A Changed Life

The testimony of the Apostle Paul was “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). When a person comes to personally know Jesus Christ as his Savior, God inwardly transforms his life. He gives him a new nature—the nature of Christ, for all believers have become “partakers of the divine nature” 2 Pet. 1:3-4). This new nature naturally produces new attitudes and opinions, new likes and dislikes, new loves and hatreds. The things a person once loved, he now hates; and the things he once hated, he now loves. The whole inward motivation of his life has been changed.

Not only is this change apparent to the inner consciousness of the individual himself, his outward life also will appear different to those around him. The whole character of his life will be changed. Often a complete change of disposition will occur and even one’s conversation may be altered.

When a person has accepted Christ, there will be changes within him, particularly in his desires. Ambitions, affections and inward nature will be switched from evil things to godliness. If you can honestly say that such a change has taken place in your life, you may rest assured that it was accomplished by the Holy Spirit and is a sign that you have been born of God (John 1:12,13

When a person becomes a Christian, he is “born again” (3:3). Human birth is the demonstration of physical life. The new birth is the demonstration of spiritual life—the evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit. When a person is born again, he receives a new inner nature (2 Cor. 5:17). The consciousness of a new nature—the Christ life—within is evidence that you are born of God.

Of course, the old nature is also within, and conflicts often arise between the old and the new natures. “The flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that you would” ( Gal. 5:17). Your old nature (“the flesh”) fights with the new nature (“the Spirit”). Such conflicts are normal in the life of a real Christian—one who has been saved and made a child of God forever.