There are some who have promised God they will do better. Under stress of trouble or sorrow many have sincerely determined to forsake their sins and turn over a new leaf. But this is not the door to salvation. Even if the new leaf were kept unspotted—what about the other soiled days and years?

God’s salvation is deeper than mere reformation. It’s an absolutely new nature. It’s a complete reckoning with all the past and an ironclad guarantee for the future. It’s not washing of the hands—it’s the gift of a new heart.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

“Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever” (John 4:13, 14).

Be assured that God is not interested in patching up your old life. What He wants to do is to give you a completely new nature, part of His own nature. For this new nature is destined to live forever in eternity’s heavenly glory. It’s completely new, fresh from the hand of our Creator God.

“For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation” (Galatians 6:15).

“You must be born again” (John 3:7).