J Heinrich Arnold-Freedom from sinful thoughts.pdf

FREEDOM FROM SINFUL THOUGHTS - REPENTANCE & REBIRTHPart of the secret of rebirth and new life is grace.Nicodemus’ talk with Jesus shows that rebirth cannotbe explained, but only experienced. Certainly we knowit means the complete transformation of the old maninto the new. But Jesus offers no rationale, no explanation.He simply says, “You must be reborn.” For our part,then, we must simply believe that God wants to grant usnew life.Grace is the mysterious gift Christ gives each of uswho turn to him. It is the key to rebirth and the possibilityof a completely new life. It does not depend on merits orgood deeds, but comes even to those who, humanlyspeaking, seem to deserve it least. As Paul says, it is“glorious and freely bestowed…Because we are onewith Christ, we are released from bondage through hisblood: our sins are forgiven. So rich is his grace!” (Eph. 1:6–7)Through grace, Paul says further, “our sinful naturehas no claim upon us” (Rom. 8:13). This is a very strongstatement. Who can really say that the lower nature hasno claim on him? Yet the answer to the riddle is clear,too: we must open ourselves to the power of the Spirit,repent, and dedicate our lives to Christ.When we are ready, with every fiber of our being, togive him everything – to say, “Jesus, I am coming. I amcoming, whatever the cost” – we will gain the assurancethat sin can never be victorious in us, even though we57