Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned– for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.** Romans 5:12-14 (NIV)**
Prior to the fall of man - when sin entered - there was no darkness in our thoughts, no rebellion in our wills, and no disordered affections in our emotions and ways. Adam and Eve walked with God in the cool of the day. They were the companion of angels and the envy of devils. Yet when sin entered there was a break in the relationship with God because holiness and unholiness cannot commune. They were banned from the garden. Banned from walking in the cool of the day with the Creator God. And everyone else who would follow in their footsteps as well. Sin has never been our friend. Never. Indeed, it always brings death to something – be it trust, love or whatever. It makes promises it can never provide – always leaving death and destruction in its wake. That is why we all need Jesus. He is the Way to the abundant life now and eternal life in the hereafter. This life is brief and what we do matters greatly – matters eternally. And everyone is each accountable for their own life – every.last.one.of.us.
True regeneration will always and most certainly produce a moral reformation of the life. One must wonder if there is no change in their life as a believer, is there faith in their life. Jesus never intended for us to remain the same. We are to be a new creation – the old has gone, the new has come. His desire is for us to be conformed into His image. Indeed, reformation is a process in which we incrementally turn from sin to the Savior as He brings it to light. We are all in process, and we never get there until we go home to be with the Lord Jesus. None of us is there yet. Indeed through God’s power indwelling within, John Owen’s writes: “Regeneration and reformation are inseparable.” Meaning when we know the Lord, we are to be continually becoming a changed people to look more and more like our Savior. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV_)_: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” And believers are called to walk in a manner worthy of the gospel. This pleases God, ourselves and others.
This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:22-24 (NIV)
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (NIV)