Our beliefs are very important to God. What we think determines whether we struggle along and live in defeat, or walk in the grace that causes us to win. We all want to live right, but that’s only possible when our belief system lines up with God’s Word. Getting born again and immediately receiving a new spirit that’s as perfect and blameless as Jesus is just the first step; change begins in us only when we wholeheartedly believe that we’re new creations.
If we struggle with the idea of receiving good things we don’t deserve, it’s because it seems so foreign to us. God has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness, but we won’t understand this until we change our mindset. New Christians are still burdened with their old, unrenewed minds. To see things from God’s perspective, we need to renew our minds to the Word of Grace; as we think in our hearts, so are we.
The world reminds us that we’re not perfect, and that’s true for anyone living in the flesh and relying on themselves to behave right. However, we’re in Christ. Instead of being conformed to this world, we’re to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. This is how we find out God’s good, acceptable, and perfect will for us.
With Christ in us, we can be presented to God as perfect. This isn’t arrogance, but biblical truth. On our own, we don’t have what it takes to be perfect, but we do when we rely on Jesus. We were previously sinners, but now we’re saints in God’s eyes.
The challenge comes when we face the world’s direct contradiction of who the Bible says we are in Christ. Others will tell us we’re still sinners when they see us sin. Thankfully, we’re not what we do, but what God says we are; loved, forgiven, holy, and righteous, despite our behavior. Internalizing this truth is the key to our transformation.
Prayer:
Lord, You showed grace to us even before we knew You, and perfected us through Your Son. When we were newly-born again baby Christians, You stayed by our side and walked with us every step of the way. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Scriptures:
2 Corinthians 5:17
2 Peter 1:3
Proverbs 23:7
Romans 12:2
Colossians 1:28
Psalm 16:3
Psalm 30:4
Romans 8:27
Jude 1:3