Prior to encountering Christ, we were thoroughly ensnared and imprisoned by sin, our lives a continuous cycle of indulging in sinful pleasures or striving to abstain from them. Our existence was defined by self-control, an endless effort to liberate ourselves from sin’s grasp, to improve our own moral standing, and to navigate our own path to redemption. It was a self-centered struggle marked by a relentless pursuit of self-salvation and self-liberation.

However, with the advent of Christ in our lives, a radical transformation has occurred. In Him, we have been genuinely liberated, not through our own efforts but by His grace. The battles we now face are distinct from those of our past. The quest for self-liberation is over, for we have already been set free by Christ Himself. Our mental battlegrounds have shifted; no longer are we fixated on the ceaseless endeavor to stop sinning. Instead, our freedom in Christ allows us to redirect our focus entirely away from sin and towards the abundant life He has called us to live. 

We have been unshackled, not to focus on breaking our bonds again, but to concentrate on our new identity—our righteousness and holiness in Christ. This marks the beginning of an entirely new mindset; our thoughts are now filled with the promises bestowed upon us, the blessings we've received, and the novel purpose and position we hold. Everything about us has been made anew. We no longer view ourselves through the lens of our past bondage. Those whom Christ has set free are truly free, liberated from the mental constraints that once held us captive. 

In this newness of life, we are called to shift our focus. Instead of obsessing over sin and our efforts to avoid wrongdoing, our attention is now on the righteousness that we are called to live out because we are indeed righteous. Our actions stem from a profound belief in our new identity in Christ. With this belief, we act out of our new nature; we live a life that reflects our holiness and righteousness because we genuinely embrace that we are holy and righteous. Our meditations and thoughts are now centered on things that are holy, righteous, and pure, aligning with our renewed belief in our purified selves.

This new mindset and the meditations of our heart are transformative, leaving no room for rumination on our past unrighteousness or sinful nature. Our identities have been wholly renewed; our minds, purified. We align our actions with this new identity, buoyed by the belief in who we have become through Christ. Why do we embrace this new belief? Because Christ Himself has affirmed our new status as holy, righteous, and pure beings. 

Armed with this profound understanding of our transformed selves, our thoughts and actions naturally follow suit. The purification that has occurred within us inevitably radiates outward, manifesting in pure and righteous deeds. We are urged to see ourselves as we truly are now in Christ—not as we were. The old ways, the old self, have been irrevocably discarded with our past. In Christ, we have been reborn, stepping boldly into our new nature, marked by purity, righteousness, and a holy calling.