New Year? New Life!

Thank you for coming to read our newest blog post today. We have a 'guest writer' today. My wife, Donna, has written this word for you today. As always, we pray that the Spirit of God will enlighten your mind and increase your love for the Lord and His Word today. Eric

As we begin a new year, many see it as an opportunity to have a 'new beginning.' There is always a hope that things will get better. Often resolutions will be made concerning those areas of our lives which are unsatisfactory to us, such as our physical condition, our weight, our determination to save more money throughout the year, or possibly to spend more time with our family, among others.

As I was considering these things, I thought about the amazing provision the Lord has freely given to everyone who chooses to accept the gift of salvation or 'new life’ through the sacrifice Christ made for us. He left the glory of heaven, came to earth as a baby, faced continuous opposition and amazingly gave His life willingly through the horrors of His crucifixion on the cross - so that we could be redeemed from our sins.

Today, I want us to focus our hearts and minds on what the 'new life' is, what takes place in our lives when we accept this gift, how our life should change because of it and what our life, as one having experienced a new birth, should look like!

'New life' in Christian context refers to the transformation and renewal that occurs when an individual accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and the Father sends the Holy Spirit to live in us.

'New life' begins with our spiritual rebirth or new birth and "signifies a departure from a person's old sinful nature and the beginning of a life characterized by righteousness, holiness and a personal relationship with God." (Bible Hub Topical Encyclopedia).

We find a reference to this event in John 3:3 when Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus, "Jesus replied, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is 'born again' he cannot see the kingdom of God." The word 'again,' anothen, in the Greek, in this verse means, from above. The new birth is not experiencing a second biological birth but a spiritual birth from above. "Perceiving the kingdom of God is impossible without spiritual rebirth." (Truth in Action NSFLB). Going on to verse 5, we read, "unless one is born of water (our physical birth) and the Spirit (being born again), he cannot enter the kingdom of God. I want to reiterate that the 'new birth' takes place when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

"The 'new birth' dramatically indicates three things according to what Jesus taught. 1). Without 'new birth' there is no eternal life and no relationship with God. 2). In the new birth, we receive new perspectives as we 'see' the kingdom of God and 3). Through the new birth, we are introduced to or literally we 'enter in' to a new realm where God's kingdom order can be realized." (Kingdom Dynamics NSFLB, John 3:1-5).

In 2 Corinthians 5:17, we read, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." "The new birth is more than simply being 'saved' it is a requalifying experience, opening up the possibilities of our whole being to the supernatural dimension of life and fitting us for a kingdom order." (Kingdom Dynamics NSFLB Matthew 3:1-2; Matthew 13: 1-52).

You see, part of that 'new creation' we become, occurs because the Holy Spirit was sent from the Father to live in us, when we accepted Christ as our Savior! (John 14:26). John 3:8 reads, "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." The sound of the wind is perceptive, yet invisible (like the effects of the Holy Spirit's work in our life.). The Spirit's presence is evidenced by the transformation that takes place in our lives. We are translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom or light and from the kingdom of death into the kingdom of life! Praise God! We also see the evidence of the Holy Spirit's presence in our lives by the presence of the fruit of the Spirit which should be more prevalent in our interactions with others.

"The Holy Spirit's work is not bound by human limitations or expectations." (Bible Hub Study Bible).

We are given more insight into our new birth, new life or salvation in Titus 3:5 which reads, "he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit" Titus 3:5 is a tremendous Scripture! Our gained insights: 1). We are not saved by any 'righteous' deed we have done. In fact, Isaiah 64:6 reveals that our 'righteous deeds' are like filthy rags to the Lord. 2). We are saved or receive the new birth according to God's own mercy or compassion, not by anything 'we' do. The process of receiving our salvation comes through the washing or purification and cleansing we receive by the sacrifice of the shed blood of Jesus and the regeneration or rebirth we acquire through the presence of the Holy Spirit in us.

The renewal we experience is not simply a moral improvement but is a change of heart and life. Our nature becomes new. This work of the Holy Spirit in us, fulfills the promises made by God in Ezekiel 36:26 and 27 (BSB), "I will give you a new heart, and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances." This describes the new birth or the spiritual renovation or regeneration we experience when we receive Christ.

Everything about this new birth, regeneration or new life which we receive is an act of God and is His divine initiative.

Praise His Name! The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead, lives in us and gives life to our mortal bodies as well. (Romans 8:11). When the day comes, that our physical body here on earth dies, our spirit, filled with the life of God, will move into that spiritual realm of eternity and we will be ushered into that prepared place where we will be in the very presence of God forever!

Let's look at what some of the characteristics of a new life are. These distinguishing traits should be evident in our lives. We need to actively participate in this transformation.

1). We are to 'put off' our old self which is corrupt through deceitful desires. We are to 'put on' the new self, created in the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. We are also to be 'renewed' in the spirit of our minds. (Ephesians 4:23,24 and Romans 12:2). We renew our mind by filling it with the Word of God. (2 Timothy 3:16,17).

2.) The evidence of our new life is the presence of the Fruit of the Spirit. This fruit should be apparent in our behaviors, encounters and interactions with everyone we meet. That means, those around us should see that our nature exhibits love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22,23). (Just a word of encouragement, fruit grows, so give yourself some grace when you miss the mark. Confess, ask for forgiveness and repent (turn away from it, He forgives.).

3). We need to exhibit and live a life of victory over sin. Romans 6:14 and 16-18 (NIV) reveals, "For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. ... 16 Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." "'Grace' is the merciful kindness by which God, exerting His holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ. God's grace keeps, strengthens, increases the faith, knowledge, affection of the believers and kindles them to the exercise of Christian values." (Bible Hub Topical Encyclopedia). Believers are empowered to resist sin and live in obedience - however, each of us needs to recognize that we daily face the temptation of sin and must choose to turn from it.

Our new life involves a commitment to live in a way that reflects God's character. "New life in Christ is a profound and comprehensive transformation that affects every aspect of a believer's existence so they can live in a manner that glorifies God and fulfills His purpose." (Bible Hub Topical Encyclopedia).

I'm going to start closing today by sharing Titus 2:11 and 12 (NIV), "For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age." 'Grace' in this verse, is the "divine influence upon the heart and it's reflection in the life." (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance). The Hebrew definition of 'grace' refers to God freely extending Himself, reaching to people because He is disposed to bless (be near) them!" (HELPS Word-studies).

Ephesians 2:8,9 and 10b (BSB), reveals, "For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, 9 not by works so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.”

So, as we contemplate the New Year that God has given to us - let us also be mindful of what the 'new birth' and 'new life' is all about - Us, being translated from the kingdom of death and darkness to life and light. Us, reflecting the beauty, holiness and love of our Creator!

Thank You Lord, for the gift of Your Son, Your Holy Spirit and eternal life that will ultimately be lived in Your very presence!

2 Peter 1:3 and 4, "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire."

Let your ‘New Life’ shine in the coming year!

Unless noted otherwise, all Scripture is taken from the English Standard Version.

NSFLB New Spirit Filled Life Bible

NIV New International Version

BSB Berean Standard Bible