Jesus changes People!

[B-A-C]

Why did you become a Christian? So you won't go to hell? Well, I admit that's a pretty good benefit. But is that the only reason?

Before I was saved... you name it, I did it. Womanizer, drinker, liar, thief, made a woman get an abortion, cursed my parents, I was lazy, avoided taking care of my children in a lot of ways.
I was pretty useless. For some reason, I never really got into drugs, but then I guess alcohol is really a drug. I was like a tornado, I just left a path of destruction behind me, and didn't really
care all that much who got hurt as long as I got what I wanted. Me, me, me... it was all about me.

Then one day I met Jesus. I think if I'm honest here, I was like a lot of other people. It was mostly because I didn't want to go to hell. I said with my mouth that I was a Christian, but I wasn't really living like it.
... at least not yet.

This verse was the beginning of a change, a seed that started to grow in me.

Gal 5:24; Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Have I gotten rid of my old passions and desires? If not, do I belong to Jesus? It got me thinking...

Eph 2:3; Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

Was I still living in lust, indulging in my flesh a little here and there from time to time? Was I still someone who would face God's wrath?

Tit 2:11; For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
Tit 2:12; instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,

God's grace gave me a chance. I wasn't a lost cause. I didn't have to go to hell after all. But I needed to change. To start denying my own desires and what I wanted to do, and start living how God wanted me to live.

2Pet 2:8; (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds),
2Pet 2:9; then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,
2Pet 2:10; and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties,

This was me. I was still living in the flesh. It was still about me. But God is going to punish those who indulge in corrupt fleshly desires.

2Pet 2:17; These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved.
2Pet 2:18; For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error,
2Pet 2:19; promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.
2Pet 2:20; For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.
2Pet 2:21; For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.

There are people who say they believe in Jesus, but they go right back to living the way they lived before. That was me, ... for a while. Me.. me... me... self, self. The truth was, I was selfish.

Rom 6:6; knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;

Is our old self really crucified? How do you know? Easy... are you still practicing the same old sinful things you were doing before you met Jesus?

I needed to get rid of the old self... the "old man" as some translations put it. And put on the new self... "the new man".

Eph 4:22; that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,
Eph 4:23; and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
Eph 4:24; and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

It was no longer me.... it was no longer my old self. I began to change.

Now for some of you, this is pretty basic stuff. Christianity 101. But for others, they need to know Jesus can change you.

Gal 2:20; "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Is Christ really inside you? If you're still lusting, hating, and lying everyday... then the answer is no. You may think He is, but you haven't crucified the old self yet. It's still me. me, me...
You are the god of your life. Not Jesus.

Rom 8:6; For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,
Rom 8:13; for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

We need to change. Put the old self to death.
I thank God that I'm not who I used to be. I'm no longer a slave to sin.

Rom 6:17; But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed,
Rom 6:18; and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

John 8:36; "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

1Cor 6:9; Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
1Cor 6:10; nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
1Cor 6:11; Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

Some of us "were" that way, but we are that way no longer. We don't do those things any longer.

1Pet 4:1; Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
1Pet 4:2; so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
1Pet 4:3; For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.
1Pet 4:4; In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you;

Are your old friends surprised that you aren't running around with them anymore? Do they tease you because you aren't part of the crowd?
Or.. maybe they don't malign you, because you still are part of the old crowd.

Have you changed? Have you crucified the old self? Have you put on the new self? If not, take a look at yourself. Examine your heart.

 

[B-A-C]

John 12:24; "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
1Cor 15:36; You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies;

There really is no option here. The old self has to die. Period.

Some of us try to be Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde. We try to have a split personality and live on the fence. We live half the time one way, and the other part of the time another way.
Jesus warns us about this.

Rev 3:15; 'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.
Rev 3:16; 'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.

We're not really of the wold, but we're not really Christians either... we're just somewhere in the middle, not really hot or cold.

 

[B-A-C]

John 3:3; Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."
John 3:4; Nicodemus *said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?"
John 3:5; Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
John 3:6; "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:7; "Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'

You cannot enter heaven unless you are born again. You can't be Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The old self has to die, so that the new self can be born.

 

[hopefulson]

John 3:3; Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."
John 3:4; Nicodemus *said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?"
John 3:5; Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
John 3:6; "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:7; "Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'

You cannot enter heaven unless you are born again. You can't be Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The old self has to die, so that the new self can be born.

