There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
--Romans 8:1-2
In the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Mark, we see a remarkable story about a madman who was set free by the Lord Jesus Christ from the evil that tormented his life.
And it’s a great reminder of what Jesus has done for you and me! Without Christ, we’re madmen who are addicted to sin…broken and bruised…self-destructive…hurting ourselves, our families, and our friends.
But when we ask Jesus into our lives, He doesn’t just clean us up. He sets us free and gives us a brand new heart!
We read what God does for our hearts in Ezekiel 11:19-20 when He says, “I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.”
You see, being a Christian isn’t about getting cleaned up and then trying to hang on for dear life! No, coming to Christ means you have the power of Jesus to overcome your habits, your addictions, and your sins. You’re no longer on your own!
The apostle Paul reinforces this in 2 Corinthians 5:17 when he says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
It’s not just getting the evil out. It’s getting the power of God in! That’s what changes you.
When Christ comes to live in you and clothes you with His brand new righteousness…the righteousness of God Himself…then the love of sin is replaced with a love of God! The love of sinful passion and sinful pleasure is replaced with a love for holy purposes and passions that honor God. The old you passes away…and the new you takes its place!
I pray this glorious promise encourages your heart today…and that you will take time to thank God for the incredible and powerful work He has done for you!
In Jesus Christ, you are a new creation… free from the bondage of sin
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.”
Luke 19:7–8
Though we are told almost nothing about Zacchaeus and his life, what we know from history and the culture of the time tells us that he was a man to whom money was very important. The Romans often used local citizens to collect the taxes they imposed on conquered nations. This made those who chose to be publicans hated by their countrymen who saw them as collaborators with the enemy. Even worse, because they worked on what was basically a quota system and were allowed to keep all that they collected above that amount, many of them were corrupt and extremely wealthy. Money mattered to them more than loyalty to their country or fairness to their people.
Yet when Zacchaeus met Jesus, he immediately underwent a remarkable transformation. He did not, of course, get saved by giving away money. But, as an expression of his gratitude for what he recognized Jesus was offering him and an indication of his new priorities, he publicly declared a very generous offering to meet the needs of the poor. Further he was willing to go the extra mile in making things right with anyone he had taken advantage of in his office as publican. Meeting Jesus truly changed the life of Zacchaeus.
When a person trusts Christ as Saviour, things change in their life. The change is not always as obvious as it was with Zacchaeus, but change is always the result of salvation. “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).
Today’s Growth Principle:
Our lives should give clear evidence to the fact that we have truly experienced God’s transforming salvation.
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