By Pastor Chinedu Emmanuel

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

KNOW AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE NEW LIFE

In order to embrace this new life, it’s crucial that we understand and acknowledge our newfound identity. When someone becomes a part of Christ, they are not simply refurbished or improved – they are completely transformed into a brand-new being. Jesus’ purpose was not to fix or patch us up; He came to entirely recreate us, granting us an entirely fresh existence.

John 10:10 reminds us that the thief’s sole aim is to steal, kill, and destroy. However, I have come to offer something entirely different – a life characterized by abundance and richness. When we welcome Christ into our lives, we not only receive a new life but also a new inherent nature.

 1 Corinthians 5:17 “Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it!” MSG

Due to the new life, we’ve been granted, we are now empowered to live in alignment with God’s intended purpose for us. Ephesians 2:10 says “we are God’s masterpiece, recreated in Christ Jesus for the very purpose of engaging in the good deeds He had planned for us from long ago.” The essence of this new creation is to enable us to carry out these preordained acts of goodness. It’s important to recognize that without undergoing this transformative renewal, we cannot fully embrace the life God has intended for us. This life is exclusively made possible by the profound change that has occurred within us.

Consider this analogy: Just as you cannot attribute actions to someone who is absent, similarly, without this new creation life, we cannot manifest the life that reflects God’s attributes, particularly His love. Without it, all we can do is live a life disconnected from God, characterized by our inherent sinful nature and limitations. This existence is what’s often referred to as living in the flesh – a life dominated by our natural, inherent tendencies and shortcomings. It’s vital to grasp that salvation goes beyond merely receiving forgiveness for sins. It encompasses a complete removal of the old life and the infusion of an entirely new life of creation. This new creation life is the sole avenue through which we can authentically live out God’s life. This is the essence of the new life we’ve been given.

WE NOW HAVE GOD’S LIFE

We now possess the very life of God within us – just as He breathed life into Adam, He has imparted His spirit into us through Christ Jesus, infusing us with His life. This is an entirely new reality for us, something we have not experienced before.

1 John 3:9 explained that those who have become part of God’s family no longer habitually engage in sin because they carry within them the life essence of God. Consequently, the continual pursuit of sin becomes incompatible with their identity as children of God. In another context, this life is termed “eternal life.” As outlined in 1 John 5:11, God has graciously bestowed upon us eternal life, and this life resides within His Son. It follows that possessing the Son equates to possessing life itself while lacking the Son means lacking this life-giving essence of God. In essence, we have been fundamentally transformed. The life of God is now our own, a truth mirrored in our connection with Christ and the indwelling of His spirit. This remarkable reality constitutes an entirely new existence, one that sets us apart and empowers us to live in alignment with God’s nature.

WHAT IS GOD’S NATURE?

In 1 John 4:16, we’re reminded that we have both recognized and embraced the love that God has for us. This is crucial because God is defined by love. Those who abide in love are essentially dwelling in God, and in turn, God dwells within them. Evidently, our new nature is characterized by love – not the ordinary, human kind of love, but the profound love that emanates from God Himself. This is illuminated in Romans 5:5, where it’s affirmed that our hearts have been permeated by the love of God through the presence of the Holy Spirit. It’s through this divine love that we can fathom the nature of our new life, since our new existence is intrinsically intertwined with God’s own nature – a nature that is fundamentally love-driven.

THE GIFT OF FORGIVENESS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS

The new nature we receive is not earned; rather, it’s bestowed upon us as a free gift from God through Christ Jesus. This transformational gift becomes accessible when we embrace the forgiveness of our sins. Forgiveness is granted to us when we come to Christ. It’s the essential foundation of the Gospel message. The blood of Jesus is the core reason for this forgiveness, as it effectively removes the barrier that separates us from God. Hebrews 9:22 underscores the significance of blood in purifying and forgiving, highlighting that remission requires shedding blood.

At the heart of the Gospel of grace is the proclamation of forgiveness of sins – a fundamental message. Acts 13:38 emphasizes that through Christ, forgiveness is preached, offering justification that the law of Moses cannot provide. This forgiveness is available to all who believe in Christ Jesus alone. This newfound forgiveness brings profound transformation. Through the blood of Jesus, we attain peace with God, opening the pathway to all of God’s blessings. Romans 5 underscores that, as we are made right in God’s sight by faith, we gain peace through Christ’s work. Our faith ushers us into an undeserved place of privilege, where we stand confidently and joyfully, eagerly anticipating the sharing of God’s glory. This peace and privilege set the stage for the blessings of the new life and all that follows.

To truly experience this new life, we must consistently live with an awareness of it see 1 John 5:10-13.

