The transformed life
Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy... And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:21-24; 30
The transformed life provided by Christ should be characterized by the change that the Holy Spirit wants to produce in us. It must be completely different from the old life. “...anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17) From the text, this is what Paul was telling Christians at Ephesus. The changes has to be demonstrated when we put-off the old self and put on the “new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy” (v. 24). The old self has been crucified and buried with Christ. This was why in another instance, Paul raised this question, “Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?” (Romans 6:2). God already has done His part and it depends now if we will believe what He has said. The proof of this is the change taking place in us as we put away attitudes that characterized our former life. We need to realize that we are no longer bounded by the old life instead we must live freely manifesting our new life. We belong to God’s new creation and now intended to live as He purposed. “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10). Therefore we need to walk in the newness of life. This is what was demonstrated when in obedience we followed Him in water baptism. “For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives” (Romans 6:4). Your belief in God and the working of the Holy Spirit in your life should be manifested in your actions and attitudes; all these with the goal of pleasing God. The Holy Spirit has sealed us after we made the profession of faith believing the message of the gospel now and to eternity (see Ephesians 1:13–14). Because of God’s gift to us, new life, eternal life, and the presence of His Spirit within, let us not squander this life by not demonstrating the transformed life. When we ignore and neglect God’s working within we grieve Him (Ephesians 4:30). Instead of grieving Him, yield to His working and allow Him to produce in you the new life God gave you. “Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves” (Galatians 5:16).
Blessings,
Noel De Guzman
www.my-wbc.com
