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5. God Can Change You
I. CHANGE AGENT: GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT.
A. The Holy Spirit enables us to receive the life Christ offers.
The Holy Spirit is God. He is the third member of the Holy Trinity. With God the Father and God the Son, He shares all the divine attributes, such as being eternal, all-powerful, merciful and personal.
Acts 26:17,18 I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.
Christ spoke these words as He sent the Apostle Paul to preach the Gospel to the nations. The Lord refers to the changes that the Holy Spirit will work in people through the message of salvation:
1. Their eyes will be opened, and they will no longer walk in darkness.
2. They will be freed from the power of Satan to follow God.
3. By faith in Christ, they will receive forgiveness of their sins and will inherit eternal life.
Wow! What a change!
B. Why can't we change ourselves?
Ephesians 2:1 You were dead in your transgressions and sins.
1 Corinthians 2:14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
2 Corinthians 4:4 The god of this age [Satan] has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
We are spiritually powerless and blind. A telephone ripped out of the wall cannot communicate with anyone. A corpse cannot lift itself up and walk. And those who are spiritually dead lack the ability to communicate with God or approach Him. Because of our rebellion against God and due to Satan's deceptive tactics, we do not recognize the truth of God's word nor do we grasp how much He loves us.
1 Corinthians 12:3 No one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.
No one can cause himself to believe. Faith is a gift of God. God the Holy Spirit is the only One who can work the change of faith. This monumental, radical transformation will be the subject of our study for the rest of this lesson. For most people one's religion and personal beliefs are private, even intimate matters. We do not talk about these things in an uninhibited and frivolous manner. Respecting the privacy of your beliefs, may I request your permission to talk with you frankly about the change that the Holy Spirit wants to work in your heart and in the hearts of all people? I hope you agree, because you will find the conversation to be quite beneficial.
Exactly what is the change God desires? It consists of two ingredients.
II. INGREDIENT ONE: REPENTANCE.
Repentance means opening your eyes to the sad fact that you have disobeyed the holy God and deserve nothing but His righteous and eternal punishment. The repentant person makes a 180 degree turn. He or she rejects his sinful practices and asks God to give strength to overcome his/her weaknesses. Repentance is also referred to as repentance or sorrow over sins.
Psalm 51:3-5 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you [God], you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.
In Psalm 5l:3-5 we see the repentance of King David who had committed adultery with Bathsheba and then arranged the murder of her husband Uriah. David speaks honestly of his guilt and accepts the justice of God's punishment.
1 Timothy 1:15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.
In 1 Timothy 1:15 we find Paul's emphatic admission of guilt. Because Paul in his youth had persecuted Christians and put them to death for their faith, he calls himself the foremost of sinners. So often we are quick to excuse our actions and dodge the truth about ourselves, saying, "Sure, I sin, but I'm not as bad as John, or Charley or Linda or..." None of that act for Paul. Those who are truly sorry for their sins and conscious of the evil that dwells in their hearts, are willing to confess like Paul, "I am the worst of sinners."
Mark 7:6 These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
God warns that He will not be fooled by those who only pretend to be repentant in order that they may continue in the path of disobedience. The Lord sees into our souls and knows if our sorrow, tears, and words of confession are for real or merely sham and show.
Nor is repentance merely regretting that you got "caught in the act." Being truly sorrowful for your disobedience means:
1. Laying aside all excuses and alibis, and accepting God's sentence of punishment as fair and just;
2. Confessing to your Heavenly Father that you have broken His wise commandments solely because of your own selfish, stubborn will; and
3. Desiring to change your way of living, but recognizing that you only can do so with the help of God.
III. INGREDIENT TWO: FAITH.
Hebrews 11:6 Without faith it is impossible to please God.
The basic ingredients for bread are flour and water. Just one ingredient is not enough. Similarly, although repentance is necessary, it is not enough all by itself. The other essential ingredient is faith. Exactly what kind of faith does God require?
James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder.
Faith is not just a general knowledge that God exists. Many people assume that this is the only kind of faith that God requires. But even the devil knows that God exists. Therefore, general knowledge cannot be enough. In the same vein, it is not enough to trust in God to protect you and provide for your needs. Such faith is beneficial, but it is focused only on this life. The kind of faith that the Holy Spirit seeks to establish in your heart has to do with God's plan to reconcile you to Him forever.
The faith that God requires of you is centered on Jesus Christ. It is the confidence that God forgives you, not because of any worthiness on your part, but because Jesus Christ paid the penalty for your sins. Faith is the certainty that God gives you eternal life as a free gift. To understand such faith, let us again consider the examples of Paul and David. First, Paul states:
Philippians 3:4-9 If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee, as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
When people wonder, "Will I go to heaven when I die?", they often answer, "Hopefully, I'll make it there, because I've never intentionally hurt anyone. I try to do the best I can. I've done this and this and that. I..." Do you hear the broken record? They are saying, "I, I, I, I..." Although they may claim that they trust in God, it is obvious that the "god" they are trusting to get to heaven is themselves.
