What Does it Mean To Start Afresh in ChrIst?
That’s a powerful question—and the very heartbeat of what it means to follow Jesus. To start afresh in Christ means more than turning over a new leaf, it means receiving a brand new life from God Himself.
Let’s unpack this clearly, simply, and deeply:
1. It Means a New Beginning From the Inside Out
When you start afresh in Christ, God doesn’t just clean you up – He makes you new. Your past doesn’t define you anymore. Your identity shifts from “sinner trying to do better” to child of God made new by grace.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
— 1 Corinthians 5:172 Corinthians 5:17It’s like a spiritual reset, but more than that—it’s a rebirth.
2. It Means You Receive a New Nature
Before Christ, you were trying to live right in your own strength. But starting afresh means you receive God’s very own life (Zoe) and nature inside you.
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you.”
— Ezekiel 36:26Ezekiel 36:26E.W. Kenyon calls this the “Incarnation of the divine life”—where God actually places His nature in your spirit. You’re no longer just trying to behave—you’re now empowered to live from a new identity.
3. It Means a Break With the Past
Your past no longer has authority over you—not your failures, not your shame, not even your good deeds. In Christ, God hits the reset button on your record.
“Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”
— Hebrews 10:17Hebrews 10:17Imagine standing in court, guilty, and the judge not only pardons you but adopts you into his family. That’s what God does when you start afresh in Christ.
4. It Means a New Way of Living—By Grace, Not Striving
You’re not trying to earn God’s approval anymore—you already have it in Christ. You’re not fighting to be accepted—you’re living from acceptance.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith… it is the gift of God, not of works…”
— Ephesians 2:8-9Ephesians 2:8–9It’s like stepping out of a performance-driven life into a love-filled, grace-empowered relationship.
5. It Means a New Journey of Transformation
God begins to shape your thoughts, desires, habits, and purpose. It’s not instant perfection—it’s a process of being transformed by His Spirit as you walk with Him.
“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
— Romans 12:2Romans 12:2Rick Renner says that starting afresh is not just about what you walk away from, but what you are walking into. It’s the beginning of a beautiful, Spirit-led journey.
💬 Think of It Like This:
Imagine you’ve been living in a broken-down house. It’s all you’ve ever known. One day, someone invites you into a brand-new home—fully paid for, designed for you, full of light and warmth. Starting afresh in Christ is like moving out of the old and stepping into the new.
But you don’t move in and sit still—you unpack, explore, grow, and thrive.
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