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Mountaintop Musings: Starting the self-confrontation journey

This week I want to share some thoughts on how a person can change. But it is not change for changes’ sake, but how a person can change Biblically? How does a person adjust their thinking to match up with what God would have them think; or act or speak or live? I imagine most of us have heard that this “eternal life” God offers us is a gift. Unfortunately many reject this gift (Matthew 7: 13-14; John 3:16-21). If one does not have a sincere relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ they have a deep spiritual problem that only God can fix. To change Biblically one must really be a born-again Christian because without Christ we are separated from God, dead in our sins, hostile to God, blinded by Satan, powerless to overcome sin, unable to understand the real truth of scripture and unable to please God and live a life that honors Him. A few verses on these points are Romans 3:9-12, 23, 6:23, 7:28-32; Ephesians 2: 1-3, 8-9; Colossian 1:21, 2:13; 2 Peter 2:19 and John 15: 4-6. There are many more I could share. I don’t write that to put anyone down, but to challenge each of us to honestly compare where we are in life to God’s standard, or desires for us.

The reason we can change Biblically is because God wants that for us. The real answer to the problems that plague us is available because God’s character and desire for us is to be the people He created us to be. He is “just” so we must face His wrath if we stay in our sinful state (Hebrews 9:27, 2 Peter 3:7). But He is also loving and does not want us to face His wrath and perish in our sin (John 3:16, Romans 5:8). So he draws all men to His Son (John 6:44-45, 65, 2 Peter 3:9).

Yes, the answer to our greatest need is found in Jesus Christ. We each must decide whether or not we will accept this solution. That is the key. If you want your sins forgiven, to experience a new spiritual birth, receive the gift of eternal life, have access to God, become part of His family, understand His Word and become a new person with a real power and desire to change you must become a Christian! A few verses on this point are John 3:3; Galatians 3:26; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Acts 5:31.

To accept God’s solution you must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ which involves repenting (turning away from) of your sin and honestly trusting Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins believing that He died for your sins, that he was buried and that he was raised the third day according to the scriptures (1 Corinthians 15: 3-4). You must receive Jesus in to your life by faith based on the Biblical facts. It most certainly is not a “blind faith” that skeptics claim.

To refuse this solution is to remain under God’s judgment, stay ignorant of spiritual matters, be powerless to overcome the sin in your life that is tearing you and your family apart, and be unable to please God. Some verses on these points are John 3:3; 1 Corinthians 2:14; John 8:34 and Hebrews 11:6.

By faith each of us can take the first step of true change and receive Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. Only then can a person truly make real Biblical change in their life. You see God promises to give each of His family members the Holy Spirit (John 14: 15-31, 16: 5-16, Ephesians 1: 13-14). It is through the work of the Holy Spirit that God changes us.

Man’s way to change focuses on self. What can I do to please myself, have my needs met, fulfill myself, love myself, forgive myself, exalt myself? It is meeting the needs of the old man, or self-nature described in Romans 6:6, Ephesians 4:22 and Colossians 3:9. God’s plan is to have your life oriented to pleasing Him, not you! That is why we each must be regenerated or saved. We must be renewed in our thinking. We must follow God’s plan and not man’s if we are to please Him. And when that happens we will find out our relationships will improve. Some will fall away, but you will find out that you have a family that will be with you through eternity! In Christ you are forgiven of all your sins, a child and heir of God, a citizen of heaven, strong in the Lord, an ambassador for Christ and full of peace and joy. Satan would love it if you would stay just the way you are beloved, but you need to know God has a better plan than you can imagine!!

(Dave & Lisa Carroll are area missionaries with InFaith, America’s oldest Christian home mission agency. Source material for this article comes from the Biblical Counseling Foundation. You can contact Dave at 406.459.8935 or [email protected])

 

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