The entire Chapter 3 of John is a relationship description. The sweetness of it is that we can be assured even if we can't understand or ourselves define ( in God's Truth Terms ) the wind that carries The Spirit to us God can and does reveal it through His Own embrace of us. Revealing by a Spirit to Spirit sweetness that deep definition of Spirit that is His very substance. ( Paul states that The Spirit calls from within us with groanings, for we do not know how to pray as we ought ) Probably the best preacher that offers with every teaching of his, the positional relationship of us to Jesus Christ is Oswald Chambers. I Love this teacher of The Word. The one thing through experience I have found to be completely true is that the only real and truthful relationship shared with Jesus is one that He establishes by the humble act OF OUR ASKING because these Words of His are wholly and completely true ( without Me you can do nothing ) ( No one knows The Son but The Father and No one knows The Father but The Son and those to whom The Son chooses to reveal Him.) HE IS FULLY SOVEREIGN. He hardened the heart of Pharaoh and He can soften the heart of any and all of us at the asking in fact we have His Word He will do just that.
PS Oswald chambers has a daily devotional ( My Utmost For His Highest) I start every day with this praise worthy devotional that never pulls punches and always stays on the point ( Of Christ Crucified ) (The death of The One Who Loved Us To Life )

 

[lentz]

Why did you become a Christian? So you won't go to hell? Well, I admit that's a pretty good benefit. But is that the only reason?

Before I was saved... you name it, I did it. Womanizer, drinker, liar, thief, made a woman get an abortion, cursed my parents, I was lazy, avoided taking care of my children in a lot of ways.
I was pretty useless. For some reason, I never really got into drugs, but then I guess alcohol is really a drug. I was like a tornado, I just left a path of destruction behind me, and didn't really
care all that much who got hurt as long as I got what I wanted. Me, me, me... it was all about me.

Then one day I met Jesus. I think if I'm honest here, I was like a lot of other people. It was mostly because I didn't want to go to hell. I said with my mouth that I was a Christian, but I wasn't really living like it.
... at least not yet.

This verse was the beginning of a change, a seed that started to grow in me.

Gal 5:24; Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Have I gotten rid of my old passions and desires? If not, do I belong to Jesus? It got me thinking...

Eph 2:3; Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

Was I still living in lust, indulging in my flesh a little here and there from time to time? Was I still someone who would face God's wrath?

Tit 2:11; For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
Tit 2:12; instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,

God's grace gave me a chance. I wasn't a lost cause. I didn't have to go to hell after all. But I needed to change. To start denying my own desires and what I wanted to do, and start living how God wanted me to live.

2Pet 2:8; (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds),
2Pet 2:9; then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,
2Pet 2:10; and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties,

This was me. I was still living in the flesh. It was still about me. But God is going to punish those who indulge in corrupt fleshly desires.

2Pet 2:17; These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved.
2Pet 2:18; For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error,
2Pet 2:19; promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.
2Pet 2:20; For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.
2Pet 2:21; For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.

There are people who say they believe in Jesus, but they go right back to living the way they lived before. That was me, ... for a while. Me.. me... me... self, self. The truth was, I was selfish.

Rom 6:6; knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;

Is our old self really crucified? How do you know? Easy... are you still practicing the same old sinful things you were doing before you met Jesus?

I needed to get rid of the old self... the "old man" as some translations put it. And put on the new self... "the new man".

Eph 4:22; that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,
Eph 4:23; and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
Eph 4:24; and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

It was no longer me.... it was no longer my old self. I began to change.

Now for some of you, this is pretty basic stuff. Christianity 101. But for others, they need to know Jesus can change you.

Gal 2:20; "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Is Christ really inside you? If you're still lusting, hating, and lying everyday... then the answer is no. You may think He is, but you haven't crucified the old self yet. It's still me. me, me...
You are the god of your life. Not Jesus.

Rom 8:6; For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,
Rom 8:13; for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

We need to change. Put the old self to death.
I thank God that I'm not who I used to be. I'm no longer a slave to sin.

Rom 6:17; But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed,
Rom 6:18; and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

John 8:36; "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

1Cor 6:9; Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
1Cor 6:10; nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
1Cor 6:11; Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

Some of us "were" that way, but we are that way no longer. We don't do those things any longer.

1Pet 4:1; Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
1Pet 4:2; so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
1Pet 4:3; For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.
1Pet 4:4; In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you;

Are your old friends surprised that you aren't running around with them anymore? Do they tease you because you aren't part of the crowd?
Or.. maybe they don't malign you, because you still are part of the old crowd.

Have you changed? Have you crucified the old self? Have you put on the new self? If not, take a look at yourself. Examine your heart.

I know what you’re saying brother.
My life before Christ was like a boat on the water. I just steered ahead not thinking of anyone or anything but myself.
But behind me left in the wake was hurt lives and total destruction.
Thank God for his longsuffering

 

[Br. Bear]

Thank God for his longsuffering

Amen

 

[Br. Bear]

they need to know Jesus can change you.

Yes

 

[Curtis]

I tell this to a lot of married people who want God to change their spouse. I say God will change your spouse, and this is exactly how he will do it.
He will change your spouse "by changing you"

By changing you everyone you know will be changed. No longer looking at people from their outward actions, and looks to seeing them as God does.

