“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” — Colossians 3:5
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Being a Christian means that your life is being transformed into the likeness of Christ (Romans 8:29). The moment you genuinely accept Christ, your standing before God is transformed from that of a sinner to a saint. You become a new creation before the Lord.
You have been given a new nature. You’ve been changed from a goat to a sheep. Both are mammals but are completely different in nature. In life, this new nature must be nurtured and developed if we are to experience a transforming life. It’s about transforming your character, not your religious practices. Colossians 3:5 says, “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature.” Paul urges us in Ephesians 4:1 to “live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”
Experiencing a transforming life is like taking your game to another level. Your game doesn’t improve just because you want it to; it takes constant effort. You’ve got to go to the gym diligently and work constantly with purpose and intensity. The same is true about experiencing Godly transformation in your life. First Timothy 4:7-8 teaches that you must “train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
We experience a transforming life only as we become devoted followers of Christ (disciples) and allow the truth of God’s Word to govern our conversations, conduct and choices.
— Jerry Birch, Cleveland Cavaliers chaplain
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