On Being Born a New Creation....
I've often thought of this passage (below), since I first read it twenty-some years ago. It's a good example of why I grew to love the Puritans...because of their ability to plumb the depths of Scripture and think through the faith.
This is such a great reminder that SALVATION IS NOT SELF-REFORMATION, but rather being made a new creation in Christ Jesus. (2 Cor. 5:17) It's not enough to merely make over and clean the outside of the cup with mo...rality or religious activity. We need a new heart....one that will transform our inner man, so as to change the whole course of our life. Salvation is not a man trying to become what he has not yet been created.
I've often thought of this passage (below), since I first read it twenty-some years ago. It's a good example of why I grew to love the Puritans...because of their ability to plumb the depths of Scripture and think through the faith.
This is such a great reminder that SALVATION IS NOT SELF-REFORMATION, but rather being made a new creation in Christ Jesus. (2 Cor. 5:17) It's not enough to merely make over and clean the outside of the cup with mo...rality or religious activity. We need a new heart....one that will transform our inner man, so as to change the whole course of our life. Salvation is not a man trying to become what he has not yet been created.
This means that being born again starts your life all over again. It means that you have a new starting point from which to grow....with a new goal and vision for your life, which concerns Christ above all. It means that you have a new and living hope, with new dreams, new appetites and new affections, a new disposition, new thoughts to think, new words to speak, new friends, new enemies, new triumphs, new struggles...a brand new life, abundant with all the riches of Christ, your King. Oh, it makes my heart rejoice just thinking about the wonder of it!
"A man may step out from one path onto another, and yet have his face the same way, and be still going towards the same place; but it is another matter to turn quite back again, and take his journey the clean, contrary way to a contrary place. So it is here.
A man may turn from drunkenness to thriftiness, and forsake his good fellowship, and other gross, disgraceful sins, and set upon some duties of religion; and yet be going still to the same end as before, intending his carrnal self above all, and giving it still the government of his soul.
But when he is converted, this self is denied and taken down, and God is set up, and his face is turned the contrary way; and he that before was addicted to himself, and lived to himself, is now by sanctification devoted to God, and lives unto God.
Before, he asked himself what he should do with his time, his parts, and his estates, and for himself he used them; but now, he asks God what he shall do with them, and he uses them for Him. Before, he would please God so far as might stand with the pleasure of his flesh, and carnal self, but not to any great displeasure of them. But now, he will please God, let flesh and self be ever so much displeased.
This is the great change that God will make upon all who shall be saved."
- Richard Baxter, "Call to the Unconverted"
"A man may step out from one path onto another, and yet have his face the same way, and be still going towards the same place; but it is another matter to turn quite back again, and take his journey the clean, contrary way to a contrary place. So it is here.
A man may turn from drunkenness to thriftiness, and forsake his good fellowship, and other gross, disgraceful sins, and set upon some duties of religion; and yet be going still to the same end as before, intending his carrnal self above all, and giving it still the government of his soul.
But when he is converted, this self is denied and taken down, and God is set up, and his face is turned the contrary way; and he that before was addicted to himself, and lived to himself, is now by sanctification devoted to God, and lives unto God.
Before, he asked himself what he should do with his time, his parts, and his estates, and for himself he used them; but now, he asks God what he shall do with them, and he uses them for Him. Before, he would please God so far as might stand with the pleasure of his flesh, and carnal self, but not to any great displeasure of them. But now, he will please God, let flesh and self be ever so much displeased.
This is the great change that God will make upon all who shall be saved."
- Richard Baxter, "Call to the Unconverted"
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