The most radical change a believer will ever undergo is at salvation. The Bible states that when we are “born again” we become a “new creation” in Christ Jesus.
Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.
– 1 Peter 1:22-23
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
– 2 Corinthians 5:17
Believers have been adopted into God’s family, which is a reality that unbelievers simply cannot fathom as it is a transcendent state of being. Believers are given eternal life, which is something they may properly enjoy even while still trapped in this “body of death” (Romans 7:24). While others may not understand the joy that comes with this, a believer ought to never feel compelled to apologize for it.
You don’t have to ask others for permission to be happy. Own it.
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
…
No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
– 1 John 3:1-2, 9-10
John illuminated the hallmark of a believer – obedience. As new creations, we children of God are compelled to obey our Father in Heaven. If we lack said compulsion, then we need to do as Paul suggested (2 Corinthians 13:5). Do we obey perfectly the day after our salvation? Not even close – we must learn our Father’s will before we can align to it. As we learn we are sanctified (set apart for God’s good purposes – ala Ephesians 2:10).
As we are sanctified the rest of the world will take offense. This is your unique opportunity, as someone who the world remembers differently (often drastically), to stand up for Christ, for your convictions, not kowtow to the Lord’s opponents! While the world will try to drag you down, you must remember what the Apostle John wrote.
Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
– 1 John 4:4-6
The Bible is full of encouragement for God’s children because God knows how antagonistic Satan’s children can be.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
– Romans 8:31-39
Always remember that you are on the winning team. Jesus Christ conquered death, itself, that satanic whip of old. As a child of God, to focus on who you used to be (at the behest of the world) is a waste of time (reread Typecasting when you get a chance). When you “put on the new self”, as Paul described it, you are set free to do (or not do) as the Lord wishes. You ought never ask permission from the world to do so. That’d be like asking a cruel jailer if it’s OK to go for a walk in the green grass long after you’ve been released from prison!
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
– Colossians 3:1-4
Misery loves company, as they say, right? Well, don’t fall into that trap any longer! The fact that the world can’t understand the source of your happiness only amplifies that God is working something truly beautiful out in you, for His good pleasure, and to His glory. Embrace it – don’t ever apologize for being the apple of God’s eye!
Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.
But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
– Ephesians 4:17-24
From the day of your precious salvation, God has been sanctifying you (Philippians 1:6). It’s a supernatural act that the world will never truly understand; however, what they will see is a changed person. This change is radical, transformational, and therefore will be noticed by those around you. Good. That’s how God wants it. Be happy by being holy, even if it makes others jealous (may their jealousy pique their interest).
For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.
The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.
Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
– 1 Peter 4:3-19
Never feel ashamed or as though you must apologize for behaving like a child of God. It’s a special privilege that deserves much better perspective than that. Go ahead and be giddy about it. And don’t ever feel like you must ask permission to be joyful. The peace and joy that you so desire to live in is yours to have and to hold (John 14:27; 1 John 1:1-4), so have it and hold it!
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
– Philippians 4:4-9
Love in Christ,
Ed Collins