A NEW CREATION

--Gary Freymiller

I was born into a godly home and grew up attending an evangelical church. I did not become personally interested in spiritual things, however, until I left home to attend college. Because of my parents' urgings, and because I was not rebellious against religion, I ended up attending a Christian college. As I listened to my peers, My professors, and my preachers, the message I kept hearing was that "We are all forgiven sinners; we all sin in thought word, and deed every day." My experience certainly agreed with what everyone around me was saying because I was a slave to sin. I did not sin grossly and openly, but I was often aware of my commission of the sins of the heart that Jesus taught against in Matthew 5. However, I was comfortable in my belief that Jesus had died to forgive me of my sins and because of this "faith" I thought I was a true Christian.

During the time I continued to knowingly commit sin and think of myself as a Christian (a period of about eight years), I was not satisfied. Something was missing. When I got married about four years ago I thought my wife would be my fulfillment. She is a wonderful woman, but after about six months of marriage I realized that she could not give me the deep peace that I needed. For a time I sought happiness in trying to accumulate wealth. When this did not bring happiness I turned to golf. I was a terrible golfer, but I was determined to get better. I enrolled in a golf class and purchased a season pass at a nearby course. I was on the course every morning at 5:30 A. M. I steadily improved until one morning I carded a one over par for nine holes, about five or six strokes better than my previous best. Surely this would give me the satisfaction I was looking for. But after I had told everyone at work, I went home the same person I had been the day before. About a week later I read a sermon by John Wesley called "Salvation by Faith." Wesley explained how the faith that meets the condition for salvation is not just a mental assent to the life and work of Jesus, but rather a sure trust and confidence that a person had in God. Through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ his sins are forgiven, and he has peace with God. As a result of this confidence of forgiveness, a reconciliation with God and a loving heart follow, enabling the true Christian to live a life of obedience to God. At that very moment in my mind's eye I saw Christ as truly crucified for my sins and I was set at liberty. I could praise God from the bottom of by heart. I loved Him as I never loved anyone before.

The major struggles in my life seemed to vanish away. I still had problems, but I was a new creation, bound for heaven. What were major struggles before were opportunities to thank God for His wonderful grace and peace. Not only was my heart filled with love and joy, but I was immediately set free from my life of secret sins. Not in a month or a week or even a day, but at the instant I took God at His word, He freed me form the bondage of sin I had been living in and struggling against for years. Today, nearly two years later, I continue to love Him as my all in all. I continue to have victory over temptations. Let me say that this testimony is not an experience of entire sanctification nor is it an account of the deepening of an existing Christian life. It is an account of passing from death to life, from darkness to light, from enmity to peace with God. Prior to June 25, 1991 I was what John Wesley termed an "almost Christian." I had three distinguishing characteristics: (1) heathen honesty, (2) a form of godliness, and (3) sincerity. For years I lived in this condition thinking myself a Christian and inviting others to think the same. However, I lacked three necessities to being a real Christian: (1) the love of God, (2) love for my neighbor, and (3) saving faith. Read Matthew 5, Romans 6-8, and the book of 1 John. Ask God to show you if it is possible and if He requires us to live a life of victory over sin. I believe the Bible clearly teaches that we can and must live in such a state of happiness and holiness if we are to see the Lord.