Position is different from state.
POSITION (what changes instantly at salvation)
This does change the moment someone believes:
- they are justified (Rom 5:1)
- they are forgiven (Eph 1:7)
- Made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor 5:21, Rom 4:6)
- they are sealed by the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13)
- they are a child of God (John 1:12)
- they are spiritually alive (Eph 2:1)
- they are in Christ (2 Cor 5:17 positionally)
- No longer condemned (John 5:24, John 3:18)
- they are saved forever and will never perish (John 6:47, John 10:28, John 3:16, etc)
This is a legal, spiritual standing, not a guaranteed change in behavior. This is what the Bible means when it says “new creature” position, not automatic performance.
STATE/CONDITION (their thoughts, actions, desires, behavior)
This does NOT automatically change. The NT is filled with Christians who:
- walked carnally (1 Cor 3:1–3)
- stopped obeying sound doctrine (Gal 3:1)
- made shipwreck of the faith (1 Tim 1:19)
- stopped believing but still saved (2 Timothy 2:13)
- “walked in darkness” (1 John 1:6)
- were blind and forget they were purged from their sins (2 Pet 1:9)
- described struggles against the sinful flesh (Rom 7:14-25)
- walked disorderly and refused to work (2 Thessalonians 3:6-15)
- were Unfruitful (Titus 3:14)
- were Barren (2 Peter 1:8)
- walked disorderly (2 Thes 3:6)
- overtaken in sin (Gal 6:1)
- were bewitched and deceived by false gospel (Gal 3:1–3 & Gal 1:6-12)
- minds corrupted from the simplicity in Christ (2 Cor 11:3)
- were apostles being rebuked (Gal 2:11)
- churches rebuked by Jesus Christ (Revelation 2-3)
- were being a respecter of persons and not helping the sick or feeding the poor and causing strife (Book of James)
etc, etc, etc
If thoughts, actions, and desires automatically changed, none of those warnings or rebukes would exist.
Growth is commanded, not guaranteed. If it were guaranteed, God wouldn’t need to command it.
So are thoughts, actions, and desires automatically different after salvation? No. Not automatically.
Position changes instantly at salvation.
Condition or state changes only if the believer chooses to walk in the Spirit (Gal 5:16) or not. A believer's state can be good or bad, but saved nonetheless.