How does life change for a Christ follower?

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

It depends.

The change in your life is in direct relationship to your commitment to Jesus. 

If you are a Christian who defines the boundaries with Jesus and desires to live for self don’t expect a dynamic change.

The Christ follower who zealously seeks the will of God and makes Jesus the centerpiece of his life will become a new creature in Christ. He will be “born again” and transformed into the character of Jesus.

This has nothing to do with religion, keeping laws or doing works. It is about building a personal and endearing relationship with Jesus. The goal is to get to know Jesus, hear His voice and live in His presence.

The new creature in Christ will die to self and live for Jesus. All things become new and his old life fades away. He thinks differently and has a new perspective on life. He becomes a strong witness to those around him.

The new creature in Christ walks by faith and not by what he sees with his eyes. He understands God calls things that don’t exist as if they did. This is how God created the world and every living creature.

The Christ follower understands without faith it is impossible to please God. He accepts without any doubt that Jesus has power and dominion over the heavens and earth and nothing is impossible for Him. 

The Christ follower is willing to lay down his life for Jesus. He walks by faith believing in the promises of God. He is obedient to Jesus regardless of the personal cost or lack of logic. He believes Jesus is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him out. 

The new creature takes sin seriously and seeks repentance and the blood of Jesus to make him clean. He asks Jesus every day to show him anything he is doing that grieves the Holy Spirit.

The new creature recognizes he is just a pilgrim or foreigner passing through the world. He has severed the ties to the world and lives under the authority of the Holy Spirit.

The walk with Jesus is unpredictable and will be controversial about the attitudes of the world.

God can make radical changes in the life of a believer. He told Abraham to leave his homeland and travel to an unknown destination. He lived in tents with Sarai and Lot.

The new creature belongs to Jesus. He can do with him as He pleases!