For many years Paul had exactly this kind of faith. In Philippians 3, he lists all the things that he trusted in to bring him peace with God: he was a faithful Jew, fanatical, and dedicated to keeping every letter of the law. For years Paul placed his hope for heaven on these outward things. Have you been depending on similar things? Have you been assuming that God will grant you forgiveness and eternal life, if you can only gather enough obedience points in your favor? But note Paul's changed opinion toward his outward "holiness." Through faith in Christ God had freed him from his guilt. Therefore, all his works and religious advantages were worth nothing more than garbage to him. By the way, the Greek word that is translated "rubbish" literally means manure. Paul could not be making it more plain, could he? It is only faith in Christ that saves us, not confidence in our own moral or religious actions.
Paul had been like a man who had gotten on the wrong bus. He thought he was going to heaven, but actually he was headed toward eternal punishment. Finally, he got off of the wrong bus that was marked, "I", and he got on the right bus marked "Jesus Christ." That is what saving faith is like. It is a change of direction. It is discarding our trust in ourselves or anything else, and placing it on Christ the true Savior.
How Paul was changed! The Holy Spirit wants to work similar transformations in the hearts of people today, people such as you.
IV. EXCUSES.
In order to hold God at arms length, people have invented a host of lame excuses and objections. Let us consider some of them. Perhaps you will recognize one or two of them as your own.
Excuse No. 1: "I'm a spiritual person . . . but in my own way."
God's way of saving people really works. If your way is mistaken, you have nothing to gain and everything to lose.
Excuse No. 2: "I'll repent when I'm on my death bed."
How do you know that you will have time to repent before you die? Traffic accidents and other sudden forms of death do not leave time for turning to God. In addition, how do you know that you will even want to repent when you are older? You may become so set in your unbelief that you reject the mercy that Christ offers you. Don't treat the Christian faith like life insurance that is only valuable after you die. Knowing Christ makes every day worth living right now!
Excuse No. 3: "Christians don't have any fun."
Perhaps you have gotten this impression from Christians who say 'no!' to every type of entertainment--"Don't drink! Don't dance! Don't this! Don't that!" Such human rules should not discourage you from drawing close to God. Let the Lord teach you through His word which things are harmful to you and which are healthy and enjoyable when used with discretion. In time you will learn that every true joy and pleasure in this world was invented by God Himself (Psalm 16:11 and James 1:16-17).
Excuse No. 4: "I still believe that I have to do what pleases God in order to deserve to go to heaven."
None of us can earn eternal life. All we deserve is God's eternal exile. The Lord offers us mercy through faith in His Son. But He warns all those who would trust in their own works: "You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace." (Galatians 5:4)
Excuse No. 5: "If I am saved by Christ and not by my own works, why should I bother to live a good life? Don't I have a license to sin?"
Not at all! The believer has been freed from punishment, not so that he can sin more, but so that he might dedicate his life to serving God and his neighbor. The life of a Christian should be a continual 'thank you!' to God. However, our good deeds do not save us. They simply express our thanks to God for the free gift of salvation.
Excuse No. 6: "I had religion forced upon me when I was a child."
Bummer! No one should ever be forced into something as wonderful as knowing God. But, you know what? You aren't a child anymore. God has something adult to share with you -- His offer of love and forgiveness through faith in His Son. You, not your parents, will have to make up your own mind about Jesus Christ. [Don Abdon, Training and Equipping the Saints, Parish Leadership Seminars, 1975, p. 166]
Excuse No. 7: "To be quite honest, there are some morally questionable activities in which I am involved, and I'm not willing to give them up."
Imagine that you are shipwrecked and floating in the sea. You hunt for a plank to hold on to, but all you find is the ship's anchor. Then someone throws you a life preserver. It's floating there in the water right next to you. Will you continue to hang on to the anchor? Or will you drop the worthless thing and grab hold of that which will save you? Likewise, will you cling to your sin, or will you grab hold of Jesus, God's life saver.
Excuse No. 8: "I still have intellectual doubts."
If you have honest doubts, okay. But seek to resolve them. Some people who say they have doubts never do anything to resolve them. Their intellectual objections are simply a smokescreen to cover up the fact that they want God to leave them alone so they can continue in their sinful lifestyle. Look to God's word to resolve your doubts. For centuries it has led skeptics to the truth.
Excuse No. 9: "The Christian faith is old fashioned."
