It is by only by Jesus death and resurrection that we are given the ability to "live to God." The apostle Paul tells us, “the death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:10-11).
We read even more about this in Paul's letter to the Ephesian Christians, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24).
It doesn’t mean overnight perfection, but once we accept, by faith, the new nature Jesus offers, we are "justified through faith", and "we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).
God begins a lifelong work in us—a process of “sanctification”, that will last the rest of our lives. But the important difference is that our thoughts, our actions, or entire being will be guided by a new nature. Because of our complete spiritual "transfusion" we are free from the sick, sin-riddled nature that once held us completely estranged from God; trapped in disease and death of the soul.
We will still struggle with our “old nature” but as we yield to the Spirit of Christ in us, “the grace of God…that offers salvation to all people…teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:11-14).
When we yield to the Holy Spirit who "has been given to us" (Romans 5:5), He helps us live in the grace God provides. We will understand our need for confession and cleansing. The apostle John tells us, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:8-10).
The Scripture offers this message as cause for hope and celebration, not anger and offense. When we become aware of a genetic disease or condition, our typical response is usually not offense. Rather we seize any opportunity to seek a remedy. Similarly, recognizing our sin nature is not meant to give cause for offense. It is the first step towards embracing God's gift of His Son.
Jesus’ message is not one of arrogant exclusivity—it is an all-inclusive message of love and grace, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
Jesus' teaching to Nicodemus was clear. In our old nature, we “stand condemned already”. The new birth through God's Son delivers us from the judgment of sin. Jesus went through great pain and rejection from His Father (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34) to pay the penalty for us. “How shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation” (Hebrews 2:3)?
Jesus explains the responsibility for action once we receive the message, "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin" (John 15:22).
Once we recognize our need for a new nature, and our need for a Savior, we need only enter into a simple and sincere heart transaction with God. We have a wonderful example in Acts 16:16-39. In the culminating events of a terrible injustice against Paul and Silas, a Philippian warden was suddenly confronted by his sinful state. "Sirs," he said to them, "what must I do to be saved?"
The answer was simple, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household” (Acts 16:30-31). Later, Paul said it this way to the Romans, "If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9).
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