It’s Different Now? Isn’t It??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #324

“Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.”   2 Corinthians 5:17

I love the old southern gospel song, “It’s Different Now!” (Written by David Beatty in 1958.) because it calls us to recognize that when Jesus comes and saves us, it will be different!  It was for me!  Scripture teaches this even when we recognize that people can stumble and fail, but Jesus never does!  Yet, it seems to me that we have gone way to far from scripture becoming willing to accept sin, compromise, and tolerance of that which scripture doesn’t!  When Paul says we are a new creature, it is because when Jesus comes, He makes all things new!  I am so grateful that Jesus took this broken life and soul of mine and began to do a work that only He can do; and while I wasn’t perfect then and am by no means perfect now—I have experienced the work of Jesus in me much like Paul described to the Roman believers; but first of all let’s see that Paul and James inherently agree that real saving grace by faith makes a difference.  If all you have is words with no substance, then you may want to check and see what your faith is really in.  Is it in your words, or the life changing, saving blood of Jesus—who makes all things new?  As I heard a pastor say this morning, the difference between what I believe and what you may believe is that what I believe (in whom I believe!) has made a change in me.  How about you?

“What doth it profit, my brethren,

though a man

say he hath faith,

and have not works?

can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister be naked,

 and destitute of daily food,

16 And one of you say unto them,

Depart in peace,

be ye warmed and filled;

notwithstanding ye give them not

those things which are needful

to the body;

what doth it profit?

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works,

is dead,

being alone.

18 Yea, a man may say,

Thou hast faith,

and I have works:

shew me

thy faith without thy works,

and I will shew thee my faith

by my works.

19 Thou believest that there is one God;

thou doest well:

the devils also believe,

and tremble.

20 But wilt thou know, O vain man,

that faith without works

is dead?”  James 2:14-20

James gives a bit of insight into his meaning from a simple command.

“But be ye doers of the word,

and not hearers only,

deceiving your own selves.”  James 1:22

In Blanche’s paraphrase, if your actions don’t match your words, you may be deceiving yourself!  God gives us a great answer to this dilemma from the Psalmist.

“Search me, O God,

and know my heart:

try me,

and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way

in me,

and lead me

in the way everlasting.”  Psalm 139:23-24

Oh, how I remember the day that Jesus came speaking to my hypocritical heart, and said clearly, “You’re not mine!”  And after several hours of arguing with Jesus, I fell on my face and called on Jesus to save me, for I could NOT do it myself (and surely I had spent many years trying to do it myself—and believe me, my friends, Salvation is not a  DIY project but can only be accomplished through the blood of Jesus that cleanses us from all sin—and SIN is the issue!)  Consider what Jesus says!

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life for my sake

shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

or what shall a man give

in exchange for his soul?”  Matthew 16:24-25

Jesus makes it clear that only HE can save!

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:6

“Jesus answered and said unto him,

If a man love me,

he will keep my words:

and my Father will love him,

and we will come unto him,

and make our abode with him.

24 He that loveth me not

keepeth not my sayings:

and the word which ye hear is not mine,

but the Father’s which sent me.”  John 14:23-24

So, let’s go back to Paul’s call to each and every believer!

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect,

will of God.

3 For I say,

through the grace given unto me,

to every man that is among you,

not to think of himself more highly

than he ought to think;

but to think soberly,

according as God hath dealt

to every man the measure of faith.”  Romans 12:1-3

So, my question for today is a very simple one; have you been changed by the blood of Jesus that cleanseth from all sin?  Are you God’s child but you’ve reserved some sin for yourself?  Are you claiming the name of Jesus, and expecting to go to heaven on His coattail, while holding on to the reins of your life?  Or have you come to the cross and obeyed the call of Jesus:

“If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me…”

And in closing, a thought from Isaiah’s prophecy from God!

“Wherefore the Lord said,

Forasmuch as this people draw near me

with their mouth,

and with their lips

do honour me,

but have removed their heart

far from me,

and their fear toward me

is taught by the precept of men:” Isaiah 29:13

Is it different now?  To take up the cross of Jesus means dying to self; Paul said it better than me.

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

 but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Gal. 2:20

Amen and Amen!!!