“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” II Corinthians 5:17 The apostle Paul knew something about deep transformation. He hated Jesus and persecuted His followers. (Acts 22:4-5) But a personal encounter with Christ changed all of that, causing him to reevaluate his life in light of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. His union with Christ made Paul a new person. The old order of sin, death, and selfishness was gone and a new beginning, perspective and way of living had come. Following Jesus is not turning over a new leaf; it is beginning a new life.