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Articles
Transformation
The lives we are called to live in Christ are not to be an imitation of the lives we lived prior to obeying the gospel. This is an easy statement to write, but its application can be rather difficult. The habits that we once indulged in are no longer to be a part of who we are in Christ (Galatians 3:27). These habits can be difficult to replace, but through the grace of God and the strength He supplies, our old habits can be transformed into an obedient life. Let us take a moment and show how this transformation occurs in the life of a Christian.
We are called by the gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:14). When the word of God is heard and then believed, it creates in the heart of the hearer – faith (Romans 10:17). This faith is activated to respond and manifest itself by obeying the commands of God (Acts 2:37-38). When the believer has confessed his faith in Jesus as the Son of God, repented of his sins, and has been baptized for the remission of his sins, he stands as a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). The apostle Paul wrote -
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them (Ephesians 2:8-10).
We are all in full agreement that we are saved by the grace of God. We can do nothing to deserve the gift of Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection. Therefore, we do not boast in our obedience to the commands of God, but rather we should always have the servant’s attitude - “…We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done” (Luke 17:10).
We have been created in Christ Jesus for good works. This phrase emphasizes the necessity of transformation that must occur after we have put on Christ in baptism. The grace of God has brought salvation to all men, and its instructs us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age (Titus 2:11-12). The work of God’s grace does not end at our baptism, but should continually be found in the our lives as we are being transformed by the gospel. Our salvation does not end at the point of baptism, but rather it only begins at that point. The habits of our old man have been crucified with Christ; we have been buried with Him in death; and we are now raised to walk in newness of life. This life should be defined by those three attributes mentioned above – sensibly, righteously, and godly. We have put on the Lord Jesus Christ and should make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts (Romans 13:14).
We need to understand the gravity of what it means if we return to our previous lives, after we have obeyed the gospel. The apostle Paul warned the brethren in Corinth -
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God! We cannot indulge in the sinfulness of this world and believe that God will overlook both our choices and their consequences. The Corinthians had all once lived contrary to the will of God, but they had been washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. Our transformation through Jesus was not a license to further lawlessness, but rather a turn to God in obedience and faithfulness. This process once again begins at our baptism and will continue until the day of our death or the Lord’s return.
The transformation of a Christian is one of the most beautiful things to witness. A life that was once given to drugs and worldliness is now being made into the image of Christ. A life that was once addicted to pornography and sexual immorality is now practicing purity and holiness through Christ. A life that was lost in darkness and sin can find forgiveness and light in Jesus Christ. Praise be to God for His immeasurable grace and mercy toward us all! If you have been baptized into Christ, then walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light. If you have not made that decision, then believe that Jesus is your King, confess Him as the Son of God, repent of your sins, be baptized for the remission of your sins, and live faithfully, obediently, and humbly until death. May God bless us in our transformation to becoming more like Him!