 SO WHY DON’T I EXPERIENCE THIS NEW LIFE?

One might say how come I find myself struggling as the reality I hoped for remains elusive? Despite my efforts, I still see myself behaving much as I did for years. It feels like I’m making no progress. Remember, you’re not alone in this struggle. Many Christians also find themselves in a similar position. They exhibit their natural, inherently kind behavior and believe it to be the essence of the new life. But it’s crucial to comprehend that this life is not an extension of our innate human nature; rather, it’s a spiritual life.

The Scriptures shed light on this matter. It’s about Christ Himself living and revealing His life through you and me. As 1 John 4:9 explains, the love of God became evident when He sent His only Son into the world, allowing us to live through Him. This life is lived through Jesus Christ. It’s when we provide Him with the opportunity to manifest His life within us and carry out His teachings through our actions. It’s not merely about our efforts, but about surrendering ourselves to Him, enabling His life to flow through us and His word to be enacted in our lives.

 LIVING IN AWARENESS OF CHRIST’S PRESENCE 

Living unaware of His presence and His life within us can leave us wondering how to activate it. Neglecting Him and His word can lead to relying solely on our own efforts. This pattern is what many fall into, akin to suffering from “Peter’s Syndrome.” They believe it’s about striving to be good, but their efforts often yield little. In Luke 5:5, Simon, in a similar vein, worked all night without success. Likewise, individuals toil to live out the new life, yet catch only self-produced righteousness that holds no value before God. Instead of putting on Christ, they labor in their self-achieved goodness, trying to halt behaviors but often failing, leading to frustration or even backsliding.

This new life is not sustained through personal endeavors, but through faith in the Gospel’s truth. It hinges on the reality we’ve discussed – Christ lives within you. He infuses life into your mortal body. When you grasp this truth, you provide Jesus with an opportunity to manifest His word through you. He exerts His power to subdue the “want to” ingrained in your flesh, initiating a new desire aligned with His life within you. This transformative process is ignited by faith in His presence and power.

Let us consider Paul’s personal experience. He grappled with the inherent desires of the flesh, often referred to as the “want to.” He labels this struggle as the presence of sin within our physical selves, our natural bodies, and individual beings. See verses below.

 Rom 7: 16-24 “But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?”

Paul discovers the solution in Christ, see verse 25.

25 “Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.”

Here’s a practical example of overcoming the “want to” or sin within the flesh. Suppose you’re struggling with anger. Despite your efforts, anger keeps surfacing. However, if you begin to embrace the belief that you are a new creation infused with the life of Christ – a life characterized by love rather than anger – a change can occur. As you continually absorb this truth, allowing it to take root in your heart, a transformation happens. This truth sheds light and clarity on the fact that you’re no longer defined by anger; you’ve already undergone a change. Consequently, you’ll be surprised by the outcome: the compulsion to become angry gradually fades, replaced by a fresh inclination – a desire to love.

In a similar vein, Peter found his answer in Christ and His teachings, just as you can find your resolution through the same source. In Luke 5:5-10, Simon Peter and his companions experienced an astonishing event. After a fruitless night of fishing, they followed Jesus’ advice to cast their nets again. To their amazement, the nets were filled to the point of breaking. This event led Peter to recognize the significance of Jesus’ words and power. Overwhelmed by the abundance of the catch and feeling unworthy, he fell before Jesus.

This episode illustrates the potency of acting upon Jesus’ words. Their obedience produced results far beyond what they could achieve on their own. This essence is called faith – believing His words and putting them into action. Jesus encourages us to believe and receive eternal life. Through faith, we invite Christ into our hearts. By trusting His words, we invite His transformative power into our lives.

We see another testimony in Matthew 8:5-13. We encounter a Roman officer who beseeches Jesus to heal his paralyzed and suffering servant. Jesus offers to come, but the officer’s response showcases his unwavering faith. He believes that just Jesus’ spoken word can heal from afar. This faith amazes Jesus. He acknowledges that such profound faith is rarely found, even in all of Israel. The outcome is a testament to this faith. Jesus tells the officer that his servant is healed because of his belief. The servant indeed gets healed that very hour. This story underscores the importance of believing in the presence of Jesus within you.

Ephesians 3:17 encourages us to let Christ dwell in our hearts through faith. Moreover, believing in the eternal life that Christ offers and consistently confessing it leads to its realization in our lives. This genuine faith leads to transformation beyond our own effort – Christ’s power eradicates undesirable tendencies.  Ultimately, the message is clear: simply believe and witness the power of faith in action.

Pastor Chinedu Emmanuel is the Senior Pastor of Fountain of the Living Word Church, New Jersey.