By Lee Roy Anderson
If you have never experienced a change in your life, you simply have never received Jesus. The Bible says, 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.
The greatest evidence of the new birth is a changed life. Thank God the evidence of the new birth changed life. When we become Christians, I believe Jesus Christ expects us to change our ways. 1 John 3:9 declares, whosoever is born of God doth not commit or continue to practice sin. A true child of God doth not continue to live in sin. God within produces holy living.
This does not mean a Christian cannot make a mistake, slip or do wrong. There is always that perpetual battle between the old nature and the new nature one receive at the new birth. The apostle Paul describes the battle like this, The flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that ye cannot do the things ye would. Galatians 5:17. Walk in the spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Galatians 5:16. If you have truly been born-again it will soon become obvious to you that there is a constant battle to be fought. We are not saved by works but by grace. Titus 3:5. However we are saved unto good works. Ephesians 2:10. Salvation is received apart from works, however works is a part of the salvation received.
Salvation by works teaching and claim is contrary to salvation by grace doctrine. But let me remind you it was Paul, the apostle of grace, who repeatedly emphasized the fact that one cannot constantly live in sin and be truly born-again. Read Romans 6:12. Ephesians 5:58 AND 1 corinthians 6:9-11.
Those who teach we are under grace and are therefore allowed to live any way and every way choosing any lifestyle they desire should read Titus 2:11-12. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and wordly lusts we should live so berly, righteously and godly in this present world. If you have truly been born-again you will have a desire to live a holy life. Note again, it is by walking in the spirit that we are able to overcome gain victory over the flesh. The only reason we can walk in the spirit is because we are in Jesus. Again the victory is through Christ not self. Remember, you cannot live wrong and die right.
