Reformation — E.A. Johnston

Reformation After Regeneration and Repentance

I believe some of us know what regeneration is, and we know what repentance is, but I fear we don't know what reformation is. Regeneration is a change of heart. Repentance is a change of mind. Reformation is a change of life, a change in our behavior, which in turn gives the Holy Spirit room in our life to work out our sanctification, which results in a closer walk with God.

Holiness and Drawing Near to God

But if we don't reform ourselves, and if we continue to indulge sin, then we will not be able to draw near to the Most High God, whose name is Holy, for He dwells in the high and holy place, and the highway to heaven, friends, is the highway of holiness.

My Bible says in Hebrews, for holiness without, no one will see the Lord. Now do we believe that to be true? The Jews in the days of the prophets fell into all kinds of gross sins and abominations because they refused to turn back to God and reform themselves.

We are no different from them if we fail to reform our behavior as well. Do we realize that justification is not only the act of God's free grace in justifying sinners, but the result of justification is making the sinner just and equipping him to recognize the rights of God on his life.

The gospel of the Son of God has rights and claims on all followers of Christ Jesus. Our sanctification by the Spirit of God is not as much a process as a result of a process. If we truly want to go deeper with God and a closer walk with Him, then we must face the reality of Amos 3 .3 which states, can two walk together except they be agreed?

Clean Hands and a Pure Heart Before God

Unless we reform ourselves in sincerity before God, how then can we ascend into the hill of the Lord and stand in His holy place, which is reserved for those individuals who have clean hands and a pure heart, who have not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

Examining Life Under the Holy Spirit

Clean hands speaks of our horizontal relationship with man, and a pure heart signifies our vertical relationship with Almighty God, the King of Glory. We should reflect upon our lives before God and beneath the spotlight of the scrutiny of the Holy Spirit and ask ourselves, are my hands clean?

Is my heart pure? Reformation is the practical application of truth in our daily lives, all for the glory of God. God speaks of Israel in the book of Hosea as being joined to their idols. In Hosea 4 .17 we read, Ephraim is joined to idols, let him alone.

Returning to God and Separating From Idols

Hosea the prophet begs Israel to come back to God. O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God, for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. And God states in verse 4 of the same chapter, I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely.

And in verse 8 we see the results. Ephraim shall say, what have I to do anymore with idols? The question is, friends, are we willing to separate ourselves from our idols by doing the necessary work of reformation?

Sanctifying Grace and a Deeper Reality of God

As we do, and as the Holy Spirit performs sanctifying grace in our lives, we will then have a deeper reality of the living Lord through our lives. Jesus said in Matthew 22 .37, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Conversion Demonstrated by a Changed Life

Regeneration is a change of heart. Repentance is a change of mind. Reformation is a change of life. A truly converted individual will experience a changed life. When Jesus was here in his earthly ministry, as he passed from town to village, all who encountered him experienced change.

Let us pray.