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Seeking a Fresh Start in Christ through Salvation

A fresh start in Christ through salvation is fundamentally understood as a "new creation" [4]. The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new" [1]. This concept signifies a profound transformation, moving from a state of sin and alienation from God to a renewed life in union with Jesus Christ [1, 17].

Salvation itself is defined as deliverance from the guilt and pollution of sin, a "great salvation" wrought by Jesus Christ [8]. It is a work of God, originating from His purpose and appointment [10]. This deliverance is achieved "freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" [5]. Redemption, in this context, refers to the purchase back of something lost through the payment of a ransom [7]. The Greek word apolutrosis, used nine times in Scripture, consistently carries the idea of a ransom or price paid [7]. This aligns with biblical passages like Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45, which speak of Christ giving his life as a ransom [7].

The process of receiving this fresh start involves several interconnected theological concepts:

Regeneration and New Birth: The idea of a "new creation" is closely linked to regeneration, often described as being "born again" [19]. Titus 3:5 states that salvation is "not because... but because" of God's mercy, and that "He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth; and new life through the Holy Spirit" [17]. This signifies a complete departure from a life of sin and death and a transfer into a realm of life and purity [17]. Adam Clarke, commenting on Job 33:25, interprets "His flesh shall be fresher than a child's" as becoming "a new creature," and "He shall return to the days of his youth" as being "born again, and become a child of God, through faith in Christ Jesus" [19]. This new birth is a spiritual transformation, where believers are joined with Christ and share in his resurrection [12, 15].

Union with Christ: Central to the concept of a fresh start is the believer's union with Christ. When believers are "in Christ," they are considered a new creation [1]. This union means they share in Christ's resurrection, both in the present and in the future [12, 15]. As a result of this union, believers share God’s glory and blessings [15]. The Geneva Bible of 1599 translates Romans 15:17 as, "I haue therefore whereof I may reioyce in Christ Iesus in those things which pertaine to God" [2]. This highlights the believer's new identity and standing before God through Christ.

Putting Off the Old, Putting On the New: The fresh start in Christ involves a radical change in identity and behavior. Paul contrasts "your old sinful nature" with "your new nature" [14]. Believers are called to "strip off their old life and put on Christ’s new life, allowing him to be Lord and to guide the way they live" [14]. This transformation is not merely a moral reformation but a fundamental change brought about by the Holy Spirit [6]. Ephesians 4:24 describes this new nature as God’s Spirit expressing His life within the believer, a transforming work that is part of the gift of salvation [16]. The command to "purge out the old yeast, that you may be a new lump" in 1 Corinthians 5:7 further illustrates this call to shed the old sinful ways, recognizing that "Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed in our place" [3].

Sanctification: Following regeneration, sanctification is the ongoing process of becoming more like Christ [6]. It is "the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration" [6]. This process extends to the entire person, carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration [6]. It is the special office of the Holy Spirit to carry on this work in the plan of redemption [6]. This means that the fresh start is not a one-time event but a continuous journey of growth and transformation.

Grace and Faith: Salvation, and thus this fresh start, is entirely by God's grace, received through faith [12, 17]. Ephesians 2:8-9 emphasizes that salvation is "only by God’s grace" and not a result of human actions [12, 17]. Good works are understood as the result of salvation, not its cause [18]. God's Spirit, working through a transformed heart, produces a good life [18]. This underscores that the fresh start is a divine initiative and gift, not something earned.

Hope and Assurance: The fresh start in Christ brings with it hope and assurance. Hope is placed "in God," "in Christ," and "in God's promises" [11]. It is described as "good," "lively," "sure and steadfast," and "blessed" [11]. This hope is a work of the Holy Spirit, obtained through grace, the Word, patience, and the comfort of the Scriptures [11]. Assurance, on the other hand, is the conviction of the truth of Scripture's declarations and a joyful steadfastness in one's grasp of truth [9]. The resurrection of Jesus serves as God's pledge that His revelation is true and worthy of acceptance [9]. This provides believers with confidence in their new standing and future with God.

Inclusivity in Christ: The fresh start in Christ transcends previous distinctions. Galatians 6:15 states, "For in Christ Jesus neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation" [4]. This highlights that external markers or ethnic identities are superseded by the new identity in Christ. Tyndale House notes that Gentiles who believe are "no longer strangers and foreigners" but are "fully accepted into God’s family," becoming "children of God, just like believing Jews" [13]. This demonstrates the universal scope of the fresh start offered through Christ.

The fresh start in Christ is a comprehensive spiritual renewal, initiated by God's grace, experienced through faith, and sustained by the Holy Spirit, leading to a transformed life and a new identity as a child of God.

