The Renewed Man

    The Renewed Man

"If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation..." 2 Corinthians 5:17 A depiction of how the old is passed away and Christ gives a change or new experience.

 When the Bible says “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature…” (11Corinthians 5:17), it is outlining to us the OBVIOUS change that the converted, born-again person experiences. It is not a make-believe, hypocritical, half-transformed experience. It is real. God now lives in the man, through the living transforming truths of Jesus Christ. The man is sin-free, not half-changed. He is not reformed in just some of his ways or most of his ways. The Bible says “ALL things are become new and ALL things are of God” (vs 17&18, emphasis supplied).
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Unfortunately, there is a widespread teaching that states that “we cannot live a life free of sin.” The proponents of this teaching are quick to say “we sin in thought, word and deed…we cannot stop sinning…no one is perfect…we must think evil at some point even as a Christian…” More unfortunate is the fact that the majority of professed Christianity propagate that sin-freeness is not possible in this present world while we have sinful human flesh. How far have they fallen from Bible truth! What do they have to offer a sin-sick world? They tell the drunkard, liar, thief, murderer etc. that he must accept Christ. And when he does, they tell him that he can’t really stop sinning in this present world. What hope is that? What change are they offering? Are they inviting the sinner into a place where he feels comfortable in his secret sins, simply because he says “I believe that Jesus died for me on Calvary’s Cross?” The sincere seeker of truth and genuine change from a life of sin, ought to know that the aforementioned is NOT true Christianity.

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The renewed experience that God gives to the repentant is genuine. And, it is no secret. The liar now speaks the truth. The thief stops stealing and becomes an honest labourer. The drunkard becomes sober. The callous, hard-hearted unforgiving one becomes warm, tenderhearted and forgiving. (Ephesians 4:23-32). This is all made a reality because God alone now dwells in and is therefore exalted in the heart (Romans 3:22). When God converts us or puts a ‘stopping’ to our sinful rebellion, we ought to walk in the newness of life from thenceforth. The Bible is clear in its instructions to us concerning the renewed man. His present experience is totally opposite to his past unregenerate life. “ Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness…but now being made free from sin, and become the servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life” (Romans 6: 18 & 22). Clearly, the present life of the regenerated individual is now governed and patterned after the word of Truth which abides in him as long as he keeps it. (1 John 3:9; Romans 12:1&2). Indeed, he walks with God. He walks as Christ walked- in the experience of sin-freeness (1 Peter 2:21-23).

Christ wants to renew you today. Would you let Him?
 
Sis. Ann-Marie Ballantyne

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