That's not saying we have been magically changed, but that we are aware of an alternative now.. right? Choice remains but if one truly understand how loving neighbour as self trumps anything that a self serving life can wreck, then it would be hard to go back to being who we see on the news and around us. IMO
I will not use the term 'magical' for we are not dealing with sorcery but there is most definitely a supernatural element... the power of God.
In reference to your question, we always have had 'a choice', haven't we? We just have failed to make the right one most times. Why? Our carnal old nature keeps getting in the way, that's why.
If we can simply climb out of our disobedience typified by Romans 7 and instead make the correct choice, why haven't we? For that matter, why did Christ have to come and die in our place if all we had to do is to choose to do good, choose to love lothers as we love ourselves, choose to oey Him always? The cross would be unnecessary.
Why did He have to die? Yes, to see our sins washed white as snow, but there is more. He died so that our old carnal nature could be put to death as well, and He rose from the dead so that He could bring us up with Him as new creatures, children who could now say no to the devil... every time!
When you are referring to our becoming aware that we have a choice to truly be able to obey, that is head understanding, and this will be like a mirage, tempting us to think it is all 'mind over matter', but when we truly put it to the test, it evaporates under the heat of the moment. Self will win until self is reckoned dead as Paul instructed us in Romans 6.
You see, we truly do need spiritual power, what you referred to as 'magic'. Yes, it is real and yes, it is for us, but first, we have to see our great need and then we have to see that without the power of God in us, causing us to obey, we are without hope of ever truly walking in holiness, and pleasing our God by obeying Him in all things.
Such power awaits each one of us, but until we get to the point we have NO strength, we will continue to think if we try. just a bit harder, we can toe the line and obey as Christ asks of us. We cannot.
Blessings,
Gideon