 

[MaryB08]

Why did I become a Christian?
I became a Christian because I met Jesus and very simply, there is no greater love.
Filthy dirty, full of demons and worldly crap, Jesus loved me anyway.
And now, Jesus is mine forever.
Thank you for asking.

 

[hopefulson]

Why did I become a Christian?
I became a Christian because I met Jesus and very simply, there is no greater love.
Filthy dirty, full of demons and worldly crap, Jesus loved me anyway.
And now, Jesus is mine forever.
Thank you for asking.

So well stated. Echoing your sentiment I would add this in revealing my own experience a great enduring sense of shame that with Christ's advent within me has been exchanged for a deep contrition that I gladly exchanged for a clear vision of the Truth that has come along with the knowledge of it's Author. The Owner of my redemption holds reality in His hands. I am speechless in the face of His perfection and Holiness yet it is in his hands I share His Spirit and seek constantly for His will and His Heart.

 

[First and the Last]

John 3:3; Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."
John 3:4; Nicodemus *said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?"
John 3:5; Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
John 3:6; "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:7; "Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'

You cannot enter heaven unless you are born again. You can't be Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The old self has to die, so that the new self can be born.

John 3:3, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God,"

Is foundational to understanding the process of salvation. This passage underscores the necessity of a spiritual rebirth, which involves repentance, baptism in Jesus' name (Jesus's declaration to Nicodemus underscores that natural birth alone is insufficient for spiritual life), and receiving the Holy Spirit, as outlined in Acts 2:38. Being "born again" signifies a complete transformation and renewal of one's life, moving from sin to a new life in Christ. It is not merely a symbolic act but a profound spiritual experience that marks the beginning of a believer's journey in the Kingdom of God. This new birth is essential for salvation, as it aligns the believer with God's will and empowers them to live a life of holiness and righteousness through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Thus, being born again is the critical step to entering and experiencing the fullness of God's kingdom.

John 3:4, "Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?"

Reveals his misunderstanding of Jesus's teaching on spiritual rebirth. As a Pharisee, Nicodemus approached Jesus seeking clarity about being "born again," questioning whether a person could physically re-enter their mother's womb. Jesus clarified that being "born again" involves a spiritual transformation, not a physical re-birth. He explained that it entails water baptism in Jesus' name for the remission of sins and the reception of the Holy Spirit, as outlined in Acts 2:38. This spiritual rebirth is essential for entering God's kingdom and experiencing eternal life.

John 3:5, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God,"

Highlights the essential steps of salvation. "Born of water" refers to baptism in water by immersion, done in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). This baptism is viewed as the burial of the old sinful nature and the beginning of a new life in Christ. "Born of the Spirit" signifies the subsequent experience of receiving the Holy Spirit, evidenced by speaking in tongues as on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4).

In United Pentecostal theology, these two elements—water baptism in Jesus' name and the infilling of the Holy Spirit—are integral to the new birth Jesus speaks of here. They are seen as the means by which a person enters into a personal relationship with God, receives forgiveness of sins, and begins a transformed life empowered by the Holy Spirit. This process of being born again is not merely a ritual but a spiritual transformation that aligns believers with God's kingdom and His purposes. It emphasizes the necessity of obedience to Jesus' commandments and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to live a holy and fruitful Christian life. Being born of water and of the Spirit is the pathway to entering and experiencing the fullness of God's kingdom in this life and the life to come.

John 3:6, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

This verse emphasizes the inherent difference between natural human existence and the spiritual life granted through the Holy Spirit. Physical birth, being "born of the flesh," pertains to our natural, earthly life inherited from our human parents. In contrast, being "born of the Spirit" speaks to the transformative rebirth that occurs when one receives the Holy Spirit, marking the beginning of a new, spiritual life in Christ. This rebirth is not merely a moral reformation but a profound spiritual regeneration that aligns a person with the will and kingdom of God. It underscores the necessity of experiencing both a physical birth and a subsequent spiritual rebirth to fully partake in the divine nature and enter the kingdom of God. This reinforces the importance of the infilling of the Holy Spirit as a critical experience for every believer.

John 3:7, "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again."

This statement reinforces the essentiality and non-negotiable nature of the new birth experience. Jesus emphasizes to Nicodemus that this spiritual rebirth is not merely an optional or mystical experience but a fundamental requirement for entering the kingdom of God. The directive "Ye must be born again" indicates that without undergoing this transformative process, one cannot attain salvation. The new birth symbolizes a complete renewal and a fresh start, transcending mere religious affiliation or ethical behavior. Instead, it is a profound spiritual rebirth that aligns with the teachings of the apostles, as illustrated in Acts 2:38, where Peter instructs repentance, baptism in Jesus' name, and receiving the Holy Spirit after the crowd asked How to be saved? Jesus’ assertion to Nicodemus highlights the universal necessity of this new birth for all believers, affirming its crucial role in God's plan of salvation.