The Transformation In the Pursuit of God
There is a journey that every Christian goes through after we put our trust in the gospel. A significant shift occurs known as Substitution Atonement, which is when followers of Christ gain a fundamental understanding of the price Jesus paid for human sin, substituting his
flesh and blood by taking it upon himself to go through the most horrific beating and death. This selfless act referenced in the gospel by the sinless Messiah extends his innocence to us.
Think of it like a volleyball game: you are on a team that’s performing poorly, including yourself, but you have a member on your team who is a great player, and the moment he steps on the field, everyone else starts playing better. When the buzzer marks the end of the match, you find your team has won, and that victory belongs to more than just the MVP—it belongs to all of you. This is to say that before Christ, we were identified as sinful; now that we have accepted Jesus and the gospel into our hearts, we experience a profound change that leads us to live a better life.
Understanding the Gospel: A Theologic Breakdown
Once Jesus becomes a member of your team, a couple of things happen:
Progressive Sanctification: This promotes a life-changing growth inside of us.
Regeneration: Where something once dead inside of us comes alive.
These theological terms stem from 1 Peter 4:1-6 where he says, “Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourself also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lust of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the gentiles—when we walk in the lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. They will give an account to Him, who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this reason, the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they may be judged according to men in the flesh but live according to God in the spirit.”
Peter explains that something spiritual changes in a person who trusts in Jesus. This can happen anytime throughout a lifespan—one just has to find it.
What You Can Expect
If you have gone through this transformation, it may not be a moment that you can recall within a single memory, but after this shift happens, slight differences between how you operate and how the world operates start to come to light. It can be your attitude, convictions, motivations, or what you do with your spare time. These shifts are evidence that the gospel and Jesus changed the course of our lives, aiding us in becoming better people and, in turn, leading us to join the winning team.
