Be the Change
(Who We Are vs. Who God Allows Us to Be)
What is Change?
Change: Noun – The act or instance of making or becoming different
Can be external, like changing clothes, or internal, like changing your mind, but what does it look like to have a spiritual change, or changing in light of ETERNITY?
In order to know where you’re going, you have to know where you’ve been. So, who are we, and then how does God respond?
Our War with God
Humans (H) vs. God (G)
Our Background:
Romans 1:21-23
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things (IDOLS). (H)
Romans 1:32
Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. (H)
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. (H)
Romans 7:18-19
For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. (H)
Ephesians 2:1
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air (Devil)… (H)
What is the common theme here? How well are we holding up our end of the bargain? Is there anything in these verses about how good we are?
This leads to the question: Are we good people that just make bad decisions?
God’s Response:
Ephesians 2:4-7
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved- and raise up with him and seated with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (G)
Ephesians 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not of your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (G)
Romans 5:6
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person-though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die- but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (G)
Ezekial 37:1-14
The valley of dry bones (G)
Grace- God Giving us What We Don’t Deserve (Eternal Life)
Mercy- God Not Giving Us What We Do Deserve (Death)
To sum up what’s going on here, Look at Romans 6:23:
For the wages of sin is death (What We have Earned), but the free gift of God (Grace) is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Perfect Propitiation).
So, now that you know who we are, vs. whom God continues to be for us through Christ, let’s talk about change.
Repent, Believe, Slave to Righteousness
But remember, we cannot earn our saving. We know the state we are in. In order to be saved, we have to look upon our own brokenness, and have faith that Jesus through the Holy Spirit, is capable of breaking our stone hearts and delivering a new heart. “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”