When a person responds to the revelation of God in Christ, it sets in motion the most powerful series of events possible. The Bible teaches about this spiritually potent event in various ways. It is the “new birth" (John 3). It is being “transformed" (Romans 12:1). It is “being delivered from the domain of darkness” (Colossians 1:13), and of course “new creations” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
The point is that when the human heart is submitted to and responds to the pure, unfiltered truth of the message of the gospel, the change that comes to be is revolutionary. There is nothing in the universe that comes close to this event in its radical nature.
The human rebellion that is lived out in the transgressing life is so permeated by the shield of the sinful nature, the satanic forces in this world that seek to destroy us all, and the spiritual ignorance that has been so ingrained in the human race, that the average person living in darkness away from the light of Christ actually perceives their spiritual darkness as enlightenment.
We see this played out before us every day. The evil and sinfulness of humankind has so adjusted the eyes of humanity to spiritual darkness, people actually believe they are seeing truth. This lostness, this lack of a personal relationship with the Creator and Savior God is manifested in a daily, endless, parade of evil that is called good, and it takes the breath away.
We must, as believers, stand firm in a world that has literally lost its soul. We must preach the gospel―with words and actions―the undying power of the message of redemption in Christ, and we cannot, we must not neglect his Word. We must grow in Christ daily, allowing the truths in his word to change us, change our speech, change our minds, and change our hearts.
It is a daunting task. There are so many people that have nothing but an emotional or intellectual knowledge of the gospel, but they live exactly like they have always lived, perhaps worse, in their daily behavior, their attitudes, and their speech. They are trading the depths of Christ’s intended spiritual maturity for the shallow and superficial life of convenience and non-commital. They have no comprehension of the sweeping, extreme and total change in the genuinely transformed life. Part of this comes from lack of biblical teaching and some from false motives in a human heart. Only God knows each specific case.
As this set of verses teaches, being a new creation in Christ originates in and flows from the truly reconciled life―reconciled to God. And if you aren’t changed and changing and daily conforming your life to the spiritually rigorous life of the disciple of Christ, let me suggest looking deeper into scripture. Align your life and your steps with his Word. You are not alone in this task. If you are not committing daily, substantial effort in your spiritual walk, it is time for a personal, spiritual revolution. This is the singularly most important thing you will ever do.
It is a ministry of the church to come alongside. And the Holy Spirit comes alongside as well. You are not alone.
He will empower you. He will guide you. He will teach you.
He will change you into the new creation he wants you to be.
That is his purpose for us all in this world.
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17 So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come! 18 And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation. 19 In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:17–19 NET
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We can come to know Christ through confession of our sins and repentance (turning away from sin). Let me encourage you to do this by talking to God through prayer. Here is an idea of how you might do that:
"Dear God, I believe your son Jesus Christ died in my place on the cross and rose from the dead on the third day following his death. I confess my sins, all of them, to you now with a humble heart. I repent of those sins and ask you to empower me with your Holy Spirit in overcoming further sin. Amen”
If you prayed this or a similar prayer committing your life to Christ and becoming one of his followers, let me encourage you to find a good, Bible-believing church. If you live in the Weslaco/Rio Grand Valley area of Texas, let me invite you to the church I attend, Mid-Valley Assembly (www.midvalleyassembly.com).
Begin talking to God in prayer and reading the Bible daily. A good way to begin to read the Bible is to start with the Book of John in the New Testament.
Feel very free in connecting with me if you need any further help in your walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. You can do this via the above email or facebook page or this web page. _____________________________________________________________________________
Mercy Road Ministries was founded and now led by Ben Bounds. Ben has pastored churches across Texas for over thirty years and is an ordained minister with the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA). He holds a BA in Pastoral Ministry and Biblical Studies from Southwestern Assemblies of God College and did graduate theological studies at the BMA Theological Seminary.
Ben's first book, The Divine Chase: Responding to a Pursuing God, was released on 12.08.2017 through Westbow Press, a division of Thomas Nelson and Zondervan. It is available in paperback and hardback through your preferred bookseller (Mardels, Barnes and Noble, etc.) and paperback, hardback as well as ebook through online book retailers (www.christianbook.com, www.cokesbury.com, www.amazon.com, www.booksamillion.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, etc.).
Ben is the host of Staying in Bounds, an on-air Bible devotional broadcast multiple times daily on KWJV 103.7 FM Weslaco, TX which can also be heard worldwide online at www.kwjvthestar.com.
Ben and his wife, Linda, together have four adult children and nine grandchildren. They live in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.
Ben can be contacted for preaching engagements at benbounds695@gmail.com or 903.441.3279. Ben can also be contacted via his website @ www.benbounds.com, which is also his blog and contains more information about his ministry.
Follow Ben @ https://www.facebook.com/mercyroadministries/ and this website www.benbounds.com.
©2018 by Ben Bounds. All rights reserved.
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