Once a year an eagle goes through the process of moulting. Through that process the eagle loses its old feathers and new ones grow in their place. Much in the same way, as the year begins we imagine we will go through a similar transformation. Somehow, we think we’ll shed our old habits—our struggles and unresolved conflicts—and sprout new feathers.
We think we’ll just shed our old habits and sprout new feathers.
This is evident in the practice of resolution making. We set out to become new people, in the new year. The attitude goes along these lines: implement different strategies and you’ll magically become a different person. Even Christians fall into this trap, believing the popular fallacy. For at the start of the year, almost every believer says it’s their ambition to pray, read their Bible, and serve more. We resolve to resist temptation and thereby sin less, loving God and putting our idols to bed.
However, man (and woman) doesn’t live by resolutions alone. In this article I’m going to suggest that there is something far more important than lists and resolve, strategies or commitment. That something is our motivation and hearts.
Only Christ Can Make You New
Significantly, at the start, the main problem with the thinking behind ‘new year, new you’ is its shortsighted approach to sanctification. When we come to faith, we go through a once-off moulting; we’re made new creations. However, this kicks off a lifelong process, becoming what we already are in Christ (Hebrews 10:14). As Paul puts it in many people’s favourite verse, God has begun a good work in us, which he “will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).
Thus before embarking on the great journey of holiness, we can rest that God is already at work, making us more like Christ. But how does this happen? To answer that question, let’s consider what God’s word says.
God’s Long-Range Renewal
There was a point, which began a process.
In John’s Gospel, we meet a man named Nicodemus. He was a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews (John 3:1). Going against the tide, he visited Jesus. But instead of getting clarity about Jesus’ identity (John 3:2), Jesus drew him into a conversation about being born again (John 3:3). This ended in Nicodemus himself being born again. Figuratively speaking, he goes through the moulting mentioned above. He becomes a follower of Christ (John 7:50). His life was forever changed. He was willing to face ridicule for Christ, from those whom he once led (John 7:51-52). This is confirmed later, when Nicodemus assisted with the burial of Jesus (John 19:39). There was a point, which began a process.
Perhaps the greatest demonstration of how sanctification works is in the life of another zealous Pharisee. Saul hated the church (Acts 9:1; 8:3). He stood by, commending the first Christian martyrdom (Acts 8:1). However, God turned his life around, rather dramatically (Acts 9:4). Like Nicodemus, this set off a series of events, a slow and long transformation. By God’s mercy, Saul was saved. Through God’s mercy his faith went from strength to strength so that by the end of his life he’d written almost three-quarters of our New Testament, while planting countless churches.
Our Daily Responsibility
In one of his epistles, Paul writes: “as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12-13). Like Philippians 1:6, this verse identifies God as the only source of sanctification. Simultaneously, it indicates that we have a part to play in our sanctification. Humans are responsible for their personal holiness. This brings us back to resolutions.
We have a part to play in our sanctification.
We’re already perfected in Christ. Yet daily we work out that salvation. Therefore, you don’t need to wait for the new year to start reading your Bibles, killing sin, resolving relational conflict, dealing with the hidden hurts in your heart, evangelising the lost, or serving in your local church. In other words, the turn of the year isn’t the starting point for change. No, that point is in the past, when you believed in Christ. God isn’t constrained by time—he knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). Thus our sanctification shouldn’t be either. By God’s grace we’re already in process.
So resolve to work out your salvation today. And tomorrow. The next day, week, and month. Ask God daily to help you reflect your Saviour and reject the wishful mysticism surrounding new year. You aren’t without help (Philippians 2:13). God who is the one who has saved us and is fully committed to our sanctification. New selves aren’t the product of new years. But God’s grace.
You Won’t Change Alone
For the record, I’m not against making resolutions. But there is something much more important: your heart’s disposition, as you make those resolutions. This is what matters the most. So make those resolutions, depending on God to change you rather than the magic of the calendar. Resolve to love God above all; to be like Christ; to glorify him in all of life. Bend your heart towards God’s enabling grace (Colossians 3:12-17; Ephesians 4:25-31; Galatians 5:22-26, 6:1-4).
God who is the one who has saved us and is fully committed to our holiness.
As we stand on the shores of a new year, remember it’s just a turn on the calendar. God has the year ahead in his hands, all that will come to pass whether its mighty success or miserable failure. God is and will work in all believers, for their sanctification and his glory. Embrace your resolutions with a surrendered heart to God who works in and through you.
