When a person becomes a Christian, he enters into a new relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  He also enters into a new relationship with sin.  In fact, the Bible instructs the Christian to stop sinning.  In Colossians 3:5-7, Paul communicates this by commanding believers in Christ to put to death the parts of their body they use to commit sin.  In verses 8-11, Paul demands that we stop sinning in terms of putting off sins like we put off an article of clothing.  Before we were Christians, we used to live in these sins – we used to wear them!  But now we are to put them off (vs.8).  This passage indicates that before we became Christians we were described in terms of “the old man.”  When we were saved we become new creations in Christ Jesus, and referred to in terms of “the new man.”  So now we must put off the old sinful ways and put on the righteous ways of the new man.  If you are in Christ, you are a new creation.  So start living like one!