'I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.' Psalms 32:8
What is different now that you are a Christian? What changed the day you repented of your sins, accepted the salvation that Jesus Christ has to offer? Probably nothing dramatic. But in reality, a miracle happened to your body, mind, heart and spirit. You may not feel it nor realise it but things are different now.
- You are born again.
'Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.' John 3:3
'Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh give to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.' John 3:5-6
The second birth is not physical but a spiritual phenomenon. Your spirit which was dead because of sin is now born again, a miracle happened.
- You are a new creation.
'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.'
Life takes on a new perspective. Instead of being anchored to worldly matter and the encumbrances of sin, put away your past life and habits and enter into a new relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The old ways die and a new life begins in a moment by moment renewal. With some detail, St Paul described this transformation:
'You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander and dirty language. Don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.' Colossians 3:7-9 (NLT)
'Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him.' Colossians 3:10 (NLT)
'Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothes yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.' Colossians 3:12 (NLT)
Your conduct changes, your behaviour is overhauled, the way you live is different; there is a new you!
- You have a new mind
'Don't copy the behaviour and customs of this world but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.' Romans 12:2 (NLT)
Consider this, using the renewed mind, you have the ability to discern God's thoughts and thus God's will.
'For who can know the Lord's thoughts?.... But we understand these things because we have the mind of Christ.' 1 Corinthians 2:16
- You have a new heart
Jeremiah the Prophet said, "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can understand it?" Jeremiah 17:9. But God knows,
'Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there be any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.' Psalm 139:23
God can change our hearts; a transformation of attitudes and values.
'And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.' Ezekiel 36:26 (NLT)
- You have a new love
At the last supper, Jesus Christ gave His disciples a new commandment,
'A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.' John 13:34
Love becomes the prime virtue in all your social interactions. Every new believer can have the capacity to love like Christ loves, unconditional, sacrificial and forgiving love. This is the distinguishing mark of every Christian, to love unreservedly.
- You have a new spirit.
How can you change? How can you live this new life in Christ? At the last supper Jesus said that the Holy Spirit will come upon you and empower you. The Holy Spirit is our advocate, our helper, our counsellor.
'And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit who will lead you into all truth.' John 14:16-17a (NLT)
'No eye has seen, no ear has heard and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him. But it was to us that God revealed these things by His Spirit. For His Spirit searches out everything and shows us God's deep secrets.' 1 Corinthians 2: 9-10 (NLT)
'No one can know a person's thoughts except that person's own spirit, and no one can know God's thoughts except God's own Spirit. And we have received God's Spirit (not the world's spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.' 1 Corinthians 2:11 (NLT)
So what is different when you become a Christian? John Piper concluded (Ref 1) "So, my conclusion is that we can say that Jeremiah 17:9 (the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick) is true of the human heart — all of them. But where God is applying the blood-bought purchase of the new covenant, there is a new creation. Sins are forgiven. Holy Spirit is poured in. New nature is brought into being. That newness consists in the presence of the heart-influencing Holy Spirit and in the new nature. You might call it the divine-like DNA that is more and more being conformed to Christ."
Things Are Different Now,
Something Happened To Me
When I Gave My Heart To Jesus.
Things Are Different Now,
I Was Changed, It Must Be
When I Gave My Heart To Him.
Things I Loved Before
Have Passed Away,
Things I Love Far More
Have Come To Stay;
Things Are Different Now,
Something Happened That Day
When I Gave My Heart To Him.
Lionel
Ref 1: John Piper, Desiring God Interviews Apr 2020
https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/is-the-christians-heart-deceitfully-wicked
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