The Transformed Life
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”
Romans 6:4–6
Some years ago, I received a card from a little girl in our church. She wrote: “Dear Pastor, Thank you for this church and for your preaching. I know that you work very hard to do that stuff. We are very happy to have you here. This year my dad learned not to drink and smoke and how to be nice. Thank you and God bless you. Love, Anna.”
The Lord does not save us simply to change our eternal destiny, though the gift of salvation does change our course from headed toward Hell to headed toward Heaven. But God has plans for us in this life. He intends for us to be changed by our salvation on a practical, day to day level. The fact that we are Christians does not automatically remake our temperament, personality, or character traits, but it should dictate and control the way those are expressed in our daily lives.
The Apostle Paul expressed this Divine goal for each believer when he wrote, “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10). If your life has not been transformed since your salvation, something is very wrong. While no Christian is sinless, we should be sinning less and less as we become more and more like Jesus through our walk with Him.
Romans 6:4–6
Some years ago, I received a card from a little girl in our church. She wrote: “Dear Pastor, Thank you for this church and for your preaching. I know that you work very hard to do that stuff. We are very happy to have you here. This year my dad learned not to drink and smoke and how to be nice. Thank you and God bless you. Love, Anna.”
The Lord does not save us simply to change our eternal destiny, though the gift of salvation does change our course from headed toward Hell to headed toward Heaven. But God has plans for us in this life. He intends for us to be changed by our salvation on a practical, day to day level. The fact that we are Christians does not automatically remake our temperament, personality, or character traits, but it should dictate and control the way those are expressed in our daily lives.
The Apostle Paul expressed this Divine goal for each believer when he wrote, “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10). If your life has not been transformed since your salvation, something is very wrong. While no Christian is sinless, we should be sinning less and less as we become more and more like Jesus through our walk with Him.
Today’s Growth Principle:
It is not in our own strength but in the power of the Holy Spirit that our lives are transformed.
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