New Year's resolutions are interesting aren't they? Most of them have to do with making changes. Changes in how we eat (diets etc.), in what we do (more exercise, less stress, etc), and in where we are going (new goals and plans). Resolutions are great, but it takes more than a resolution doesn't it? It takes determination to make changes. Someone has said that a good definition of 'insanity' is doing the same thing over and over, but expecting different results!
Change is vital for life. Even though most of us do not like change, we all understand the necessity of change. Change is the basis of Christianity. A life that is changed. Paul said, "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature..." There has been a great change in the life of one whom has placed their faith in Christ.
" Positional = Justification " Progressive = Sanctification " Permanent = Glorification
1. The positional change occurs the moment we trust in Jesus Christ.
(1 JOHN 3:14) "WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE PASSED FROM DEATH UNTO LIFE, BECAUSE WE LOVE THE BRETHREN. HE THAT LOVETH NOT HIS BROTHER ABIDETH IN DEATH."
a. The technical term is 'Justification'.
b. This speaks of our standing before God.
c. That change is completed the moment we trust Christ.
2. There is also a permanent change that awaits every believer.
(1 COR 15:50-52) "NOW THIS I SAY, BRETHREN, THAT FLESH AND BLOOD CANNOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD; NEITHER DOTH CORRUPTION INHERIT INCORRUPTION. {51} BEHOLD, I SHOW YOU A MYSTERY; WE SHALL NOT ALL SLEEP, BUT WE SHALL ALL BE CHANGED, {52} IN A MOMENT, IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE, AT THE LAST TRUMP: FOR THE TRUMPET SHALL SOUND, AND THE DEAD SHALL BE RAISED INCORRUPTIBLE, AND WE SHALL BE CHANGED."
a. This speaks of the time when we will exchange our old bodies for new bodies.
b. This is a future event and will be our glorification.
3. Between these two is where we live right now, and this kind of change is progressive.
a. We could also call it growing in Christ.
b. The Bible calls it sanctification which is the progressive growth of each believer as they become more and more like Christ.
c. It begins when we are saved and continues until we die or are raptured.
(ROM 8:29) "FOR WHOM HE DID FOREKNOW, HE ALSO DID PREDESTINATE TO BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON, THAT HE MIGHT BE THE FIRSTBORN AMONG MANY BRETHREN."
d. Note that v29 is preceded by v28.
e. How are we conformed to His image?
f. By the working of all things.
4. We are not robots...God has given us a free will to choose to love and serve Him.
5. That truth is both wonderful and fearful at the same time.
a. It is our choice as to whether we will cooperate with God in His process of sanctification.
(JEREMIAH 18:3-4) THEN I WENT DOWN TO THE POTTER'S HOUSE, AND, BEHOLD, HE WROUGHT A WORK ON THE WHEELS. AND THE VESSEL THAT HE MADE OF CLAY WAS MARRED IN THE HAND OF THE POTTER: SO HE MADE IT AGAIN ANOTHER VESSEL, AS SEEMED GOOD TO THE POTTER TO MAKE IT.
b. The potter applies pressure and the clay must be yielded in order to be molded into a vessel fit for the master's use.
c. The determining factor is you and I, we get to choose whether we will change and become more like Christ or whether we will resist the change.
d. People tell me all the time that they cannot change!
e. In reality, it is that they choose not to change.
There are three key elements to change. Let me share them with you this New Year's Day. Keep in mind that I am not talking about positional change…that will come only when we place our faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. It is immediate change…one does not slowly become a Christian! I am also not talking about the permanent change that will come when we are glorified. Only then will we be perfect in Christ. The change I am discussing is the change that will come day by day as we become less and less like ourselves, and more and more like Jesus.
(JOHN 3:30) HE MUST INCREASE, BUT I MUST DECREASE.
I. Parting
A. We must come to the place where we make a break with our old life.
1. That means old habits must be replaced with new habits.
2. Old friends must be replaced with new friends.
3. Old places must be replaced with new places!
(LUKE 9:62) AND JESUS SAID UNTO HIM, NO MAN, HAVING PUT HIS HAND TO THE PLOUGH, AND LOOKING BACK, IS FIT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
4. If we really want to change, we must look forward and not backward.
B. We must make a conscious choice to do so.
1. Growth in Christ will not just happen…
2. We are told over and over again that we must be diligent…
3. We must study…we must reckon…it is our choice!
(PHILIPPIANS 3:13-14) BRETHREN, I COUNT NOT MYSELF TO HAVE APPREHENDED: BUT THIS ONE THING I DO, FORGETTING THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND, AND REACHING FORTH UNTO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEFORE, I PRESS TOWARD THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS.
