A New Creation.

When you become a Christian (and by this I mean in the Biblical sense, not some modern interpretation) there should be a visible change in your nature and attitude. I don't want to get too distracted about what makes you a Christian but to concentrate on what you become as a Christian, the difference when this change takes place.

But to answer quickly what makes you a Christian, I would say the following two verses are the basis of Christianity, the belief in who Jesus was and is and what He did for you and the fact that scriptures are the inspired word of God, 'all of it'.

John 3:16 (King James)

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

2 Timothy 3:16 (King James)

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

So you are a Christian? You believe and want to fully commit to living your life to please God? Why does a change take place in the person who says yes to both of these questions? Once again we look to the scripture for the answer:

2 Corinthians 5:17(Amplified Bible)

17 Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!

How important is this change? Can we supplement this requirement with works and good deeds? The answer is NO; works, deeds or actions do not make you a Christian, they make you a good person. The real change is from the inside out, not outside in. The change is also not from yourself, it is from Christ who now resides in your heart. Without Him no 'real' change can or will take place. I would like to emphasise the word ‘can’ and say a permanent and real change.

Galatians 6:13-16 (Amplified Bible)

13For even the circumcised [Jews] themselves do not [really] keep the Law, but they want to have you circumcised in order that they may glory in your flesh (your subjection to external rites).
14 But far be it from me to glory [in anything or anyone] except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) through Whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world!
15 For neither is circumcision [now] of any importance, nor uncircumcision, but [only] a new creation [the result of a new birth and a new nature in Christ Jesus, the Messiah].
16 Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule [who discipline themselves and regulate their lives by this principle], even upon the [true] Israel of God!

Change has nothing to do with works or actions. The people here were more bothered about how they were perceived by others than following the Law itself. The scripture warns us of people like this in the Church today, they have the outward appearance of Christianity but do not have Christ's nature within them, they are in it for themselves and not God.

2 Timothy 3:5 (Amplified Bible)

5 For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them].

Again in Jude we are told about these people and also of their fate.

4 For certain men have crept in stealthily [gaining entrance secretly by a side door]. Their doom was predicted long ago, ungodly (impious, profane) persons who pervert the grace (the spiritual blessing and favor) of our God into lawlessness and wantonness and immorality, and disown and deny our sole Master and Lord, Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

Some people try to become Christians under their own strength, they make the initial step but then fail to realise they cannot overcome the power of Sin with their own will, it must come from Christ. Others just see an opportunity for fame and reward and put on a false nature.

In Romans 7 we have an account of the struggle with Sin and the answer. With a lead up from Romans 7:7 to 23 explaining the battle going on in our bodies between our sinful nature and wanting to do good, (and that Sin always seem to win). The cry in verse 25 asks who can overcome this sinful nature which seems to always be dominant.

Romans 7:24,25 (New International Version)

24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
25 Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

The reason people have so much trouble following and living a life with Christ is that they try to do it under their own strength and deny the power which Christ wants to give us, to enable us to live a full and powerful Christian life.

2 Peter 1:3 (Amplified Bible)

3 For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue).
4 By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you may escape [by flight] from the moral decay (rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and greed), and become sharers (partakers) of the divine nature.

The change that comes to us through Christ living in us is a saving change, it is designed to lift us out of the world and away from the destruction which is destined for all those who follow the nature of Satan and Sin. If you live without Christ it is very clear in the Bible that you have taken a stance against God. There is no grey area when it comes to taking sides, you cannot be half way there or a part-time believer, Revelation 3:15-16 warns us about not being fully committed.

15 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other!
16 But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth!

Becoming a Christian isn’t just about going to Church or reading your Bible, it is a life-changing decision. It is something which will have an effect on you for the rest of your life on earth, and will continue throughout eternity.

To get a real description of what happens when Christ comes into your heart, look at Ephesians 2 which goes into detail about what you were, and what you have become. Can you read the three verses and apply this to your own experience? I know you can from the view point of where you were, but what about afterwards? Are you really alive now? Have you left behind the values of the world?

Ephesians 2 (Amplified)

1 And you [He made alive], when you were dead (slain) by [your] trespasses and sins
2 In which at one time you walked [habitually]. You were following the course and fashion of this world [were under the sway of the tendency of this present age], following the prince of the power of the air. [You were obedient to and under the control of] the [demon] spirit that still constantly works in the sons of disobedience [the careless, the rebellious, and the unbelieving, who go against the purposes of God].
3 Among these we as well as you once lived and conducted ourselves in the passions of our flesh [our behaviour governed by our corrupt and sensual nature], obeying the impulses of the flesh and the thoughts of the mind [our cravings dictated by our senses and our dark imaginings]. We were then by nature children of [God's] wrath and heirs of [His] indignation, like the rest of mankind.

As a Sinner you were under the power of Satan following the will of the flesh, the ungodly nature which seeks anything and everything which is contrary to God. You may have been a good person, always helping and giving but this is a delusion from the prince of this world to keep you from looking to God. Satan likes good people as well as bad, he likes anyone who he can keep from knowing God. If he can keep you thinking that good works will save you then he’ll keep you happy, letting you fulfil your desires and keeping you from the full truth which is Christ.

You can’t help but see that following Christ takes you away from the world and the things that the world stands for and follows. In verse 2 we see that the ‘old you’ follows the course and fashion of the world, this isn’t fashion in the clothing sense but means tendency or prevailing direction. It goes on to say in verse 3 that you also followed the impulses and thoughts of the natural nature you had, the animal instinct if you will which is directed and governed by Sin and Satan which has no thought but satisfying itself.

Finally we are told that the old nature, the way of the world was one which leads to God’s wrath and indignation, something which grieves God. Why then would we want to be like the world, to follow the world and its desires? With Christ in us He helps direct and keep us, He gives us strength to fight the desires and powers of this world. With Christ in your heart and life you are not alone. Philippians 2:13 says:

13. For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.

If with Christ’s help you are able to separate yourself from the world and turn your thoughts and deeds to God, then you too could have God say of you what He said of Christ in Colossians 1:19.

19. For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ,

But it doesn’t stop there because with this comes your redemption, the forgiveness of your Sins. You can have all your wrongs rectified, all mistakes forgiven just by turning your back on the world and Satan. Living for this world may bring you riches and fame and friendship but it can’t bring you forgiveness of Sins or eternal life, only Christ can do that by the sacrifice He made by dying on the cross.

Follow Christ, give up your old nature and take on Christ’s, move from the darkness of ignorance and Sin which the world live in and turn to the light. 1 John 1:5-7

5 This is the message he has given us to announce to you: God is light and there is no darkness in him at all.
6 So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness. We are not living in the truth.
7 But if we are living in the light of God’s presence, just as Christ is, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin.

Have you still got the old nature, the old desires and thoughts? Do you look for the acceptance of your friends or are you happy to be different and stand up for God when God is unfashionable? Do you put more effort into doing well now and building up your bank balance over laying up treasures in heaven?

To be a true Christian is to be different, to stand out from the crowd, to say ‘no’ when everyone else says yes, to stand up for something which will last for eternity and not just a lifetime. God is real and eternity is a long time to regret not doing what you knew to be right, following Christ and not man.

Stand up for something, or die for nothing.