Our lives are transformed
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Faith Fitness
Bro. Sam Kaufman
When we come to know the Lord Jesus Christ on a personal basis, our lives are completely changed or transformed.
Our sins are forgiven and we become alive to God – or born again of the Spirit.
It is a remarkable transformation that occurs – one that is evident to those around us because of the new person we become. We no longer live for ourselves, but unto the Lord – the One who died for us and rose again.
The wind is one of those intriguing creations of God. You can’t see where it comes from, or where it is going, but you can see the effect the wind makes.
For example, you don’t actually see the wind blowing against the trees – but you can see the rustling of the leaves and the branches moving.
The same could be said for those who are born again of the Spirit. The change occurs within an individual, but the new lifestyle is evident to those who observe it.
In other words, the sinful activities and habits that were once evident in a person’s life are absent once the Lord comes in. Or at least they should be.
That’s why the scripture states, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Paul tells us to forget those things that are behind us – meaning we are to drop our former lifestyle of sin that is displeasing to God. We can’t allow that lifestyle to return.
God wants to put the new man on display for all to see. But that’s not all. Not only does He save us so we can have a relationship with Him, but He also desires to work through us.
That work comes in various manners.
We want to live an upright life, and we also want to show those in the world God’s love, which is so strong and evident in our lives.
II Corinthians 5:18-19 speak of two forms of reconciliation God has committed to His Church.
The first is in verse 18 and refers to the “ministry of reconciliation.”
The verse reads, “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.”
The next verse speaks of the “word of reconciliation.”
“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”
The ministry of reconciliation and the word of reconciliation go hand in hand. If you look at Jesus’ ministry here, you’ll find Him feeding the masses, healing bodies, casting out demons, and giving to the poor.
These acts in and of themselves do not save souls, but they do open a person’s heart to hear the gospel message.
That’s where the “word of reconciliation” comes into play. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. People need to hear God’s Word and let it do a work in their hearts to be saved.
But the works involved with the ministry of reconciliation are performed straight from the heart – from the unconditional love that stems from Jesus Christ dwelling in our hearts.
We must always be ready for these works, which could range from smiling at someone at Walmart and telling them God loves them to praying for someone’s healing or meeting physical needs.
The compassion we have from the Lord will motivate us.
We’ve also been instructed to preach the Word of God – to be instant in season, out of season.
It’s the engrafted word that we receive with meekness that can save our souls.
Paul told the Ephesians that he had not shunned to declare unto them the entire counsel of God. In other words, he held back nothing from the Word of God that was profitable to them.
That way, Paul could say that he didn’t have any blood on his hands.
The word of reconciliation is performed in the same manner of the ministry of reconciliation – through the love of God.
“But speaking the truth in love…”