C. We must do so in the power of Christ.
1. Realizing that we are unable to change ourselves is the first step toward real change.
2. Jesus Christ enables us to do all things, through His power within us.
3. Paul understood this truth.
(PHILIPPIANS 4:13) I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHICH STRENGTHENETH ME.
(GALATIANS 2:20) I AM CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST: NEVERTHELESS I LIVE; YET NOT I, BUT CHRIST LIVETH IN ME: AND THE LIFE WHICH I NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH I LIVE BY THE FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD, WHO LOVED ME, AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME.
II. Patience
A. Patience = endurance over the long haul
(HEBREWS 12:1) WHEREFORE SEEING WE ALSO ARE COMPASSED ABOUT WITH SO GREAT A CLOUD OF WITNESSES, LET US LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT, AND THE SIN WHICH DOTH SO EASILY BESET US, AND LET US RUN WITH PATIENCE THE RACE THAT IS SET BEFORE US,
1. We are not, by nature, a very patient people.
2. We want what we want and we want it now!
3. The world of advertising understands this truth and appeals to our impatience.
4. Look at the sale ads, "No payments until 2007!" Instant financing available! Bad credit? No credit? No problem!
B. Change will take time…
1. Once over Christmas break in high school
2. Some friends and I sought to find the end of the 'Endless Cave'.
3. We were back into the cave so far that we saw no evidence of anyone else ever being that far into it.
4. We were 12 hours back when our lights began to fail, we decided we had to turn around and leave.
5. Guess what? It took us a long time to get back to where we started!
6. Every step away from God requires a step back to Him.
7. Change takes time!
8. The prodigal son decided it was time to go home…but it took a while to get back.
9. Ever get discouraged when you go on a diet? Weigh yourself two or three times a day expecting great results? You know it doesn't work that way don't you?
III. Purpose
A. We all need purpose in our lives.
1. Solomon struggled with this very thing.
2. In Ecclesiastes he relates his search for meaning and purpose.
(ECCL 12:13) "LET US HEAR THE CONCLUSION OF THE WHOLE MATTER: FEAR GOD, AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS: FOR THIS IS THE WHOLE DUTY OF MAN."
3. The apostle Paul relates a similar thought.
(1 COR 10:31) "WHETHER THEREFORE YE EAT, OR DRINK, OR WHATSOEVER YE DO, DO ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD."
4. Jesus said that He came not to do His own will, but the will of God.
5. This should be our purpose and goal for our lives...to do the will of God.
B. Understanding our God-given purpose is vital to help us facilitate the change necessary for our growth in Christ.
1. It is one thing for us to say that our life's purpose is to glorify God in all that we do.
2. It is another thing for us to actually see how to put that into practice.
3. In other words, we can have lofty goals and good intentions, but they are meaningless if we do not act upon them.
4. If we say that we want to glorify God with our lives, but we do not take any practical steps toward fulfilling that purpose we will be frustrated.
5. The Christian life isn't mystical; it is very real and is certainly practical.
6. Paul's admonition to the believers in Ephesus was to walk circumspectly.
(EPH 5:15-17) "SEE THEN THAT YE WALK CIRCUMSPECTLY, NOT AS FOOLS, BUT AS WISE, {16} REDEEMING THE TIME, BECAUSE THE DAYS ARE EVIL. {17} WHEREFORE BE YE NOT UNWISE, BUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE WILL OF THE LORD IS."
C. God's purpose for us involves change.
1. We each have a God-given purpose for our lives.
2. God, in turn, gives us the grace to fulfill that unique need in His world.
3. Real direction and purpose for living comes from knowing God.
4. The more we know Him…the more we will be conformed to His purpose in our lives.
(PHILIPPIANS 3:10) THAT I MAY KNOW HIM, AND THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION, AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERINGS, BEING MADE CONFORMABLE UNTO HIS DEATH;
Change…it is possible! More than that it is inevitable! We will all change, but let's determine to change in a positive way in the coming year. Let's choose to change that we might become more like Christ.