A Life Transformed*

      There are many examples of lives transformed by the Gospel. Those transformed lives went on to affect many other lives. Paul wrote: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (ktisis - thing created, creation, the act of founding, converted): old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Cor. 5:17). Through Christ, God has reconciled us to Himself, and in addition, has given to us the ministry of reconciliation and the word of reconciliation that reconciles others to God through Christ in the same manner. Paul calls us "ambassadors for Christ", beseeching others, "be ye reconciled to God." (v. 18-20). This reconciliation and new creature are the result of the Father's work through His Son, Jesus: "For he (God) hath made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (v. 21). We, as ambassadors of reconciliation, have the responsibility to tell others of this gift of righteousness that converts us into new creatures in Christ.

     Paul also wrote that neither being of the circumcised or the uncircumcised will achieve this reconciliation with God, but only by becoming a new creature through Christ. (Gal. 6:15-16). Religions of man fall short as they try to earn this reconciliation with God. Only through Christ is sin removed, and the new creature is created and joined to God.

     King David prayed in Psalm 51 to be reconciled back to God when he sinned in his murderous actions to cover up his adulterous acts with Bathsheba. David, who knew God in his heart, prayed to Him: "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge (yada - to know intimately and to make known) my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me...Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee." (Ps. 51:1-3, 10-13). David acknowledged his sin before God and prayed for the cleansing of his heart and spirit. The blood of Christ, the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, washes away our sins, if we will confess our sins as David did. Then we can teach others (as ambassadors mentioned above) so that they also may be converted or changed. A life is transformed as the Lord receives our confession and repentance. John wrote that if we say we have no sin, we are liars and we make God to be a liar. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. If we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive those sins as it is written in scripture. David relied upon this truth that he knew of God.

     The prophet Ezekiel wrote the Word of the LORD to Israel with the promise to bring them back to their own land from the nations to which they had been scattered. They would take away their idols and remove the detestable things and abominations that they had practiced against Him. Then the LORD said: "And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a new heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God." (Ezek. 11:17-20). The LORD said that He would create them anew in their inner man. However, for those who continued to walk in the detestable things, the LORD would bring it down upon their heads. (v. 21). Again, Ezekiel wrote: "Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" (Ezek. 18:27-31, excerpt, see also Ezek. 36:24-28). The message to the people of God is "Repent!" and be transformed.

     Jesus said that this spiritual transformation is not optional, but required, as He taught a respected teacher in Israel named Nicodemus: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born (gennao - be born, bring forth, bring others over to your way of life, to convert) again (anothen - from above, from a higher place, from the beginning-the very first), he cannot see the kingdom of God." (Jn. 3:3). This provision for man's transformation was made before creation because Jesus is the Lamb slain before the foundations of the world. Some people, even some Christians, mock the idea of being "born again", but Jesus was adamant. We must be transformed.

     Not even the respected teacher of Israel mentioned above could rely on man's religion for this necessary transformation. Paul wrote: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Eph. 2:8-10). Again there is a reference here that this new creation in Christ was ordained for us from before. It is a gift, to be received freely. Why would anyone turn down a free gift from God?

     Not only are we a new spiritual creation, but the division between Jew and Gentile is healed and the two become one new man by the blood of Christ, not only reconciled to God, but to each other as well: "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone..." (v. 11-20, excerpt).

     Jesus is declared in heaven to be worthy of the power and authority to transform lives in this way: "And they sang a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on earth." (Rev. 5:8-10). We are not redeemed by silver or gold, but by the blood of Jesus shed for us for this purpose. This blood crosses all barriers that man and religion have tried to place between God and man. No race or culture is excluded. One way has been provided for man to be saved, redeemed and reconciled to God: the blood of Christ. He has made us kings and priests with truth to share, and not to be hidden under a bushel.

     Christmas is coming with all of its trappings, but the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of our Savior, Christ, has transformed our lives. Let us take this opportunity to be "born again" and transformed in Him and to teach others as well.

*Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson, Jr.'s 12/21/25 message to the church. If you would like to hear the complete message, you can find it on the Facebook page of Kenneth E. Stevenson Jr. Dr. Stevenson's video messages are also found on You Tube at the Kenneth Stevenson channel. To contact or support this ministry, or to request prayer, you can write to PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705. To find out more about the Shroud of Turin, which is evidence of Christ's suffering, death, and resurrection, and to receive a free e-book now available in several languages, go to http://www.theshroudofturin.org/freebook. Also the book NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling, written by Dr. Stevenson, is available on Amazon.