Cross Position: The Believer's Compassናሙና

The Transformation at the Cross

One of the most significant things that happened to man at the cross is the transformation of his heart.

Man can, by himself, do nothing to change his heart - not through behavior modification efforts, moral acts, or religious duties. Jeremiah calls the heart corrupt in describing the spirit (heart) of a man without Christ. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it?" - Jeremiah 17:9 ASV

The Prophet Ezekiel foretold of God’s salvation plan that would result in a transformation in man; "I’ll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I’ll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God-willed, not self-willed." - Ezekiel 36:26 MSG

All the benefits of salvation are embedded in this transformed heart or spirit. Our old nature was crucified with Christ on the Cross.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." - 2 Corinthians 5: 17 NKJV

What happens to the transformed heart after Salvation?

Ever noticed how a brand-new car’s smell changes over time? The owner’s habits have changed the condition within the car. Even though the car’s name and brand remain the same, its state is upheld by its owner.

This is the same for the heart of the Believer. The state of the transformed heart post-salvation is the Believer’s responsibility. He flourishes based on how much of the Gospel of God's grace he retains in his memory; not just the forgiveness of sins but his new identity, his new inheritance, and his new possibilities in Christ.

"Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain." - 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 NKJV

I am sure you are familiar with the story of the Prodigal Son.

He did not stop being a son even when He lost sight of who He was. When he got back to who he truly was, He found the love of the Father.

When a believer succumbs to sin, fear, or condemnation, it doesn't diminish their status as sons with a transformed heart. They may have just forgotten what is available to them because they haven't committed it to memory. The Believer renews his mind by studying the Gospel of Jesus. His labor in the word must be to rightly divide the word of truth through the lens of the Cross.

To check the state of your heart:

• Check your desire and hunger for the Word of God: As hunger is a sign of life, so is a man’s desire for the Word a sign of the state of his heart. A quick check of our regular pursuits reveals what our priorities and motives are-
  • Why do you go to church?
  • Why do you serve?
  • Is there a time to study the Bible in your routines?
• Rightly divide the word of Truth: Through the rightly divided word in the scriptures, the Believer gets his mind to align with the finished work on the cross and his new-creation reality.

Dear Believer,

The Word of GOD (JESUS) defines you. The world cannot define you. You are not defined by an emotional profile.

You have the spirit of adoption not the spirit of fear. You are not an outsider. The Cross has positioned you into the newness of life as God’s son.

You are his heir!

Reflection Question:

The Cross has transformed our hearts (spirits) as believers. How can you maintain the state of your heart?