EmmDev 2015-10-05 [Month of Mission 2015] The Gospel makes new people out of us.

The Gospel makes new people out of us.

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.      (2Corinthians5:17-20)

As we marched against corruption on 30 September 2015, I was thrilled to listen to one gentleman telling his story on why and how he left the mayoral position in one of our South African metros. He claimed that he told his party leadership and his family that he was prepared to leave the position without money but with his integrity intact, as he did everything guided by his Christian conviction. I learned that the gentleman was coincidentally a Presbyterian.

In Revelation 21:5 John records the following statement: 'He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new"'. Paul's statement reinforces this truth: "If anyone is in Christ, he (she) is a new creation. The old has gone and the new has come." The statement is mentioned in the context of the discussion on the ministry of reconciliation, emphasising that the precursor to reconciliation is that we must die from the old self and be raised with Christ and be joined to Christ. That is a great act of transformation by the great transformer.

Christ transforms our lives, so that we become genuine Christians and responsible citizens and members of our societies – people with integrity. With us rooted/joined in Christ, our societies are transformed to be better places for all. The economic, gender and ecological injustices give way to a just, equitable and peaceful society. Our churches become centres of hope and get involved in the business of restoring and guaranteeing human dignity and freedom. New people make a commitment that corruption cannot take place on their watch and in their presence. New people promote the economy of life, challenging the economy that causes a widening gap between the rich and the poor in church and in society. New people witness to Christ alone, the only Saviour and, through the power of the gospel, speak out and defeat the harmful religious practices that are a profanation to the gospel of love and salvation.

"Oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bear, just because we do not carry everything to God in prayer." New people remain in Christ, are guided by the Word of God and led by the Holy Spirit, and are continuously seeking God's will for us.
The Gospel makes new people out of us – people of integrity.
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Lungile Mpetsheni is the General Secretary of the UPCSA. He loves family and enjoys singing.

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