in us. As the years go by, I see a newness in myself. When I was divorced, I felt so lost on my own with four children. Because I was divorced, I thought I could never be used by Jesus, as this was something my church preached at that time. They were so wrong! Jesus showed me how I could be used for great things in Him. He gave me courage to reach out to others and speak of how He took me through hardship unto victory. My testimony could turn others to Him. I know He can do for others what He did for me if they would just let Him in. He made me new. I no longer see, say, or do the old things in my past. I see and feel the changes Jesus has made in my heart and life. His peace and joy has taken root in my life, and I am not the same anymore; He has renewed my mind and heart. I look at the world and life differently because now I see through the eyes of Jesus.
What a better world it could be if we all lived in the love of our Heavenly Father and gave our lives to Him.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Ephesians 4:22-24
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Galatians 2:20
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: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Colossians 3:10
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him.
Romans 6:4
Therefore we are buried with Him in baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.