THE GOSPEL: THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF GOD

The good news of the gospel is salvation from sin. In the previous point an explanation of how God has provided for man to be delivered from the penalty of sin through the death of His Son was presented. Now consideration will be given to how God has provided for mans deliverance from the power of sin. Sin can corrupt and enslave the heart like a cancer of the soul. Forgiveness of sin without the power to overcome sin and heal the heart would only be a partial salvation. God has provided the means through which the power of sin can be broken and a new life can begin to emerge through the creation of a new heart in the believer. Consider these scriptures which teach of a spiritual rebirth:

(2 Corinthians 5:17) Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

(John 3:1-8) Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; {2} this man came to Him by night, and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." {3} Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." {4} Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" {5} Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. {6} "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. {7} "Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' {8} "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

(1 Peter 1:3-5) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, {4} to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, {5} who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

When a person becomes a Christian they are born again and start a new life in Jesus Christ. This begins a process of regeneration and renewal that will transform the heart and ultimately the life delivering the believer from the bondage of sin and opening the door for one to experience the abundant life that Jesus came to give. Empowered by God the believer begins to yield to God's word and to His Spirit laying aside the old sinful man within and putting on the new man in order to become the person God wants him to be and in the process beginning to experience the blessing of a changed life.

(Titus 3:5-6) He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, {6} whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

(Rom 12:1-2 NASB) I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. {2} And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

(Ephesians 4:22-24) ... in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, {23} and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, {24} and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

By means of a spiritual rebirth the believer can begin the process of renewal and transformation of mind and heart that will break the power of sin and reverse the corrupting effects it has produced in the heart. With a spirit set free by sins forgiven and with the presence of new spiritual life the believer can begin to experience real peace and joy while standing firm in the grace of God.