I can understand how you might feel that way, because everything today moves pretty fast. But, you know, some things never change, things like sin and the need for peace with God. How about death? Everybody still does that. The real problems of the human race do not change. That is why God did something about these problems and sent His Son to save us. Sure He did it a long time ago, but the Good News of Jesus Christ is still as pertinent as the morning newspaper. [Don Abdon, page 168]
Excuse No. 10: "This is nothing new. I learned a long time ago that Jesus died for the sins of the world."
I am glad you were taught that. But did you know that it is possible to miss heaven by 15 inches? That is the approximate distance between your brain and your heart. Besides just knowing the facts in your mind, let me encourage you to believe them in your heart. When you can say from the heart, "Jesus died for ME," then you will have grasped what God wants you to believe and in whom He wants you to trust.
Excuse No. 11: "God will take me to heaven because my mother (or someone else) was a godly person."
How wonderful that you had such a relative. However, God does not have any grandchildren, only children. That means that everyone must personally be reconciled to God and become His child through faith in Christ. The contrition and faith of another person will not save you. You must trust in the Savior yourself.
Excuse No. 12: "It does not matter what you believe as long as you are sincere."
If you are driving a car with worn out brakes, will it help for you to believe sincerely that they are really good? Of course not. All the sincerity in the world will not stop your car as it speeds down a steep incline. Similarly, many people are sincerely trusting in false religions and opinions that will not bring them peace with God.
Excuse No. 13: "I need to clean up my life first. Then I will be able to make my peace with God."
How long are you willing to wait? The Bible says that we all have made a mess of our lives. That is why we need a Savior in the first place. As long as you think that you have to better yourself before you approach God, you still have not comprehended that God's forgiveness is a free gift. Accept His gift with humble faith, and then God the Holy Spirit will teach you how to begin to clean up your life.
Excuse No. 14: "I drew near to God once , but I didn't feel anything."
The change that the Holy Spirit works does not always manifest itself in strong emotions. The salvation God offers us is based on the solid facts of what Christ did to pay for our sins. The facts remain a reality on the days when we do not feel anything and even on the days when we may feel absolutely miserable. Our feelings rise and fall like the tide, but the fact that God loves you never changes.
Excuse No. 15: "I don't care to have anything to do with the Christian church because of all the hypocrites in the church."
Yes, there are some phonies who claim to be Christians but really are not. The true Christians are those who admit their faults to God and ask Him for pardon and power to improve. To associate with people like that is a pleasure. But ultimately, the Holy Spirit is not calling you to trust in the people in church. He wants you to trust in Jesus Christ, and you know that He is no hypocrite.
Excuse No. 16: "Why doesn't God do something about all the suffering and evil in the world?"
He did! He gave up His holy Son to save us evil people. And He still is doing something about it. All those who trust in Christ are given the Holy Spirit's power so that they can love their neighbor and alleviate human suffering. God sees the problem better than we do. He has provided a solution. And He is calling you to be a part of the solution.
I have a friend named Larry who often feels rather sick. He gets dizzy, suffers severe stomach pains, and sometimes even passes blood. Fearful for his health, his wife has urgesd him to see a doctor. Larry knows that these symptoms could be caused by a serious disease, but he is fearful of doctors and even more afraid of operations. So he keeps on making up excuses to put off going to the doctor.
The silliest part of Larry's behavior is this--he works in a hospital as a maintenance man. Every day he walks by dozens of physicians who would gladly help him, if only he would set aside his fears, swallow his pride and ask for help.
It is the same with the excuses that people invent so they will not have to repent of their sins and trust in Christ as their Savior. None of the excuses really hold up, and meanwhile, God is right there beside them eager to grant them the blessings of His salvation. All they need to do is set aside their fears, swallow their empty pride, and ask for His forgiveness.
V. YOUR RESPONSE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT.
A. When should you receive Jesus Christ as your Savior?
2 Corinthians 6:2 I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.
Isaiah 55:6 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
There's no better time than the present. The Holy Spirit wants you to turn to the Savior now. Why today, and not later? Trusting in Christ you can be assured of His salvation and live with the confidence that you are headed for heaven. Don't fail to choose life when it is available to you. There is a further reason to receive Christ now.
Psalm 32:7,10 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance....Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.
Isaiah 40:29,31 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak....those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Life can be a toilsome burden. To live life to the fullest, even in the midst of difficulties, commit yourself to God. Then you will know the daily guidance and power of your loving Creator.
B. The matter is between you and the Holy Spirit.
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.
Thanks for the chance to explain to you the change that the Holy Spirit wants to work in your life. Throughout this course, I have set before you the biblical facts of how God has saved you and calls you to be His own. But I can't believe for you. I have given you examples of people who have been transformed. But I can't transform you. I can discuss the various excuses that people use for avoiding Christ. But I can't convince you to believe in Him. Only the Holy Spirit can do these things.
How you respond is a matter between you and the Living God. You will have to evaluate your life with its successes, failures and flaws. You will have to evaluate the message of salvation. Is it true? Or false? You stand at the crossroads and must take one road or the other. You cannot remain neutral.
