New Creations in Christ

A powerful witness of God's power to save is the testimony of lives changed by faith in Jesus.  Whilst being born-again through the Gospel does not always result in immediate, overt transformation, what God does on the inside is real and profound.  Jesus Christ alone can change Saul of Tarsus the Pharisee to Paul the apostle.  He went from going on the warpath to accuse and persecute Christians to gladly counting everything loss for the sake of knowing Jesus Christ, and he willingly gave his life rather than deny the LORD Jesus.

Paul shared how being in Christ transformed his life in 2 Corinthians 5:14-17:  "For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; ¹⁵ and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. ¹⁶ Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."  As Jesus was raised to new life by His resurrection from the dead, Christians are made new creations, compelled by God's love to live for God who graciously loves us.  Above all other people, Christians can testify personally of the power of God at work through the Holy Spirit who makes us new creations in Christ.  At the very least we ought to ascribe power of God to change anyone, even if it seems unlikely or impossible:  for what is impossible with men is possible with God.

While we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus, it does not follow we always trust God as we should.  We can become cynical and even harbour doubt God could change other people.  We can apply this assumption to churches as well (groups of people saved and being changed by God's grace), and ridiculously imagine the church is static and unchanged over time.  After my arrival in Australia, I was a bit surprised when people voiced opinions of our church, a previous pastor, or congregants who had not been to the church in some time.  It is like visitors or former congregants imagined the church was currently as they perceived it previously--when God is continuing to refine each member of the church day by day.  It may be that there are Christians who are stuck in a legalistic rut, have their hobby-horse doctrines, odd mannerisms, or interests we find strange.  But let us never limit God by assuming His people are doomed to remain as they are and churches by extension must suffer the same fate--as if Jesus is not involved in the salvation and sanctification of His people.

Hopefully I am not the same man I was 10 years ago because I have grown in faith, love, grace and wisdom.  Even if a church has not grown numerically in a decade, God-willing members have matured in faith before the LORD and are increasing in love one for another.  I wonder if we can be quicker to write off Christians changing for the better than believing God can save lost sinners!  How is it brethren, we believe God can turn Saul into Paul but do not trust God can make a Paul more godly, loving and gracious day by day?  The letters Jesus sent to the churches in Asia plainly show God wants churches He has things against to repent of sin and to return to their first love.  Through faith in Him, transformation is possible.  A church that over time took on a legalistic and harsh flavour by Jesus in the midst can be changed to have the inviting savour of grace, love and kindness.  With God, this is more than possible:  it is what Jesus does.