Sources

  1. 2 Corinthians “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. -- 2 Corinthians 5:17”
  2. Romans “Romans 15:17 (Geneva1599) — I haue therefore whereof I may reioyce in Christ Iesus in those things which pertaine to God.”
  3. 1 Corinthians “Purge out the old yeast, that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed in our place. -- 1 Corinthians 5:7”
  4. Galatians “For in Christ Jesus neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. -- Galatians 6:15”
  5. Romans “being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; -- Romans 3:24”
  6. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sanctification — Involves more than a mere moral reformation of character, brought about by the power of the truth: it is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration. In other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man (Rom. 6:13; 2 Cor. 4:6; Col. 3:10; 1 John 4:7; 1 Cor. 6:19). It is the special office of the Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption to carry on this work (1 Cor. 6:1”
  7. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Redemption — The purchase back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom. The Greek word so rendered is apolutrosis, a word occurring nine times in Scripture, and always with the idea of a ransom or price paid, i.e., redemption by a lutron (see Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45). There are instances in the LXX. Version of the Old Testament of the use of lutron in man's relation to man (Lev. 19:20; 25:51; Ex. 21:30; Num. 35:31, 32; Isa. 45:13; Prov. 6:35), and in the same sense of man's relation to God (Num. 3:49; 18:15). There are many passages in the New Tes”
  8. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Salvation — This word is used of the deliverance of the Israelites from the Egyptians (Ex. 14:13), and of deliverance generally from evil or danger. In the New Testament it is specially used with reference to the great deliverance from the guilt and the pollution of sin wrought out by Jesus Christ, "the great salvation" (Heb. 2:3). (See [546]REDEMPTION; [547]REGENERATION.)”
  9. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Assurance — The resurrection of Jesus (Acts 17:31) is the "assurance" (Gr. pistis, generally rendered "faith") or pledge God has given that his revelation is true and worthy of acceptance. The "full assurance [Gr. plerophoria, full bearing'] of faith" (Heb. 10:22) is a fulness of faith in God which leaves no room for doubt. The "full assurance of understanding" (Col. 2:2) is an entire unwavering conviction of the truth of the declarations of Scripture, a joyful steadfastness on the part of any one of conviction that he has grasped the very truth. The "full assurance ”
  10. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Salvation — Is of God -- Ps 3:8; 37:39; Jer 3:23. Is of the purpose of God -- 2Ti 1:9. Is of the appointment of God -- 1Th 5:9. God is willing to give -- 1Ti 2:4. Is by Christ -- Isa 63:9; Eph 5:23. Is by Christ alone -- Isa 45:21,22; 59:16; Ac 4:12. Announced after the fall -- Ge 3:15. Of Israel, predicted -- Isa 35:4; 45:17; Zec 9:16; Ro 11:26. Of the Gentiles, predicted -- Isa 45:22; 49:6; 52:10. Revealed in the gospel -- Eph 1:13; 2Ti 1:10. Came to the Gentiles through the fall of the Jews -- Ro 11:11. Christ The Captain of. -- Heb 2:10. The Author of. -- Heb 5:9”
  11. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Hope — In God -- Ps 39:7; 1Pe 1:21. In Christ -- 1Co 15:19; 1Ti 1:1. In God's promises -- Ac 26:6,7; Tit 1:2. In the mercy of God -- Ps 33:18. Is the work of the Holy Spirit -- Ro 15:13; Ga 5:5. Obtained through Grace. -- 2Th 2:16. The word. -- Ps 119:81. Patience and comfort of the Scriptures. -- Ro 15:4. The gospel. -- Col 1:5,23. Faith. -- Ro 5:1,2; Ga 5:5. The result of experience -- Ro 5:4. A better hope brought in by Christ -- Heb 7:19. Described as Good. -- 2Th 2:16. Lively. -- 1Pe 1:3. Sure and steadfast. -- Heb 6:19. Gladdening. -- Pr 10:28. Blessed. -- Tit ”
  12. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:5: 2:5 gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead (literally made us alive together with Christ): Joined with Christ, believers share in his resurrection, now and in the future (see 2:6; Rom 6:4-14; Col 3:1-4). • It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved: See Eph 1:2; 2:8-9.”
  13. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:19: 2:19 Gentiles who believe are no longer strangers and foreigners (2:11-12, 17). Through Christ, they are fully accepted into God’s family. They become children of God, just like believing Jews (see Rom 8:14-17).”
  14. Colossians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Colossians 3:9: 3:9-10 your old sinful nature . . . your new nature: Paul contrasts old and new identities (see also Rom 5:12-21; 6:6; Eph 4:22-24). Believers strip off their old life and put on Christ’s new life, allowing him to be Lord and to guide the way they live.”
  15. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:6: 2:6 united with Christ Jesus: Because of this union, believers share God’s glory and blessings, and experience resurrection both now and in the future (see Rom 6:4-14; Col 2:12-13; 3:1-4).”
  16. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 4:24: 4:24 A believer has a new nature: God’s Spirit expresses his life within the believer (see Col 3:10; cp. Gen 1:26; Rom 12:1-2; Gal 5:22-23). The transforming work of God’s Spirit is part of the gift of salvation (Eph 2:8-10).”
  17. Titus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Titus 3:5: 3:5 not because . . . but because: The contrast is between human actions that might be thought to merit salvation and God’s grace (see Gal 2:16). Salvation is through faith in God’s mercy alone (Eph 2:8). • He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth: See Ezek 16:9; John 3:1-15; Eph 5:26; Heb 10:22; 2 Pet 1:9. • and new life through the Holy Spirit: This signifies a complete departure from the life of sin and death and a transfer into the realm of life and purity (see also Rom 12:2; 2 Cor 5:17; Col 3:10).”
  18. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:10: 2:10 He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us: Good works are the result, not the cause, of salvation. God’s Spirit, working through a transformed heart, produces a good life (Gal 5:22-23).”
  19. Job (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Job 33:25: His flesh shall be fresher than a child's - He shall be born a new creature. He shall return to the days of his youth - He shall be born again, and become a child of God, through faith in Christ Jesus.”
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