Having
been born in the Spirit, Christians are to live in the spirit. The new birth is
the starting point for a new life. In the natural course man is not born mature
and fully developed. Though he may appear of a full age, the same is true of
the spiritual man. Living in the spirit is a maturing process. Spiritual life
and growth have little to do with appearance or style. The true focus of life
in the spirit goes deeper than behavior; it goes to the heart, soul and mind. It
begins with a reordering of desires and values.
The
religious leaders of Jesus day, like some today, saw godliness as a set of
rites, rituals, and rules to be observed. Jesus did not oppose observances. He
said that, in themselves, these things did not go to the heart of the matter. He
described the religious leaders of his day as “whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are
within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.” When these same
people complained that His disciples ate without washing their hands, Jesus
told them that it is not what goes into, but what comes out of a man that
defiles him, “…for out of the abundance
of the heart the mouth speaketh.”
The
transformation sparked by the new birth begins in the heart and work outward.
The particulars of this transformation vary and outward changes come on God’s
schedule because His plan for each man is specific and highly individualized.
Christianity does not have one particular course or a standardized curriculum.
Nevertheless, there are some Christian absolutes. There are desires and values
that must develop in the Christian heart to avoid shallowness, legalism and
unfruitfulness. Each of these desires directly affects Christian vision,
relationships and actions.
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