Perhaps the following questions will help you to clarify your many thoughts and feelings. Consider each one seriously.
1. Do I believe that God exists, that He created and loves me, and that He deserves my full allegiance?
2. Do I believe that I have rebelled against God and stand under the sentence of eternal death? Am I sorry for my sins? Do I accept the fact that I cannot save myself?
3. Do I believe that Jesus Christ gave up His life for MY sins, for ALL my sins, and then rose again from the dead?
4. Do I long for the gifts of pardon and eternal life that Christ has won for me?
5. Realizing how much God loves me, am I willing to let Him guide and counsel me for the rest of my life?
Please ponder these questions seriously. Take your time. Take hours or even days, if necessary, because they are the most crucial questions you will ever face.
The Bible teaches that the believer can and should have such confidence. May you have it as well! I pray that the Holy Spirit will lead you to Recognize the greatness of Christ's gift to you. When He does, you might wish to thank God in your own words or in the words of the following prayer:
Heavenly Father, I know that I have wronged you. I lay aside all my hollow excuses and admit my guilt. I am sorry for my disobedience. Thank you, Lord, for sending Jesus the Savior to die for me. In Him alone do I trust for the forgiveness of my many sins. He has opened the doors of heaven to me and to all who will repent and believe. And I praise You, Father, for sending me Your Holy Spirit to change my heart from indifference and doubt to faith. Strengthen my faith each day as I hear again Your beautiful promises from the Bible. You are my God, and I am yours. Help me to live in a way that is pleasing to You and benefits others. Amen.
VI. RESULTS OF THE CHANGE.
If the prayer above expresses your present the faith of your heart, then guess what has happened? The miracle has happened! The Holy Spirit has done His job! Here's what the Bible says about that.
Luke 15:10 I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
The angels in heaven throw a party whenever someone comes to believe the Truth. They are celebrating for you right now!
John 6:47 I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.
Be assured that through faith you have eternal life right now and are headed for heaven. Eternal life is a present reality Jesus says that you have eternal life, not that you will have it or might have it someday. It is yours to enjoy now and forever.
Someone may question, "Isn't such confidence nothing more than vain presumption?" It would be, if it were based on human pride, but it is founded on the firm promises of God. Take, for example, these words of Christ:
John 5:24 I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.
When the Savior was dying for us on the cross, one of the thieves at His side repented and put his confidence in Christ. He pleaded, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." (Luke 23:42) And what did Jesus say in answer? Did He say, "Before you can come into My kingdom, first you must do many good deeds to make up for your evil ways"? No! Or did Jesus say, "After you have died, you must first be purged of sin and evil. Then you may be with Me in heaven"? No!
VII. WHERE DO YOU GROW FROM HERE?
1 Peter 1:23 & 2:2,3 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.... Like newborn babies, crave spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.
2 Timothy 3:16,17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The living and enduring word of God has brought you to new birth and new life in Christ. How does an infant grow? By care and feeding. How does the "baby" Christian grow and mature? By continuing to feed on God's word. Such feeding is not done alone. God does not call us to be "Lone Ranger" Christians. He calls us into a community of believers.
Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer....Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Hebrews 10:24-25 Let 's consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another.
What happens in a community of believers?
1. You hear and are taught the word of God ("the apostles' teaching").
2. You have fellowship with other Christians, marked by glad and sincere friendships.
3. You "break bread"; this refers both to sharing meals together and to the Lord's Supper in which we remember Christ's saving
4. You pray for one another and see the Lord answer.
5. You encourage one another in the faith and spur one another on to love and good works.
6. You are used by the Lord to help add to the number of those who are being saved. What a joy it is to share the living word of God, so that others also may be reborn.
Is there such a community of believers near you? Yes. It is called a church. Seek out and participate in a Christian congregation where there are pastors and teachers who know the Bible and the Savior. That is where you can grow from here. If you would like the name of a church near you, contact me and I will direct you to one.
Join a Christian fellowship. Study the Bible with others. Enjoy growing in faith and love. You will be amazed at what great things God has in store for you.
For those who still doubt:
Some people will not be ready to respond with a firm 'yes' to the questions listed earlier. If this is the case for you, I encourage you to continue to consider the matter, investigating the Bible and your heart. Talk to God about it in your own words. Ask Him to show you which is the way to new life. Also, it would be helpful for you to try to determine exactly what might be the roadblocks between you and the Lord. Are they intellectual doubts, personal problems, the opinions of others, or pet sins that you are refusing to give up?
The goal of this course is not to twist your arm or to brainwash you. The goal is to pull people's heartstrings with the unparalleled love of the Son of God who died for you and me, and to wash their hearts through faith in Him whose blood cleanses us from all evil.
© 1989 Philip M. Bickel
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.
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