'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 26:26 (NLT)
Saint Paul wrote when we received Christ as our saviour, we received new life!
'This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!' 2 Cor 5:17 (NLT)
The King James Version of the bible renders this as 'a new creation.'
St Paul went further in Romans 12 to state that we could offer our bodies as a living sacrifice and in exchange be transformed by the renewing of our minds,
'Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship. Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.' Romans 12:1-2a
In a sermon at Charis Methodist Church on the 18 April 2021, Bishop Solomon described this new life as a redemptive relationship with the triune God, a living relationship. He went on to expound on 3 truths of that relationship.
- A New Position - We develop a redemptive relationship with the Triune God. Romans 8:38-39 'For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.'
- A New Power - We are more than conquerors. Romans 8:37: 'No in all these things we are more than conquerors.'
- A New Promise - We are co-heirs with Christ. Romans 8:16-17: 'The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.'
Billy Graham mentioned seven gifts associated with this new life in Christ (Ref 1)
- A New Relationship. Once we were alienated from God because of our sins but now we are God's children, reborn into the family of God.
- A New Citizenship. Now we possess dual citizenship. We owe allegiance to our country but we are also citizens of the kingdom of God.
- A New Family. We are now related to other believers, our spiritual brothers and sisters. We are never alone; we are a part of God's family, a family that loves us and will help us.
- A New Purpose. We used to live for ourselves but when we come to Christ, God gives us a new purpose. Now we want to life for Christ, not just for ourselves
- A New Power. God Himself comes to live within us by His Holy Spirit. We are not meant to live the Christian life all by ourselves. The Holy Spirit empowers us.
- A New Destiny. Once we were headed for hell; now we are headed for heaven. Once we were bound for eternal separation from God; now we live with Him forever.
- A New Journey. We are on to a whole new path, it is a whole new beginning; the beginning of a whole new life.
'What does not Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.' Micah 6:8
St Paul exhorted in Romans
'Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.' Romans 12:11-12
It is a Life in the Spirit. We are controlled by the Spirit of God no longer driven by our sinful nature
'But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you.' Romans 8:9a
'Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.' Romans 8:5
C. S Lewis in 'Mere Christianity' wrote that man's pursuit of happiness without God is futile, "And out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human history—money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery—the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy."
To put it simply, Christian living is God's way of living; a life of true happiness and contentment. No wonder that we should ask God, to Create In Me A Clean Heart
Create in me a clean heart, O God
And renew a right spirit within me
Create in me a clean heart, O God
And renew a right spirit within me
Cast me not away from Thy presence, O Lord
And take not Thy Holy Spirit from me
Restore unto me, the joy of Thy salvation
And renew a right spirit within me
Lionel
Ref 1: Billy Graham, The Journey, Thomas Nelson, 2006
