From Death to Life: The Transformative Power of Christ
From Death to Life: The Transformative Power of Christ
Has Jesus actually changed you? Not just in the sense of believing in God or attending church, but has He changed you at your core? Has He changed you from the inside out? Jesus didn't die just to make us better behaved—He came to make us new.
What Does It Mean to Be a New Creation?
Our theme verse, 2 Corinthians 5:17, tells us: "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come, the old has gone, the new is here."
Paul wrote this to the Corinthian church, which was a hot mess of sin, chaos, and confusion. Yet he reminded them that in Christ, they weren't just better versions of their past selves—they were completely new creations. This isn't self-improvement; it's regeneration of who you are entirely.
Being "in Christ" means union with Jesus. Our lives are now hidden with Him. As Colossians 3:3 says, "For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God."
Why Do We Keep Returning to Our Old Ways?
If our old life is gone and our new life is here, why do we keep visiting the grave of who we used to be? Why do we continue to turn on that playlist of shame from a life that Jesus has already crucified?
If Jesus buried it, you don't need to carry it. He didn't give you a second chance—He gave you a new life. It's not about stopping sin; it's about starting new. It's not about being cleaned up; it's about being raised with Christ.
Moving From Flesh to Spirit
Romans 8:12-13 tells us: "Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit, you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live."
This passage is a deep dive into what it means to be led by the Spirit, not dragged around by our old nature. You're not stuck anymore. You're new. You're not in debt to your sin. That account has been closed. That payment has been made.
When Jesus was on the cross, He shouted, "It is finished" (tetelestai). This word had many meanings in the first century:
Jesus used this word in the perfect tense, meaning it wasn't just finished in the past—it remains forever finished, forever accomplished, forever effective. He was declaring victory, not whispering defeat.
Overcoming Our Excuses
We often make excuses for our behavior:
These things are not our identity—they're our excuses. Our identity is found in Christ.
Not only does Jesus forgive us of our sins, but He also transforms our desires. When that old life is gone and the new is here, everything about us is different. We don't owe our flesh an explanation, but we do owe the Spirit our obedience.
From Defeat to Victory
Revelation 12 says, "And they overcame by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony."
The blood of the Lamb was not only poured out to forgive you, but it also frees you. Your testimony isn't about how messed up you were—it's about how faithful God is.
Your story matters. There is somebody somewhere who needs to hear what God has done in your life. You may think you're too messy for God to use, but He doesn't use perfect stories—He uses honest ones.
A Personal Testimony of Transformation
Before Christ, my wife and I lived a full-blown party lifestyle. Alcohol was our escape. We spent a lot of time partying with friends, and even moved closer to where we partied to make it more convenient.
But God started using the unexpected—our nine-year-old daughter began crying out to a God she didn't know, saying something had to change. God heard her prayers.
One night after partying, we went to a restaurant by boat. My wife saw a card that said, "This card could change your life." She took it home and put it in our mirror, never thinking about it again.
A year and a half later, broken and dead in our sin, my mom invited us to a new church starting in Eufaula. My wife, who had recently had a mental breakdown, was crying out to God, asking Him to show her it would be okay. God directed her to look at that card in the mirror—and on the back was an invitation to the original launch team meetings for Community Culture Church.
That was the beginning of our transformation. But meeting Jesus wasn't the end of our story—it was just the beginning.
The Life After Saying Yes to Jesus
I lived 33 years thinking my way was right. These last 11 years, I've experienced life to the full as Jesus promised in John 10:10. I've experienced love like never before, built friendships that will last into eternity, and raised our kids through the lens of Jesus' love.
When Christ is in you, you don't just live differently—your senses change. You can taste, see, hear, and feel everything differently.
Acts 3:19 says, "Repent then and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." That refreshing isn't found in relationships, entertainment, or substances—it's found in a life of repentance, forgiveness, and surrender to Jesus.
Marking Your Moment of Transformation
In 1 Samuel 7:12, after God gave Israel victory over their enemies, "Samuel took a stone and set it up and named it Ebenezer, saying, 'Thus far the Lord has helped us.'" This stone wasn't about decoration—it was a declaration of what God had done.
What are you going to remember about what God has done in your life today? What are you going to point back to when things get tough again?
I have stones of remembrance all over my life—at our church, on our porch, and in my memories. The Mexican restaurant where God found us in our brokenness. The trailer where our church began. The high school auditorium where God radically changed our lives. These aren't just places—they're reminders of God's faithfulness.
Life Application
Today, I challenge you to consider: Has Jesus actually changed you? Or are you just playing the game—wearing the Christian t-shirt on Sundays but not truly living the life He has for you the rest of the week?
If you're ready to move from death to life, from flesh to spirit, from defeat to victory, what will you do? Throughout Scripture, when people encountered God in a real way, they marked the moment. They built an altar. They raised a stone. They left something behind and took something with them.
Ask yourself:
When the enemy tries to remind you of your past, point to your stone and say, "This is where my new life began. Thus far, the Lord has brought me."
Has Jesus actually changed you? Not just in the sense of believing in God or attending church, but has He changed you at your core? Has He changed you from the inside out? Jesus didn't die just to make us better behaved—He came to make us new.
What Does It Mean to Be a New Creation?
