Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: New (01/01/26)
-
TITLE: Have You Been Renewed? | Previous Challenge Entry
By Doug Laird
01/05/26 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
Being transformed from what one was (physically alive, but spiritually dead), into a new creation in Christ, is the result of having made a one-time, conscious decision to believe, after being presented with, the unadulterated Gospel Message, encapsulated in John 3: 16.
The “unadulterated” Gospel Message promotes faith in Christ alone, as being the one and only requirement to be eternally saved (1).
This single-requirement concept is quite different from the many other Gospel Messages that are out there today.
These “other” Gospel Messages imply that in order to be saved, or to remain being saved, one must also participate in all the additional requirements that religious Church Age men have established.
The transformation that makes one a new creation in Christ is NOT the work of human beings, be they ecclesiastical, or otherwise.
It is God the Holy Spirit that seals (2) the soul, forever (baptizing), that is marking for identification, the individual as a child of God.
It is He that regenerates (3) the dead spirit of the individual involved.
Sad to say, there are many deceived folks who go through, or have been put through, all the religious commandments of men (4), thinking all is well.
When in truth, they are just as spiritually dead as the day they came into this world, having never been born-again (5).
I have no problem with religious ceremonies that acknowledge what has already taken place in the spiritual realm, such as ALL the water baptisms of Church Age believers, recorded in Scripture.
Note that ALL the water baptisms, pertaining to salvation, that were recorded in Scripture, involved adult individuals, and only AFTER they were ALREADY born again, having made a confession of faith in the Person and the Work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
But I do see a major problem, when such rituals are promoted as being necessary to obtain or to retain salvation, as if faith in the atoning Work of Christ on the cross, is not enough.
There are two transformations that are a part of the Church Age plan of God.
The first transformation (and its results) is immediate and complete. It immediately takes place when one is born again.
It is this transformation that makes one a new creation in Christ Jesus.
Setting the stage for this transformation is the Work of God the Holy Spirit, as well.
It is He, and not human persuasion, that makes the unadulterated Gospel Message understandable, affording the recipient of the information, the opportunity to be saved.
It is He that seals the responding soul and regenerates the dead spirit.
Without such divine intervention, the understanding of the unadulterated Gospel Message (6) and edifying Scripture (7) is beyond the reach of fallen Man.
The unadulterated Gospel Message and edifying Scripture sounds foolish to an unsaved, unedified, soul (8).
The second transformation is a life-long process.
Unlike the first transformation, the results of the second transformation are reversible, resulting in the loss of reward, but not salvation (9).
This second transformation CAN begin at the moment of salvation, but that is an ongoing choice that we have to make each and every day.
This Romans 8: 29 second transformation, calls for the born-again believer to become more and more conformed to the likeness of Christ, evidenced by his or her thoughts (10), speech (11), priorities (12), and behavior (13).
Be aware that being so-transformed does not mean that the old sin nature, and its negative influence (14), has gone away.
The devil can do nothing to undo the results of the sealing and the regenerating Work of God the Holy Spirit that took place at the first transformation.
But, by appealing to the pressure of the fallen nature that remains within us, the devil can do much to impede or eliminate the forward progress of discipleship, if one gives in to its pressure, even after we have been born again.
The fallen nature, with its evil desires, pressure, and influence, will keep pace with whatever forward progress one may make along the road to spiritual maturity.
We can rest assured in the security that the first transformation provided us with (15), but must actively pursue the second transformation if we, as individuals, are to become and remain to be he renewed man or woman that God has in mind.
1) John 14:6 (2) Eph. 4: 30: (3) Titus 3: 5 (4) Matt. 15: 9 (5) John 3: 7 (6) 1Cor. 2: 14 (7) 1Cor. 3: 6, 7 (8) 1Cor. 1: 18 (9) 1Cor. 3: 15/2John 8 (10) 1Cor. 2: 16 (11) Matt. 12: 36, 37 (12) Luke 14: 26 (13) James 1: 22 (14) Rom. 7 (15) Rom.8: 1
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
