Woman raising hands in praise

Regeneration: Being Made New

Which is more powerful: your sin or God’s ability to overcome your sin.

Can man’s sin be superior to Christ’s payment for that sin?

Can God, who spoke the universe into being, make a difference in your life?

God Wants to Change Us

Nothing can come between what you do and God’s love for you as one of His children. To overcome shame, we must accept how completely God desires to make changes in our lives that will free us from our past.

The Bible tells a story of a man named Zaccheus, a tax collector, among the most despised in society. During dinner with Jesus, Zaccheus experienced the unconditional love and acceptance of Christ. As a result, he became a different person. His self-concept was radically changed from a swindling, loathsome tax collector to a person who knew he was loved by God. His actions reflected this dramatic change. He pledged to repent of his sins and repay fourfold those he had swindled. He also promised to give half of his possessions to the poor. Through Christ, Zaccheus developed a new self-concept, new values, new goals, and a new behavior.

Woman raising hands in praise

A New Life

Regeneration is not a self-improvement program, nor is it a cleanup campaign for our sinful natures. Regeneration is nothing, less than the impartation of new life. Paul stated in Ephesians 2:5 that we were once dead in our sins, but we have since made alive in Christ.

Regeneration is the renewing work of the Holy Spirit that literally makes each believer a new person at the moment trust is placed in Christ as Savior. In that wondrous, miraculous moment, we experience more than swapping one set of standards for another. We experience what Jesus calls the new birth (John 3:3-6), a Spirit-wroght renewal of the human spirit, a transforming resuscitation that takes place so that the Spirit is alive within us.

Through the gift of God’s grace, we are spiritually alive, forgiven, and complete in Him. To attempt to find completeness through any other source including success, the approval of others, prestige, or appearance, is to be taken captive through philosophy and empty deceptions (Colossians 2:8). Nothing can add to the death of Christ to ay for our sins and the resurrection of Christ to give us new life. We are complete because Christ has forgivenus and given us life and the capacity to grow and change.

An Expression of Christ’s Character

We are to put on, or envelop ourselves in, this new self that progressively expresses Christian character in our attitudes and behavior. We are marvelously unique and created to reflect the character of Christ through our individual personalities, temperaments, and behavior. In a different and special way, each believer has the capacity to shine forth the light of God. Now two will reflect His light in exactly the same way.

The truth of regeneration can dispel the specter of the past. Our sins have been forgiven, and we now have tremendous capabilities for growth and change because we are new people with the Spirit of God. When we sin we will experience its destructive effects and the Father’s discipline, but…

Our sin will never change the truth of who we are in Christ!

Confess your sins, worship God, and get on with your life. You can experience the mercy of God no matter what you’ve been through or what you may have done.

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Soul health and spiritual maturity cannot be separated.  Our counselors are ordained Christian ministers as well as certified and licensed Christian counselors.  We are able to help you experience freedom from shameanxietydepression, or marriage / relationship conflict with methods that are purely Christ-centered.  Please click on this link to learn much more about how our CHRISTIAN COUNSELING an help you become a more authentic follower of Christ, and help you find freedom from identity dependence.https://lifetrainingcounseling.org/

Life Training offers convenient sessions at https://lifetrainingcounseling.org/depression-counseling/our office in Louisville, Kentucky, as well as online counseling via Zoom or FaceTime.  Our non-profit counseling practice has had an outstanding track record from over a decade helping men and women, individuals and couples who are ready to move beyond anxietydepression, and conflicts in marriage or other relationships find hope and healing in their lives.  Contact us today at 502-717-5433, or by email at drdave@lifetrainingcounseling.org 

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