by Brian Walters, Director of Adult Ministries @ MBC Loudoun

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Cor. 5:17).

     When I was in Argentina a few years ago doing door-to-door evangelism to aid in a church plant, I met a young man who didn’t want to give his life to Christ because he didn’t think he would be able to change the way he lived his life currently. He didn’t think he could give up his sinful activity and live according to God’s Word. For example, he thought he wouldn’t be able to give up getting drunk, not cussing, and not lying. My friend (JC) and I told him that he doesn’t need to worry about changing those things in his life because when he accepts Jesus as His Lord and Savior God will help to change those things because he will be a new creation (Eph. 2:1-3; 1 John 3:9). He will have God living in Him in the form of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19).

     After an individual accepts Christ as the Lord of their life that person is regenerated and his/her old priorities, values, beliefs, and loves are transformed. Yes, evil and sin are still present within us, but a believer in Jesus Christ can see every aspect of life from a new perspective, an eternal perspective. As a believer in Christ we no longer are tempted beyond what we can handle when it comes to sin (1 Cor. 10:13). We realize that eternity is much longer than the “light and momentary trials’ of life here on earth. God transforms our lives from the inside out and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is the only way we can receive this transformation and become a new creation.

     The take away we can learn from this young man is that if you don’t have a relationship with Jesus Christ, you cannot let the barriers in your life keep you from accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior and having a relationship with Him. God is bigger, wiser, and smarter (Isaiah 55:9) than any of us and He has the power to help us change. Remember, you matter to God (Core Value #1).

     Believers in Jesus should continue to strive and grow deeper in our relationship with Jesus Christ because a relationship is a two way street, the more you put into it the more you get out of it. There are two simple things you can do to grow in your relationship with Him, spend time in the Bible and spend time in prayer. Additionally, when you are tempted by sin remember you are a new creation and God always provides you a way out from temptation.