RENEWAL

We often speak of one becoming a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17) and walking in newness of life (Romans 6:4) via the transforming event of being born again (John 3:3-7) through baptism and the accompanying receipt of the Holy Spirit. However, in terms of resisting temptation and sin in our lives, especially regarding alcohol and substance abuse issues, have we set limits on the extent of our change? I think that sometimes we do create such limits with such action reflective of our own lack of faith and understanding and tantamount to setting limits on the power of God. I also think it important to realize that if we do establish such limits they are artificial of our own creation and not indicative of some limit to what God can do through the Holy Spirit working within us.

The Bible is quite clear, we are what we think we are (Proverbs 23:7 "For as he thinks within himself, so he is.") with the state of our heart reflecting the creature that we are (Proverbs 27:19 "As in water face reflects face, So the heart of man reflects man." See also Matthew 15:18-20, Mark 7:21-23 and Luke 6:45). The change that is to take place in our hearts concurrent with our conversion and baptism is likened to the Jewish ritual of circumcision which was an outward sign of the separateness of the children of Israel (Romans 2:29, 6:17). The very foundation of the concept of conversion is change.

To help focus upon the concept of change and newness we will look at the meaning and application of the following Greek words as used in scripture.*

G341. anakainoo; to restore: -- renew.

G342. anakainosis; renovation: -- renewing.

G365. ananeoo; to renovate; i.e. reform: -- renew.

G2537. kainos; of uncert. affin.; new (espec. in freshness; while G3501 is prop. so with respect to age): -- new.

G2538. kainotes; from G2537; renewal (fig.): -- newness.

G3501. neos; includ. the comp. neoteros; a prim. word; "new", i.e. (of persons) youthful, or (of things) fresh; fig. regenerate: -- new, young.

G3339. metamorphoo; to transform (lit. or fig. "metamorphose"): -- change, transfigure, transform.

G3824. paliggenesia; (spiritual) rebirth (the state or the act), i.e. (fig.) spiritual renovation; spec. Messianic restoration: -- regeneration.

G3067. loutron; a bath, i.e. (fig.) baptism: -- washing.

G628. apolouo; to wash fully, i.e. (fig.) have remitted (reflex.): -- wash (away).

Scripture that applies these concepts include:

Romans 6:4 "Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness (kainotes) of life."

Romans 7:6 "But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness (kainotes) of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter."

Romans 12:2 "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed (metamorphoo) by the renewing (anakainosis) of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."

2 Corinthians 4:16 "Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed (anakainoo) day by day."

2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new (kainos) creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."

Ephesians 4:20-24 "But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed (ananeoo) in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new (kainos) self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth."

Colossians 3:9-11 "Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new (neos) self who is being renewed (anakainoo) to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him --a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all."

The concept of metamorphism is singularly striking when one considers the change (metamorphism) through which a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. Such is the change that we, as Christians, undergo. (See also Romans 12:2)

Matthew 17:2 "And He was transfigured (metamorphoo) before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light."

2 Corinthians 3:18 "But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed (metamorphoo) into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit."

The transformation is not passive, but requires action on our part.

1 Corinthians 5:7 "Clean out the old leaven, that you may be a new (neos) lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed."

See also Colossians 3:12-17 and 2 Timothy 2:22-23.

Finally, one has the choice of maintaining a past sinful nature (see Ephesians 4:17-19) or truly acting as a new creation that has turned its back on the ways of the world. Hopefully, one will be able to speak of their old sinful ways in the past tense just as Paul did in the following scriptures.

Romans 11:30 "For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience,"

1 Corinthians 6:11 "And such were some of you; but you were washed (apolouo), but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God." (See also Acts 22:16)

Titus 3:3-6 "For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing (loutron) of regeneration (paliggenesia) and renewing (anakainosis) by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,"

Now what is the practical application? We are what we believe we are and we know belief comes through hearing (Romans 10:17). If we tell ourselves that we are powerless and have no control over our actions then we have probably created a self fulfilling prophecy. If, instead, we tell ourselves that, while still susceptible to sin, we are a child of God whose loving Father has provided a way of escape from every temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13) and whose past sins have been removed, then we have set out on a path that will lead to mastery over sin. Consider the implications of the following two statements:

"I am an alcoholic (or addict). I am powerless and my life is unmanageable. I am a victim of a cunning, baffling and powerful disease."

"I am a child of God and a true child of God does not practice drunkenness. Therefore, I choose to conform to the will of God and not get drunk. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

The choice we make will determine the person we are.

* All definitions are from the Dictionary of the Greek Testament by James Strong.

RENEWAL

Scripture that applies these concepts include:

The transformation is not passive, but requires action on our part.

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