"We have not experienced the true depths of faith in Christ unless the fruit of love pours forth from our lives. Before this can happen, the old self must die. Ephesians 4:22-24 commands us to 'put off our old self, and put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.' " . . What does it actually mean to be saved by Christ? Something we've been discussing in our leaders' meeting and in women's group is the question, "Is there any significant difference in our lives (as Christians) after we've been saved?" How do we know we have received salvation? Though there are many ways to answer this question, the apostle Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, argues that if we've truly experienced the love and light of God's salvation, the difference will show in the way we live out our lives: out of a place of love rather than fear. In other words, when we are saved by grace, we are transformed in a way that causes us to OVERFLOW with an abundance of joy and love in the Lord that pervades our every thought and deed. We no longer live out of a place of sin, fear, or doubt, but rather are VISIBLY motivated by an overpowering passion for Christ and for people. . . . Prior to personally accepting Christ as my Savior, there were many ways in which I was driven by fear or obligation rather than love. Especially growing up in the ballet world, I constantly felt this pressure to live up to others' expectations and fit into the ideals/standards they set before me. When I failed to do so, I tended to feel ashamed or even worthless, unable to embrace my identity in Christ above an identity in others' approval. . . . By God's grace, He eventually pulled me out of this downward spiral of self-doubt and fear of others' opinions, and into a place of true freedom and joy in simply being His daughter. He allowed me to experience the depths of His love so powerfully that I couldn't help but share this love and joy-this GOOD NEWS-with others. He freed me from my "old self" of self-consciousness, criticism, and shame, into a "new self" rooted in His love, grace, and everlasting joy. #depthsoffaith #livingloved #new #tobecontinued #lent #40days #day31