Our theme verse, 2 Corinthians 5:17, tells us: "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come, the old has gone, the new is here."
Paul wrote this to the Corinthian church, which was a hot mess of sin, chaos, and confusion. Yet he reminded them that in Christ, they weren't just better versions of their past selves—they were completely new creations. This isn't self-improvement; it's regeneration of who you are entirely.
Being "in Christ" means union with Jesus. Our lives are now hidden with Him. As Colossians 3:3 says, "For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God."
Why Do We Keep Returning to Our Old Ways?
If our old life is gone and our new life is here, why do we keep visiting the grave of who we used to be? Why do we continue to turn on that playlist of shame from a life that Jesus has already crucified?
If Jesus buried it, you don't need to carry it. He didn't give you a second chance—He gave you a new life. It's not about stopping sin; it's about starting new. It's not about being cleaned up; it's about being raised with Christ.
Moving From Flesh to Spirit
Romans 8:12-13 tells us: "Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit, you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live."
This passage is a deep dive into what it means to be led by the Spirit, not dragged around by our old nature. You're not stuck anymore. You're new. You're not in debt to your sin. That account has been closed. That payment has been made.
When Jesus was on the cross, He shouted, "It is finished" (tetelestai). This word had many meanings in the first century:
- A merchant would stamp it on a receipt, meaning "paid in full"
- A servant would report to his master that a task was "fully completed"
- A priest would declare over a lamb that it was "perfect and acceptable for sacrifice"
Jesus used this word in the perfect tense, meaning it wasn't just finished in the past—it remains forever finished, forever accomplished, forever effective. He was declaring victory, not whispering defeat.
Overcoming Our Excuses
We often make excuses for our behavior:
- "That's just how I was raised"
- "That's just how I talk"
- "It's just who I am"
- "This is how my family is"
- "This is just how I cope"
These things are not our identity—they're our excuses. Our identity is found in Christ.
Not only does Jesus forgive us of our sins, but He also transforms our desires. When that old life is gone and the new is here, everything about us is different. We don't owe our flesh an explanation, but we do owe the Spirit our obedience.
From Defeat to Victory
Revelation 12 says, "And they overcame by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony."
The blood of the Lamb was not only poured out to forgive you, but it also frees you. Your testimony isn't about how messed up you were—it's about how faithful God is.
Your story matters. There is somebody somewhere who needs to hear what God has done in your life. You may think you're too messy for God to use, but He doesn't use perfect stories—He uses honest ones.
A Personal Testimony of Transformation
Before Christ, my wife and I lived a full-blown party lifestyle. Alcohol was our escape. We spent a lot of time partying with friends, and even moved closer to where we partied to make it more convenient.
But God started using the unexpected—our nine-year-old daughter began crying out to a God she didn't know, saying something had to change. God heard her prayers.
One night after partying, we went to a restaurant by boat. My wife saw a card that said, "This card could change your life." She took it home and put it in our mirror, never thinking about it again.
A year and a half later, broken and dead in our sin, my mom invited us to a new church starting in Eufaula. My wife, who had recently had a mental breakdown, was crying out to God, asking Him to show her it would be okay. God directed her to look at that card in the mirror—and on the back was an invitation to the original launch team meetings for Community Culture Church.
That was the beginning of our transformation. But meeting Jesus wasn't the end of our story—it was just the beginning.
The Life After Saying Yes to Jesus
I lived 33 years thinking my way was right. These last 11 years, I've experienced life to the full as Jesus promised in John 10:10. I've experienced love like never before, built friendships that will last into eternity, and raised our kids through the lens of Jesus' love.
When Christ is in you, you don't just live differently—your senses change. You can taste, see, hear, and feel everything differently.
Acts 3:19 says, "Repent then and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." That refreshing isn't found in relationships, entertainment, or substances—it's found in a life of repentance, forgiveness, and surrender to Jesus.
Marking Your Moment of Transformation
In 1 Samuel 7:12, after God gave Israel victory over their enemies, "Samuel took a stone and set it up and named it Ebenezer, saying, 'Thus far the Lord has helped us.'" This stone wasn't about decoration—it was a declaration of what God had done.
What are you going to remember about what God has done in your life today? What are you going to point back to when things get tough again?
I have stones of remembrance all over my life—at our church, on our porch, and in my memories. The Mexican restaurant where God found us in our brokenness. The trailer where our church began. The high school auditorium where God radically changed our lives. These aren't just places—they're reminders of God's faithfulness.
Life Application
Today, I challenge you to consider: Has Jesus actually changed you? Or are you just playing the game—wearing the Christian t-shirt on Sundays but not truly living the life He has for you the rest of the week?
If you're ready to move from death to life, from flesh to spirit, from defeat to victory, what will you do? Throughout Scripture, when people encountered God in a real way, they marked the moment. They built an altar. They raised a stone. They left something behind and took something with them.
Ask yourself:
- What has God saved you from that you need to remember?
- Where are you still trying to fight battles in your own strength instead of living from Christ's victory?
- What "stone of remembrance" do you need to place in your life to remind you of God's faithfulness?
- How can you share your testimony—not just the "before" but the ongoing transformation—with someone who needs to hear it?
When the enemy tries to remind you of your past, point to your stone and say, "This is where my new life began. Thus far, the Lord has brought me."
No Comments