EXPERIENCING THE MIRACLE OF THE NEW LIFE AT CALVARY
John 1: 12; 2 Corinthians 5: 17
Everything God created “was very good” (Genesis 1:31), and as the crown of His creation, man was not only very good but was actually created in the image and nature of God (Genesis 1: 26, 27). Our first parents, Adam and Eve, were, therefore, perfect initially. Unfortunately, they yielded to Satan’s deception and sinned against God (Genesis 3: 6). By this means, sin got introduced into the hitherto sinless nature of man. From then on, man becomes alienated from God as all his imaginations and actions are now evil (Genesis 6: 5). This renders all men incapable of pleasing God (Romans 3: 23; Galatians 5: 17).
1. THE MISERY OF THE OLD LIFE
Genesis 6: 5; Romans 7: 14-24; Psalm 51: 5, 58: 3; Job 14: 4; Galatians 5: 19-21
When man fell in the Garden of Eden, his nature became perverted and prone to sin. This nature of sin resulting from the fall is the basis of mankind’s natural sinfulness. This is the old life, the Adamic nature, and the “body of sin” (Romans 6: 6). The experience of Saul of Tarsus is typical of the daily experiences of anyone still living the old life (Romans 7: 14-24). Even when there is an inner wish to please God, the wish is constantly suppressed and the nature of sin prevails. Religious services, decisive resolutions, moral reformations, etc., cannot help the matter. The natural man is born in sin and remains enslaved by it until he experiences the miracle of the new life (Psalm 51: 5). This is so even when the sinner constantly tries his best to make things look otherwise. All acts of stealing, fighting, fornication, examination malpractice, pornography, lying, abortion, cultism, etc., are the marks of the old life. Unconverted youths sin impulsively even when they know the terrible health or legal implication of some of their sinful acts. Some religious but unconverted youths tremble with fear each time they think or hear about heaven, hell, Rapture or judgment; yet they keep postponing their salvation. Such is the misery and wretchedness of the old life. No wonder Saul of Tarsus cried out, “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans 7: 24).
2. THE MIRACLE OF THE NEW LIFE
2 Corinthians 5:17; John 1:12; Romans 6: 14, 8:1, 2; Psalm 32: 1, 2; Galatians 2: 20
The new life brings about a change of character and freedom from sin (Romans 6: 4). Sins previously committed are forgiven (Psalm 32: 1, 2) and grace to sin no more is given (John 8:11). The new life is not merely an ideal concept but an experience. “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God (1 John 3: 9).” This is so because a divine enablement, that is, the “power to become the sons of God” is granted at the point of conversion (John 1:12). That is why this experience is rightly called being born again (John 3:3, 7). “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). This new life, rather than the fruitless and frustrating struggles with sin, is what a sinner needs in order to experience true and total freedom.
3. THE MEDIATOR: THE NECESSARY LINK
1 Timothy 2: 5, 6; John 14: 6; Acts 4: 12; Matthew 11: 28-30; Romans 8: 1, 2; Galatians 2: 20, 3: 13; Hebrews 9:28
The price of man’s redemption is greater than what any mortal being can pay (Psalm 49: 6-9). The entire humanity, therefore, stands in need of a Redeemer to mediate between God and man. A mediator is one who negotiates peace between two people who are not in good terms. This is exactly what Christ did on the cross of Calvary , by which He became the sole Mediator between God and man (1Timothy 2: 5, 6). Our part, therefore, is merely to accept Christ as our Mediator, Saviour and Lord (John 14: 6; Acts 4: 12). This involves taking the following steps:
i. Realizing you are a sinner (Romans 3: 23);
ii. Knowing that you cannot save yourself hence you need a mediator;
iii. Confessing your sins to God in prayer and determine to sin no more (Proverbs 28: 13);
iv. Asking God to forgive you your sins (1 John 1: 7);
v. Asking Jesus to come into your heart and be your Lord from now on (John 3: 16).
vi. Believing in the sacrifice of Christ for your salvation.
As you sincerely take these steps you will experience the same new life that turned the wretched Saul of Tarsus to the blessed Paul the Apostle. You can then say like him: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2: 20). And like William R. Newell, the joy of the new life can make you look at your old life and exclaim:
Years I spent in vanity and pride,
Caring not my Lord was crucified,
Knowing not it was for me He died
On Calvary .
Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
Pardon there was multiplied to me;
There my burdened soul found liberty,
At Calvary .
by Pastor W.F. Kumuyi; dclm, Lagos
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