Inevitable change
Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:14-17
The apostle Paul says that when someone becomes a Christian, it isn’t that he or she is simply a little better off than before or that he or she has improved life a little bit. The new life in Christ does not mean that there was added a little something more in life that was not there before. When someone becomes a Christian, a radical change takes place in one’s life. This is because Christ’s love was shown through His sacrifice. The implication is that the Christian’s life will change drastically. The Bible describes this change process as conversion; “the old life is gone, a new life has begun.” Christ’s death on the cross brought life to those that received His offer of salvation. “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son” (John 3:18). The apostle Paul called on those that claim they are in Christ that their lives should no longer be governed by their old ways. Since we were bought with a price (see 1 Corinthians 6:20), our lives belong to God. When Paul was before King Agrippa standing on his defense when he was accused of rebellion for he was proclaiming the coming of Christ, he told him the purpose why Christ came; “...to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me” (Acts 26:18). Paul was not exaggerating for he was just stating the fact. There should be no vagueness in regards to our stand as His follower. Paul’s compulsion to minister to others in Christ’s Name was the love Christ demonstrated at the cross. Christ died for us so we might live for Him. Once you are in Christ joined with Him in His death and resurrection, you are a new creation. Transformation began and perspective towards others had changed. Paul was willing to sacrifice for others for the sake of the gospel so he could minister to them the love of Christ. Let the new life in Christ shape who we are and our desire to serve others.
Blessings,
Noel De Guzman
www.my-wbc.com
