A second event occurs when the old man is cut off and the new man is born from the dead. This event is seen in the apostle Paul’s conversion. The Lord directed Ananias to go to Paul and lay his hands on him so he could receive his sight. When Ananias arrived, Paul had already believed in the Lord Jesus for three days. However, until Ananias came, Paul did not know what to do. The Lord had told him to “Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do” (Acts 22:10). After Ananias instructed him, he then asked Paul, “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). We know from this command that Paul still had his past sins. Before Paul obeyed the command to be baptized, his old man had been crucified (Gal. 2:20), but he had not been buried with Christ. God had not yet cut off his old man. He was dead, but he had not been buried. Paul could call on the name of the Lord (authority of Christ) for doing what he did, for this is the command of Christ (Matt. 28:18-20). Until the old man is buried, there is no “operation of God” to cut off the old man (Col. 2:11.12). Peter gave this same direction to the Jews on the day of Pentecost when he said. “…Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). It is only with Jesus’ authority (in his name) that we can be baptized for the remission of sins. When the old man is cut off, the sins of that old man are cut off, and the new man rises from that burial without the guilt of sin.